3-053-656 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Sinking of a collier off Lowestoft - the yacht Violet at hand, 1873. 'Mr. J. R. Kirby, Rear Commodore of the Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club, and owner of the yacht Violet, met with an extraordinary adventure...while running past Aldborough...He made a sketch from which we have made an Engraving. "...the sea was increasing, and we were observing a large brigantine near us, with all her canvas set. Then suddenly,...the vessel made one plunge, and went down head first. I could hardly believe my eyes at such a sudden disappearance, but I of course immediately bore down to the spot, and found that the crew, six in number, had just had time to jump into their boat and save themselves, with, a cat and a dog. I took them on board my yacht, gave them a breakfast, and, with their boat in tow, stood in for Harwich, where I landed them about noon, retaining the cat and dog as souvenirs of such an extraordinary adventure, and these animals have already made themselves quite at home in their new ship. The captain told me that his vessel was the William, of Exeter, 200 tons burden. She was laden with coal,...but had fallen in with heavy weather, and sprung a leak. The men were nearly exhausted with pumping, when the vessel went down under them".' From "Illustrated London News", 1873.