CLOSE this window when you are done. From: Hilary Godber "We cannot conclude this, our report, without calling attention to the very strong evidence give to us respecting the evils attendant on what is known as 'coopering' in the North sea. The 'coopers' are smacks fitted out for the sale of spirits and tobacco. Not only do these coopering boats lead to the bartering of ships' stores and gear for grog, and thereby to the direct encouragement on theft and dishonesty, but they bring about the demoralization of the hands, and even of the skippers serving on board smacks, and directly lead to risk and loss of life. We have it in evidence that they are floating grog shops of the worst description, and that they are under no control whatever. Some of these coopers sail under foreign flags, and we are aware that communications on the subject are passing between Her Majesty's Government and the govern- ments of the foreign countries interested in stopping this nefarious traffic; but inasmuch as we have received evidence which shows that some coopers sail under the British flag and take their stores on board in British ports, we think it right to record our opinion that the interference of Her Majesty's Government with those vessels, and with their owners and skippers is imperatively necessary in the interests of the safety of life and property embarked in fishing vessels of the North Sea." An example of 'coopering' is cited in a statement (13 May 1882) about one Captain FISHER (appropriate name) of the Grimsby smack "Unity". Here are the names associated with Grimsby of those who gave evidence to the enquiry in 1883. The "evidence" mostly takes the form of interviews. (Name, Port, Description) ALLBONES Mr. J., Grimsby, Police Sergeant ALWARD, Mr G., Grimsby, Smackowner BUTTERWORTH, W., Grimsby, Skipper COE, H., Grimsby, Apprentice FELLOWES, Mr. G., Grimsby, President Smackowners' Mutual Insurance Co. FREER, T., Grimsby, Skipper KIRK, T. C., Grimsby, Apprentice MALAN, Mr. H. N., Grimsby, Superintendent Mercantile Marine Office MILLER, Mr. I., Grimsby, Superintendent Fisher Lads' Home MOUDS, Mr. B., Grimsby, Sailors' missionary MUDD, Mr. H., Grimsby, Smackowner MUNDAHL, Mr. C. M., Grimsby, Smackowner PLASTOW, Mr. J., Grimsby, Smackowner REED, Major J., Grimsby, Port Master SALMOND, T., Grimsby, Skipper SMETHURST, Mr. J., senr., Grimsby, Alderman WALDRAM, Mr. J., Grimsby, Chief Constable WINTRINGHAM, Mr. J., Grimsby, Solicitor ----------------------------------------------------------------------- GRIMSBY LOSS of LIFE from FISHING VESSELS reported to the Board of Trade at Grimsby. Men Youths or Apprentices over 21 21-18 Under 18 Total ended 1st March 1881 31 15 22 68 Year ended 1st March 1882 44 18 15 77 Since 1st March to 27th Sept 1882 10 7 7 24 Total for 2 1/2 years 85 40 44 169 HULL Return of fishermen reported to the Hull police as drowned or dying at sea since January 1878 Total 1878, 5 adults and 8 youths ..................... 13 1879, 2 adults and 8 youths ..................... 10 1880, 9 adults and 21 youths ..................... 30 1881, 12 adults and 22 youths ..................... 34 1882, 6 adults and 16 youths ..................... 22 ----- 109 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This letter, amongst a few others, was in the Appendices to the 1883 report. Leicester, January 21, 1878 Hon. Sir, I beg leave most respectfully to address these few lines to you, hoping you will excuse me in troubling you at this time, and will relate the case as briefly as possible. Sir,- My son, Henry BOWMAN was, in company with other boys, decoyed away from Leicester four months since, he being at that time only 14 years of age, and went to Great Grimsby, Lincolnshire. There he hired himself to a Mr. SMITHURST, who has a business in fishing smack trade, carried on in that place. The boy, my son, absconded, and was arrested and imprisoned at Denby prison for seven days. I went to Denby and met him at the prison doors, when he was set at liberty, and brought him home with me. A few days after getting home again a policeman, in company with two other men connected with the fishing smack at Grimsby, came and took him back again to Grimsby to his master. I am informed that it is quite illegal to bind a boy under 15 years of age without the consent of his parents. I have a family of