On This Day in Wembury — January 4, 1873
A fierce south-south-west gale swept the Channel overnight, bringing heavy squalls of wind and rain.
At the mouth of the River Yealm, the schooner Western Star, commanded by Captain Williams and carrying a cargo of currants from Zante, was driven ashore on Wembury Beach.
The crew were all saved, though the ship lay stranded in rough seas while efforts were made to recover her cargo.
It was one of many winter tempests that tested both sailors and the coastal communities of Devon.
Source: Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, 4 January 1873.
Curated and written by Wembury Waves using material from the British Newspaper Archive.
Entries are summaries and interpretations of historical newspaper reports.
Entries are summaries and interpretations of historical newspaper reports.