Ann Louisa - Hartlepool - 1883

Hartlepool Northern Dail Mail, Wednesday, February 7th, 1883:
WRECK AT HARTLEPOOL. A SEAMAN DROWNED. EXCITING SCENE. In a strong gale blowing from the S.S.E this morning, about five o’clock, the schooner Ann Louisa, of Rye, owned by Mr. Judson, of Seaham Harbour, drove on to the rocks below the new pier at Hartlepool and immediately became total wreck. From the statement the master, Captain Booth, it appears that Ann Louisa left Seaham on Sunday last bound for Southampton with a cargo of coal. She proceeded all well as far as Flamborough Head, bearing up through strong gales and heavy seas, and arrived north of the Hartlepool head soon after four o'clock this morning. Here she became unmanageable in the heavy sea, and not answering her helm drove on to the rocks.
The rocket apparatus, under command of chief boatman Temple, of the coastguard, was soon brought into position, and aided by a number of willing hands, who, hearing the distressful cries of the crew rushed to the spot, five rockets were fired. All five went over the vessel, but owing to the exhausted state of the crew it was some time before any of the lines were made fast. The masts now snapped and fell, and the vessel began to part when one of the men dropped from the cage into the water, a coastguardsman and a civilian, however, whose names we have yet been unable to ascertain, were lowered into the sea, and succeeded in rescuing him.
All hands were brought in safety to shore, with the exception of one, Wm. Sharp, aged 18, who is supposed to have been washed over-board. He was last seen under lee of the galley, and immediately afterwards disappeared.
When landed the wants the crew were administered to by Mr. Richard Robinson, lifeboat coxswain, who lives at No. 6, Catherine Street. The schooner is now utterly demolished, her bottom being store in, and she must shortly go to pieces.

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