The Storm

by Daniel Defoe

  Several of our Ships were driven over to those parts, and some lost there, and the story of our great Ships which rid it out, at or near the Gunfleet, should have come in here, if the Collector could have met with any Person that was in any of the said Vessels, but as the accounts he expected did not come in the time for the Impression, they were of necessity left out.

  The Association, a Second Rate, on Board whereof was Sir Stafford Fairborn,24 was one of these, and was blown from the Mouth of the Thames to the Coast of Norway, a particular whereof as Printed in the Annals of the Reign of Queen Anns’ is as follows.25

  An Account of Sir Stafford Fairborne’s Distress in the late Storm.

  SIR

  Her Majesty’s Ship Association, a second Rate of 96 Guns, commanded by Sir Stafford Fairborne, Vice-Admiral of the Red, and under him Captain Richard Canning, sailed from the Downs the 24th of November last, in Company with seven other Capital Ships, under the Command of the Honourable Sir Cloudesley Shovel, Admiral of the White, in their return from Leghorn up the River. They anchored that Night off of the Long-sand-head. The next Day struck Yards and Top-Masts. The 27th about three in the Morning, the Wind at West South West, encreased to a Hurricane, which drove the Association from her Anchors. The Night was exceeding dark, but what was more Dreadful, the Galloper, a very dangerous Sand, was under her Lee; so that she was in Danger of striking upon it, beyond the Power of Man to avoid it. Driving thus at the Mercy of the Waves, it pleased God, that about five a Clock she passed over the tail of the Galloper in seven Fathom of Water. The Sea boisterous and angry, all in a Foam, was ready to swallow her up; and the Ship received at that time a Sea on her Starboard-side, which beat over all, broke and washed several half Ports, and forced in the entering Port.26 She took in such a vast quantity of Water, that it kept her down upon her side, and every Body believ’d, that she could not have risen again, had not the Water been speedily let down into the hold by scuttling the Decks. During this Consternation two of the Lower-Gun-Deck-Ports were pressed open by this mighty weight of Water, the most hazardous Accident, next to touching the Ground, that could have happened to us. But the Port, that had been forced open, being readily secured by the Direction and Command of the Vice-Admiral, who, though much indisposed, was upon Deck all that time, prevented any farther Mischief. As the Ship still drove with the Wind, she was not long in this Shoal, (where it was impossible for any Ship to have lived at that time) but came into deeper Water, and then she had a smoother Sea. However the Hurricane did not abate, but rather seemed to gather Strength. For Words were no sooner uttered, but they were carried away by the Wind, so that although those upon Deck spoke loud and close to one another, yet they could not often distinguish what was said; and when they opened their Mouths, their Breath was almost taken away. Part of the Sprit Sail, tho’ fast furled, was blown away from the Yard. A Ten-Oar-Boat, that was lashed on her Starboard-side, was often hove up by the Strength of the Wind, and over-set upon her Gun-Wale.27 We plainly saw the Wind skimming up the Water, as if it had been Sand, carrying it up into the Air, which was then so thick and gloomy, that Day light, which should have been comfortable to us, did, but make it appear more ghastly. The Sun by intervals peeped through the corner of a Cloud, but soon disappearing, gave us a more melancholick Prospect of the Weather. About 11 a Clock it dispersed the Clouds, and the Hurricane abated into a more moderate Storm, which drove us over to the Bank of Flanders, and thence along the Coast of Holland and Friesland to the entrance of the Elb, where the 4th of December we had almost as violent a Storm, as when we drove from our Anchors, the Wind at North West, driving us directly upon the Shoar. So that we must all have inevitably perished, had not God mercifully favoured us about 10 a Clock at night with a South West Wind, which gave us an opportunity to put to Sea. But being afterwards driven near the Coast of Norway, the Ship wanting Anchors and Cables, our Wood and Candles wholly expended; no Beer on Board, nor any thing else in lieu; every one reduced to one quart of Water per Day, the Men, who had been harrassed at Belle Isle;28 and in our Mediterranean Voyage, now jaded by the continual Fatigues of the Storms, falling sick every Day, the Vice-Admiral in this exigency thought it advisable to put into Gottenbourgh, the only Port where we could hope to be supplied. We arrived there the 11th of December, and having without lost of time got Anchors and Cables from Copenhagen, and Provisions from Gottenbourgh, we sailed thence the Third of January, with twelve Merchant Men under our Convoy, all loaden with Stores for her Majesty’s Navy. The Eleventh following we prevented four French Privateers29 from taking four of our Store-Ships. At Night we anchored off the Long-Sand-Head. Weighed again the next Day, but soon came to an Anchor, because it was very hazy Weather. Here we rid against a violent Storm, which was like to have put us to Sea. But after three Days very bad Weather, we weighed and arrived to the Buoy of the Nore the 23d of January, having run very great Risks among the Sands. For we had not only contrary Winds, but also very tempestuous Winds. We lost 28 Men by Sickness, contracted by the Hardships which they endur’d in the bad Weather; and had not Sir Stafford Fairborne by his great care and diligence, got the Ship out of Gottenbourgh