seven children, he being the eldest. I am in exceeding low circumstances. Any information how to proceed in the matter will greatly oblige at your earliest convenience. The above are the true facts of the case. I am a framework knitter, and have resided in Leicester a many years. The boy has just, as it were, begun to help me a little to maintain himself and the six younger children. Address: William BOWMAN, 111 Aunguile Street, Belgrave Road, Leicester To: P. A. Taylor, Esq., M.P. -------------------------------------------------- Jane Woodall adds the following: About 200 Hull men and 96 Grimsby men died in just one gale in March 1883 which also killed my great grandfather Francis (Frank) Bedford. This information is taken from local newspapers, so is a little patchy but maybe someone will find a name they are looking for among it. Taken from local newspapers Grimsby and Hull: The British Isles were swept by a violent gale from east north east during Monday night and Tuesday (MARCH 5 and 6 1883), and numerous disasters occurred to shipping with loss of life. The lovely spring-like weather changed into a very severe gale, and blinding snowstorms at intervals added to the violence of the wind and waves. The gale seems to have raged with the greatest severity on the east coast. Two fishing smacks went ashore below Clee gardens and another, Mr Campbell's Moss Rose, sank off Cleethorpes. The lugger Amity, of Scarborough, Sellars owner, lost. Charles Hunter, skipper, and Francis Haxley, another hand. Hunter was a married man. (Also listed as Emily from Scarborough, a lugger, lost two crew, Charles Hunter, 25, married, master and Francis Haxby, 21, single, a hand.) The cod-smack Mars, owned by Mr Meadows, lost the second hand/mate. James Stocks/Stepps. James Dukkson, third hand, James Flowers deck hand and Stepps/Stocks were washed overboard. The first two were rescued but Stepps/Stocks was lost - he was 25, married and living at 41 Victor Street, New Clee. William Mellor, 54, Humber pilot, fractured skull after being hit by winch handle on boat. Died Thursday March 8 1883. Inquest. Charles and Sarah, trawl smack, lost second hand Alfred Taylor, 20. Mr C. H. Piggot owner. Christopher Winter, second hand on board The Bonny Lad, James Plaistow owner, lost. Good Design - lost master over board Thomas Debnam, lived in Weelsby Street, New Clee, 32/33, married, leaves widow and several children. Seen in the water but sank before they could help him. W.T. Beeson owner. Lily of the Valley lost its 18 yr old deck hand James Sharp, John Cobbs, owner. Bonnie Lad, lost Christopher Winter 22. Economy lost third hand Benjamin Cook, 20, washed overboard. Zingra of Grimsby, belonging to John Guzzwell, Captain James Loades towed in by Vigilant of Hull with only one mast still standing. The Oak damaged and one crewmember lost - no name given. "Thrilling experience of despairing fisherman" Hull smack Energy landed Thursday. Thomas Brown master and owner of the trawl smack, Thomas and Florrie, three crew, and body of a fourth. Albert Ashmore, third hand, lost, ship wrecked, rest of crew panicked and hid below too terrified to come up on deck and bale the ship to prevent it sinking - only Farmer the cook mentioned (no first name). Brown and Joe Walkley baled till dusk, but Walkley was exhausted having worked since midnight so Brown told him to go below, rest and relieve him at midnight. Walkley went below, hit his head and fell through broken boards into six feet of water and drowned. Brown lashed himself to the pump and worked all night with no food or water and waves breaking over him to save the ship. Joe Walkley's funeral took place on Sunday, married man, in the Naval Reserves and a firing party went to his house in Kent St and presented arms as the coffin was taken out. 120 fishermen turned out and marched with the procession through Grimsby to GY cemetery. The Emm belonging to Mr J Meadows sailed five weeks ago only provisioned for three weeks or a month - crew T Dewick, master, W Clark. Zenobia, belonging to Mr Guzzwell, skipper was named Frank Bedford and leaves a wife and three or four children. Rhea Dutch schooner uses the port regularly lost with 13 hands (no names) Leader Mr A Dowst, left Feb 20 given up for lost. Skipper John Critenden, second hand Pedlar, third Ben Thompson, deck hand was