2-791-579 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Wreck of "The Waterman" steamer, off Hastings, 1844. '...this gallant little craft met with the following serious accident off Hastings. It appears that she arrived at Dover from Ostend...and left that port about noon on a pleasure trip to Hastings, having on board a party of the directors of the company, Mr. Penn, the engineer, and several other gentlemen. She arrived at Hastings...and in passing the town unfortunately too near in shore, struck on a dangerous reef off the Priory, known as the Castle Rocks, which she passed over, and injured her bottom. It being found that the water was flowing fast into her, she was put about, and run on the sand off the Parade, where she filled as the tide flowed, and at high water the hull was covered. A quantity of empty casks were slung round her during the evening, by means of which she was got further in, and on Sunday she was pumped out, and had her leaks stopped. She has since floated off, and been removed opposite the Priory stade for the purpose of undergoing repairs'. From "Illustrated London News", 1844, Vol I.