  and by that prevented her being frozen up, most part of the Sailers had perished afterwards by the severity of the Winter, which is intolerable Cold in those parts.

  Of the Damage to the Navy

  This is a short but terrible Article, there was one Ship called the York, which was lost about 3 days before the great Storm off of Harwich, but most of the Men were saved.

  The loss immediately sustain’d in the Royal Navy during the Storm, is included in the List hereunto annex’d, as appears from the Navy Books.

  The damage done to the Ships that were sav’d, is past our Power to compute. The Admiral, Sir Cloudesley Shovel with the great Ships, had made sail but the day before out of the Downs, and were taken with the Storm as they lay at or near the Gunfleet, where they being well provided with Anchors and Cables, rid it out, tho’ in great extremity, expecting death every minute.

  The loss of small Vessels hir’d into the Service, and tending the Fleet, is not included in this, nor can well be, several such Vessels, and some with Soldiers on Board, being driven away to Sea, and never heard of more.

  The loss of the Light-House, call’d the Eddystone at Plymouth, is another Article, of which we never heard any particulars other than this; that at Night it was standing, and in the Morning all the upper part from the Gallery was blown down, and all the People in it perished, and by a particular Misfortune, Mr. Winstanly,1 the Contriver of it, a Person whose loss is very much regreted by such as knew him, as a very useful Man to his Country: The loss of that Light-House is also a considerable Damage, as ’tis very doubtful whether it will be ever attempted again, and as it was a great Security to the Sailors, many a good Ship having been lost there in former Times.

  It was very remarkable, that, as we are inform’d, at the same time the Light-House abovesaid was blown down, the Model of it in Mr. Windstanlys’ House at Littlebury in Essex, above 200 Miles from the Light-House, fell down, and was broken to pieces.

  There are infinite Stories of like nature with these, the Disasters at Sea are full of a vast variety, what we have recommended to the view of the World in this History, may stand as an Abridgment; and the Reader is only to observe that these are the short Representations, by which he may guess at the most dreadful Night, these parts of the World ever saw.

  To relate all Things, that report Furnishes us with, would be to make the story exceed common probability, and look like Romance.

  Tis a sad and serious Truth, and this part of it is preserv’d to Posterity to assist them in reflecting on the Judgments of God, and handing them on for the Ages to come.

  Of the Earthquake

  Tho’ this was some time after the Storm, yet as the Accounts of the Storm bring it with them in the following Letters, we cannot omit it.

  The two following Letters are from the respective Ministers of Boston and Hull, and rel
ate to the Account of the Earthquake, which was felt over most part of the County of Lincoln and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

  The Letter from Hull, from the Reverend Mr. Banks, Minister of the Place, is very particular, and deserves intire Credit, both from the extraordinary Character of the worthy Gentleman who writes it, and from its exact Correspondence with other Accounts.

  SIR

  I receiv’d yours, wherein you acquaint me with a Design that (I doubt not) will meet with that Applause and Acceptance from the World which it deserves; but am in no capacity to be any way serviceable to it my self, the late Hurricane having more frighted than hurt us in these Parts. I doubt not but your Intelligence in general from the Northern Parts of the Nation, supplies you with as little Matter as what you have from these hereabouts, it having been less violent and mischievous that way. Some Stacks of Chimneys were over-turn’d here, and from one of them a little Child of my own was (thanks be to God) almost miraculously preserv’d, with a Maid that lay in the Room with him. I hear of none else this way that was so much as in danger, the Storm beginning here later than I perceive it did in some other Places, its greatest Violence being betwixt 7 and 8 in the Morning, when most People were stirring.

