[From Manx Annals,1901/2]

MANX ANNALS.
EIGHTY YEARS AGO.

CHAPTER XIX.

LEAVES FROM A MANXMAN'S SCRAPBOOK.

1815. January 28th.- "Gale from S.E. yesterday. The 'Douglas' reported passing a dismasted vessel, which was seen rolling among the billowy waves - having neither mast nor canvas standing except a bit of sail which the crew had fixed to a ladder. The vessel was afterwards taken into Douglas harbour. She turned out to be the sloop Vulcan, of Whitehaven to Dublin with glass to the value of £15,000."

April- "R. Boston is exhibiting his apparatus for producing that curious thing, the gas light, at his house in King street, Douglas. The flame has neither smoke nor smell. He undertook to construct for anyone the apparatus, which is so simple, he says, that "any person of the meanest capacity, can make the gaslight by it. You pay a shilling to see the gas being made." (This was some years before Mr. Gelling, ironmonger, of Douglas, fitted up his apparatus for making gas for the use of the public.)

May. R. Fell states that "he has added several new prints to his old established Manx manufactory of paper hangings; he has likewise reduced his prices, so that the public may now be accommodated with paperhangings from 2s 6d to 20s ; and assures the public that, from his long practice of mixing colours, any common joiner can hang his paper without the least particle of the colour sticking to his fingers." (Who would have thought that such a manufactory existed in the Island eighty or ninety years ago ?Yet Fell's was not the only one, for, in 1816, James Radcliffe, cabinet maker, acquaints his friends that he "has just commenced printing -paper hangings with a new set of patterns that have not been in the Island before.)

May 20.-"On Thursday last a young woman,Ann Kissack fell down a precipice of over a hundred feet among the rocks, near Peel. There are little hopes of her recovery,"

Enigma-Manx made.

" A place where ladies love to go,
A vowel add-neither i nor o,
And what we do in summer eat-
Omit a letter of this treat.
If the rest are then combined,
A well-known village you will find."

Solution.

" Ball is where the ladies go;
The vowel is neither i nor o ;
Sallad is food in summer we eat,
And is esteemed a wholesome treat.
Put them together-it will be plain
That Ballasalla is where you mean."

September 29th-' Great havoc at Douglas. The sloop Chester, of Liverpool, with a cargo of pigs from Newry, was wrecked, on Conister. A herring boat went on the rocks at Fort Anne, and another sank in the middle of the harbour with forty mease of herrings on board, A Dutch vessel ran on shore at Poolvash, with thirty-five pieces, of Geneva. She went to pieces. A dismasted ship sank off Port Soderick ; the crew in attempting to reach shore in their small boat were all drowned. A water spaniel swam whore, with brass collar on which was 'John Grey, Kilbride.' On the wreckage was ' Gleaner,' of Kilbride.'

October 6th.-" On Sunday last the body of John Herd, of Malew, who was washed over. board from his fishing boat on the 11th ult, was cast up north of Douglas."

October 27th,-"Gale on Friday. Three herring boats drifted from their anchors and were driven on shore--one totally lost Crews saved"

"The Castletown, a new vessel belonging to Messrs Barrows and Co. employed as a trader between Liverpool and Castletown, sailed from Derbyhaven on Thursday night with a cargo of herrings, and a number of passengers. On Friday morning she was driven on Langness Point, and west to pieces. Through the intrepid exertions of Martin, the mate, who reached the share with a rope fastened round his body, the passengers and crew were all saved. Joseph Stowell, a passenger of Castletown, swam immediately after Martin, and the two kept the rope tight for the others to escape the wrecked vessel".

"Same day an Irish, fishing boat was driven out at Derbyhaven and dismasted; the crew, except one man, saved themselves by getting on another boat The one man remained on the wreck and went down with her." .

1818, January 11th.-" The quantities of goods allowed into the lsland in one year - 80 tons and 188 gals of wine, 433 gals, brandy from England, 440 gals. brandy from Scotland ; 21,000 lbs. tobacco, 5,600lbs. Bohea tea, 280lbs. green tea, 1,386 lbs. coffee 150 live sheep.

March 28th.-Shoplifting and other specimens of theft have become very prevalent in Douglas."

"To be let, that elegant house on Prospect Hill with neat flower court in front, now in the occupation of Sir William Hillary."

June 27th.-"Died at Castletown on Sunday, in 51st year, John Russel Crellin, first Deemster He was Deemster twenty-two years. Was buried at Michael, attended by the Duke of Athol, and all the Officers of the Staff and Bar. The service was by the Bishop:"

"Died on Thursday last at Ballagawne, in. 82nd year, Mrs. Jane Gawne, relict of Edward Gawne and mother of High-Bailiff of Douglas and Attorney-General Thos. Gawne, and of Edward Gawne of Mount Gawne, and sister, of the late John Taubman, of the Bowling Green, Castletown.'

"A female club has been recently established at Douglas, called the ' Isle of Man Sisterly Society, the object of which is by means of monthly subscriptions to make provision for season of affliction; Many matrons have enrolled themselves."

July 4th.-"The largest halibut we remember ever to have seen was brought to Douglas Market on, Friday last from Peel, caught by. a handline. Weighed 2001bs. Sold-at twopence and threepence a pound." . .

August 8th.-" Wm. Kelly of the Union MilIs says forgery has again been made on his notes. -The back, of the cards had a picture of the Union Mills, He offers £30 for information."

"Died on Sunday, aged 40, Mrs. Gawne, wife of Edward Gawne, of Mount Gawne."

August 12th.--" Birthday of the Prince Regent. Vessels in the habour all in colours. At noon the guns of H.M. Schooner Alban - then in the bay - were fired. At night there was a ball. On the same day the Douglas Artificers had their fifth anniversary, and walked through the streets."

October 25th.-."The Ancient and Honorable Order of Buck's met and walked to St. Matthews, and afterwards had a dinner . in honour of the King's ascension fifty-six years ago.

October 20th.- "To-day the brig Dove, of Newport, with wheat, was driven on shore at Peel and totally wrecked-crew saved."

November 7th.-" In the night of the 24th ult. a herring boat, belonging to Ballaugh, in proceeding from Peel to Ramsey, was lost on a mudbank off Andreas called Kellagh-e-rue, when the crew of nine were drowned."

December 4th.-"'The Departure, We promise ourselves no small amusement from a perusal of this native minor drama. We have read the first scene, which exhibits a lively imagination, and exposes in the most ludicrous manner the too usual custom of leaving tradespeople in the lurch. The author wanted it inserted in the Advertiser, but the latter advised to have it as a pamphlet ..

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2009