Part 45 (2/2)

Nov. 6th. Mr. James Sharman, keeper of the Nelson Monument, died, aged 82 years. He was a Trafalgar veteran, and one who a.s.sisted Lord Nelson in his dying moments.

Nov. 10th. The Rifle Volunteer Drill Hall opened by the Mayor, Captain E. P. Youell. Cost 1,200.

Dec. 2nd. High tide; the Southtown Road and various parts of the town near the river were inundated, through the banks of Breydon being broken.

On the following day there was a heavy gale, when the Gorleston lifeboat ”Rescuer” was again capsized (see Jan. 13th, 1866) through collision with the fis.h.i.+ng lugger ”James and Ellen,” and 23 were drowned, including 11 of the crew of the ”George Kendall,” for whose widows and orphans a special donation of 234 was received. The number of men lost off the coast was 85, leaving 33 widows and 71 children dest.i.tute.

Launches: April 16th, fis.h.i.+ng boat ”Express,” from Messrs. Hastings Brothers' yard; May 20th, smack ”Spring Flower,” from Messrs. King and Baker's yard; July 4th, smack ”Pathfinder,” from Messrs. J. and H.

Beeching's yard; July 8th, smack ”Hermit,” from Mr. A. J. Palmer's yard; Aug. 13th, smack ”Mermaid,” from Mr. Rust's yard; Aug. 20th, model pleasure boat ”Nonpareil,” from Messrs. Aldred and Morl's yard; Sept.

10th, smack ”Olga,” from Messrs. Fellows' yard; Oct. 24th, smack ”Silver Cloud,” from Messrs. Critten and Clarke's yard; Oct. 31st, Mr. Lawrie's small steamtug ”Enterprise,” she being the first iron vessel built at this Port.

Dec. 6th. The Haven Commissioners resolved to borrow 27,188 15s. for Haven improvements.

Dec. 26th. An original local Christmas pantomime, ent.i.tled _Neptune's Decree_, &c., was produced at the Theatre Royal, written by ”Felix,” a local author.

Deaths: March 2nd, W. H. Bessey, Esq., J.P.-Dec. 25th, W. Mayes Bond, Esq., aged 66.-Dec. 31st, Mr. J. Norman, aged 80.

1868.

Jan. 3rd. The schooner ”Roberts” driven on the North Sand near the mouth of the Harbour, 300 yards from the sh.o.r.e, and her crew bravely rescued out of her shrouds by Mr. J. M. Petts and four beachmen.-The brig ”Carl Frederick” was lost the same morning on Hasbro' Sand, with seven of her crew, two boys only being saved.

Jan. 9th. F. Diver, Esq., of Yarmouth, commander of the R.M.S. ”Roman,”

presented with a handsome watch, subscribed for by the pa.s.sengers of the s.h.i.+p for having completed a voyage from this country to Table Bay in thirty days.

Jan. 23rd. At midnight a destructive fire took place in a shop in the Market Row, and three precious lives (a lady named Mrs. Pigg, and two children) were sacrificed, and property destroyed and damaged to the amount of 3,000.

Feb. 8th. The fis.h.i.+ng lugger ”Flying Fish” fouled the sunken wreck of the barque ”Lord Clyde,” and foundered in the Roadstead.

March 6th. The cigar steams.h.i.+p ”Walter S. Winans,” of Havre, arrived in the Harbour. Dimensions-length, 112 ft.; deck, 66 ft. in length; width amids.h.i.+ps, 5 ft.; 24 tons register.

April 29th. The brig ”Ewerette” foundered opposite the Monument.

April 29th. The Rev. W. T. Harrison, minister of St. John's Church, presented with a chaste silver tea and coffee pot, cream jug, and sugar basin, value 50, by 300 of the members of his congregation, previous to leaving for Thorpe Morieux, Suffolk. He was succeeded by Rev. R. J.

Dundas.

May 11th. The Regent Hall, a wooden structure on Regent Road, opened, after being converted from a circus to a music-hall. It was pulled down in 1874. (See 1866.)

May 23rd. Mr. William Jones died. In the early part of his life he served as a seaman in the navy, and was present at several engagements under Sir Charles Napier.

June. Robert Cory, Esq., pa.s.sed his examination and admitted an Attorney of the Court of Queen's Bench and other Courts, and as a Solicitor in Chancery.

June 10th. Mr. Robert Clifton, master mariner, died at Southtown, aged 85. In early life and during the French war he was seized by the press-gang while ash.o.r.e at Newcastle, and carried on board a man-of-war, where he served several years till being landed an invalid.

July 13th to 22nd. Chang, the Chinese Giant, aged 22, and nearly 9 ft.

in height, said to be the largest man in the world, with his wife King-Foo, exhibited at the old Corn Hall.

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