  The Earthquake, which the Publick Accounts mention to have happen’d at Hull and Lincoln upon the 28th ult. was felt here by some People about 6 in the Evening, at the same time that People there, as well as at Grantham and other Places, perceived it. We have some flying Stories about it which look like fabulous, whose Credit therefore I wou’d not be answerable for; as, that upon Lincoln-Heath the Ground was seen to open, and Flashes of Fire to issue out of the Chasm.

  I doubt this Account will hardly be thought worth the Charge of Passage: Had there been any thing else of note, you had been very readily serv’d by,

  SIR, Your Humble Servant,

  Boston, Jan. 8. 1703. E. K.

  SIR

  I am afraid that you will believe me very rude, that yours, which I receiv’d the 12th of April, has not sooner receiv’d such an Answer as you expect and desire, and truly I think deserve; for, a Design so generous, as to undertake to transmit to Posterity, A Memorial of the dreadful Effects of the late terrible Tempest (that when God’s Judgments are in the World, they may be made so publick, as to ingage the Inhabitants of the Earth to learn Righteousness) ought to receive all possible Encouragement.

  But the true Reason why I writ no sooner, was, Because, by the most diligent Enquiries I cou’d make, I cou’d not learn what Harm that dreadful Tempest did in the Humber; neither indeed can I yet give you any exact Account of it: for, the great Mischief was done in the Night; which was so Pitch-dark, that of above 80 Ships that then rid in the Humber, about Grimsby Road, very few escap’d some Loss or other, and none of ’em were able to give a Relation of any body but themselves.

  The best Account of the Effects of the Storm in the Humber, that I have yet met with, I received but Yesterday, from Mr. Peter Walls, who is Master of that Watch-Tower, call’d the Spurn-Light, at the Humber Mouth, and was present there on the Night of the 26th of November, the fatal Night of the Storm.

  He did verily believe that his Pharos1 (which is above 20 Yards high) wou’d have been blown down; and the Tempest made the Fire in it burn so vehemently, that it melted down the Iron-bars on which it laid, like Lead; so that they were forced, when the Fire was by this means almost extinguished, to put in new Bars, and kindle the Fire a-fresh, which they kept in till the Morning Light appear’d: And then Peter Walls observed about six or seven and twenty Sail of Ships, all driving about the Spurn-Head, some having cut, others broke their Cables, but all disabled, and render’d helpless. These were a part of the two Fleets that then lay in the Humber, being put in there by stress of Weather a day or two before, some from Russia, and the rest of ’em Colliers, to and from Newcastle. Of these, three were driven upon an Island call’d the Den, within the Spurn in the Mouth of the Humber.

  The first of these no sooner touch’d Ground, but she over-set, and turn’d up her Bottom; out of which, only one of six (the Number of that Ship’s Company) was lost, being in the Shrowds: the other five were taken up by the second Ship, who had sav’d their Boat. In this Boat were saved all the Men of the three Ships aforementioned (except as before excepted) and came to Mr. Wallss’ House, at the Spurn-Head, who got them good Fires, and all Accommodations necessary for them in such a Distress. The second Ship having no body aboard, was driven to Sea, with the Violence of the Tempest, and never seen or heard of more. The third, which was then a-ground, was (as he supposes) broken up and driven; for nothing, but some Coals that were in her, was to be seen the next Morning.

  Another Ship, the Day after, viz. the 27th of November, was riding in Grimsby Road, and the Ships Company (except two Boys) being gone a-shore, the Ship, with the two Lads in her, drive directly out of Humber, and was lost, tho’ ’tis verily believ’d the two Boys were saved by one of the Russia Ships, or Convoys.

  The same Day, in the Morning, one John Baines, a Yarmouth Master, was in his Ship, riding in Grimsby Road, and by the Violence of the Storm, some other Ships coming foul upon him, part of his Ship was broken down, and was driven towards Sea; whereupon he anchored under Kilnsey-Land, and with his Crew came safe a-shore, in his Boat, but the Ship was never seen more.

