reefing the sail, the hook broke, and he was jerked overboard. He was a good swimmer, but with his heavy sea-boots on and other clothes, he sank and was drowned before he could be picked up. He left a widow and five children.
Storms of Wind and Rain
The Flower Show Wrecked. The autumn Horticultural Show which was to have been held in the Castle Gardens on the 8th of September was so assailed by wind and rain as to cause it to be postponed till the next day, but when the morrow came, the wind was even stronger and the rain was heavier. The tents were stripped of their canvas and many of the flowers were damaged. On the same day a smack, belonging to Messrs. Kent, of Hasting, sent some fish ashore, with the captains and man. They reached the shore with great difficulty, and in attempting to return to the smack, were knocked over by a huge wave, which caused the younger man to be drowned, whilst the captain saved himself by swimming ashore. On the next morning, a similar accident nearly occurred by the bringing fish ashore. The boat was driven broadside to a heavy wave. and but for the dexterity of the man at the helm, would have been capsized(sic) by the next wave.
A Fatal Gale. On the 7th and 8th of October Hastings was visited by a strong gale and a heavy sea which latter mounted the parades in magnificent fountains and cataracts, especially at the more vulnerable points at White Rock and East Parade. On the night of the first-named date, people were attracted to the Fishmarket by the discharge of a coastguardsman's pistol. A small sloop named "Draper" was seen driving before the gale at a short distance from shore. The tide was low, but there was a strong surf and a sea of foam. The vessel soon drifted helplessly on the rocks at the Rock-a-Nore groyne. A large ferry-boat was tried to be launched by means of horses, but after three attempts the attemp work was given up. A lad named Enefer, an excellent swimmer next ventured into the surf, with a rope attached to him, and had nearly reached the vessel when he was hauled back in an exhausted state, the rope having got round his neck and placed him in imminent danger. The vessel soon became a complete wreck and all her crew were doomed. Perhaps it was the remembrance of this sad event that caused a fisherman to say when the present unfinished harbour was first mooted "If any vessel in a heavy sou'-wester misses the mouth of the harbour and runs on dem'ere rocks woe betide the crew, never a man will come out alive."