Norwegian, cook not yet known. Cornelia, Jacob Haaalland, 26, master, Geo Whiter, 53, mate, Chas Clark, 22, deck hand, Thos Coverdale 18, deck hand and Thos Burgess cook, 15. All lost. Rose: Tom Langworthy, 27, master, Edward Wallis, 25, mate, Fred Johnson, 20, third hand, Robert Andrews 18, deck hand and Robert Carter cook - last three were apprentices. All lost. Saturn, George Britten master, badly hurt. Peter Nicholson (shipname) - lost an apprentice from the orphan home (no name). North Sea, owned by Jabez Rutter, was lost, only one of her crew saved was William Bartlett because he was wearing a life jacket which was not common. Said the boat was hit by a mountain wave and smashed to bits, the crew were unable to save themselves. The smack Abstainer, Ald. Smethurst owner, lost Alfred Watson, 24. The Daisy, Mr Henry Smethurst Jun. owner, lost deck hand Albert Buntin, 20. The Danish barque Zampar, of Copenhagen, bound from Leith to Copenhagen with coals put into Grimsby damaged. The master Captain Stark reported loss of seaman Alfred Lowdon, 31, a native of Copenhagen. Loss of Mr George Little, 48, skipper, very well known in the fishing trade, ex admiral for the Hull fleets and Messrs Atwards steam cutters. (possibly aboard the Olga?) The William Gibbs sailed the Friday before the gale. Eventually the Grimsby News published as near as correct a list as it could: 12 smacks lost, the Nancy, Elizabeth, Medora, Avoset, Rose, Zenobia, Leader, William Gibbs (Joseph Dawson, skipper), Lark, Cornelia, Emu and Otter. 96 lives lost, leaving 35 widows, 5 aged parents and 63 fatherless children. Five or six of the widows were pregnant. Times 21 April 1883 - Hull lost 32 smacks 200 fishermen with 65 widows, 200 plus orphans and many aged parents. Over £3,300 collected in Hull through local response, but not enough to meet the need. There has been no such disaster for 30 years. Grimsby lost 12 smacks - 96 men and boys, 34 widows and 67 orphans under 14, many fisher lads the entire support of widowed mothers. Cast a gloom over the whole town, the inhabitants have donated £1,000 to the fund. Brightlingsea near Colchester 21 drowned, 12 widows and 32 young children. Scarborough and Filey 20 drowned, 14 widows, 43 orphans and 18 aged parents. Gt Yarmouth 36 drowned, 18 widows, three apprentices and a number of orphans. In a letter from the Lord Mayor of London who met with Mayors of Hull, Grimsby and Colchester, plis representatives from Scarborough, Filey, Yarmouth and Lowestoft appealing for a national relief fund to be set up: "The statements made to me by that deputation were of a very distressing character being to the effect that in one gale alone no less than 982 men and boys were drowned, leaving entirely destitute 146 widows and 400 orphan children, many aged parents and other relatives of those who perished. "About 200 belonged to Hull, 96 to Grimsby, 12 to Scarborough, 8 to Filey, and nine to Lowestoft and the bereaved people are divided in about the same proportion in these various districts. May 18 Grimsby News: A women's suffrage meeting was held in the town. The Mayor was unable to attend but gave his full support. Mrs Shearer started the meeting by referring to the gale. She said men were entitled to vote if they paid rates, and it was "just possible to be hoped" their widows and orphans would keep a roof over their heads without calling on the ratepayers and if they were able to do that, why shouldn't they have a vote? Same date: Mayor's Treat to Widows One evening last week the Mayor, W Jackson Esq entertained to tea in the Iron Bethel the widows of the fishermen lost in the recent storm. His lordship's kindness was partaken of by about 50 females who sat down to a well furnished tea table. After tea there was a pleasant and profitable meeting, the Mayor presiding and being supported by the Revs William Orton, J Russell and Mr Bernard Monda (port missionary.) Appropriate hymns were sung and addresses made, and the mayor's thoughtfulness for the widows thus resulted in a most interesting and elevating gathering. The mayoress Mrs Jackson, with Mrs Webney (Wenney??) Mrs Goodfellow and Mrs Monda officiated at the trays and the latter good lady also officiated at the harmonium. (Abide with me.) -------------------------------------------------- *** Last updated: 14-April-2004 ***