  The remainder of the six or seven and twenty Sail aforesaid, being (as was before observed) driven out of the Humber, very few, if any of ’em, were ever heard of; and ’tis rationally believ’d, that all, or the most of them, perished. And indeed, altho’ the Storm was not so violent here as it was about Portsmouth, Yarmouth Roads, and the Southern Coast, yet the Crews of the three Ships above-mentioned declare, that they were never out in so dismal a Night as that was of the 26th of November, in which the considerable Fleet aforesaid rid in Grimsby Road in the Humber; for most of the 80 Sail broke from their Anchors, and run foul one upon another; but by reason of the Darkness of the Night, they cou’d see very little of the Mischief that was done.

  This is the best Account I can give you at present of the Effects of the Tempest in the Humber; whereas had the Enquiry been made immediately after the Storm was over, a great many more of remarkable Particulars might have been discover’d.

  As to the Earthquake here, tho’ I perceiv’d it not my self (being then walking to visit a sick Parishoner) yet it was so sensibly felt by so many Hundreds, that I cannot in the least question the Truth and Certainty of it.

  It happen’d here, and in these Parts, upon Innocents’ Day,2 the 28th of December, being Tuesday, about Five of the Clock in the Evening, or thereabout. Soon after I gave as particular Account as I cou’d learn of it, to that ingenious Antiquary Mr. Thorsby of Leeds in Yorkshire,3 but had no time to keep a Copy of my Letter to him, nor have I leisure to transcribe a Copy of this to you, having so constant a Fatigue of Parochial business to attend; nor will my Memory serve me to recollect all the Circumstances of that Earthquake, as I sent them to Mr. Thoresby; and possibly he may have communicated that Letter to you, or will upon your least intimation, being a generous Person, who loves to communicate any thing that may be serviceable to the Publick.

  However, lest I shou’d seem to decline the gratifying your Request, I will recollect, and here set down, such of the Circumstances of that Earthquake as do at present occur to my Memory.

  It came with a Noise like that of a Coach in the Streets, and mightily shak’d both the Glass Windows, Pewter, China Pots and Dishes, and in some places threw them down off the Shelves on which they stood. It did very little Mischief in this Town, except the throwing down a Piece of one Chimney. Several Persons thought that a great Dog was got under the Chair they sat upon; and others fell from their Seats, for fear of falling. It frighted several Persons, and caus’d ’em for a while to break off their Reading, or Writing, or what they were doing.

  They felt but one Shake here: but a Gentleman in Nottinghamshire told me, that being then lame upon his Bed, he felt three Shakes, like the three Rocks of
a Cradle, to and again.

  At Laceby in Lincolnshire, and in several other Parts of that County, as well as of the Counties of York and Nottingham, the Earthquake was felt very sensibly; and particularly at Laceby aforesaid. There happen’d this remarkable Story.

  On Innocents’ Day, in the Afternoon, several Morrice-Dancers came thither from Grimsby; and after they had Danc’d and play’d their Tricks, they went towards Alesby, a little Town not far off: and as they were going about Five a Clock, they felt two such terrible Shocks of the Earth, that they had much ado to hold their Feet, and thought the Ground was ready to open, and swallow ’em up. Whereupon thinking that God was angry at ’em for playing the Fool, they return’d immediately to Laceby in a great Fright, and the next Day home, not daring to pursue their intended Circuit and Dancing.

  I think ’tis the Observation of Dr. Willis, that upon an Earthquake the Earth sends forth noisome Vapours which infect the Air, as the Air does our Bodies: and accordingly it has prov’d here, where we have ever since had a most sickly time, and the greatest Mortality that has been in this Place for 15 Years last past: and so I believe it has been over the greatest part of England. This, SIR, is the best Account I can give you of the Earthquake, which had com’d sooner, but that I was desirous to get likewise the best Account I cou’d of the Effects of the Storm in the Humber. My humble Service to the Undertakers: and if in any thing I am capable to serve them or you, please freely to command,

  SIR, Your most humble Servant,

  Ro. Banks.

  We have a farther Account of this in two Letters from Mr. Thoresby, F.R.S. and written to the Publisher of the Philosophical Transactions, and printed in their Monthly Collection, No. 289. as follows, which is the same mentioned by Mr. Banks.