Wreck of a Yacht. On Saturday morning, Sept. 15th a maritime casualty occurred in front of Hastings under singular circumstances. The pleasure yacht “Sabrina”, of 27 tons measurement, belonging to W. Halliday, Esq., of Cowes, but hired by Mr. Carter, a gentleman near Battle, anchored in the roadstead on Thursday, en route for the Thames regatta. A holiday was given to the master and crew, and, as the weather was fine, the yacht was left without anyone in charge. At night a S.W. gale came on, and made it very risky for the crew to go off. Some of the Hastings ferrymen made proposals to go out to the yacht, but these were declined. At 7.30 on the following morning the chain cable of the unoccupied craft broke, and soon the Sabrina was ashore among the rocks under the East cliff. There she broke up in a very short time. She was insured for £250, but it was doubtful whether it could be claimed under the circumstances.
Capt. Sleigh's Harbour Scheme
A Floating Harbour.
The wreck of the yacht Sabrina, described above, was instanced by a correspondent of the local press as a proof of the necessity of a harbour which was then being proposed. A Mayor’s meeting was held in the Music Hall on the 3rd of September to consider the propriety of forming a harbour on the principle designed by Capt. Sleigh. Addresses were delivered by the Mayor (E. Hayles, Esq.) and Capt. Claxton in favour of the scheme, after which Capt. Sleigh gave an exposition of his plan, in which it was shewn that for £6,000 a floating breakwater of 200 yards might be constructed that would afford shelter for ordinary sized vessel and a promenade terrace under its lee. If at any time it was desirable to extend its dimensions, the designer explained that it might be done at a cost of £50 per yard run. The scheme was warmly supported by Messrs Ross and Putland, Lord Harry Vane, the Rev. W. W. Hume, Mr. J. Rock, jun. and Mr. Beecham. There were, however, persons present who, if not opposed to a harbour in toto, were certainly disinclined to favour the scheme there advocated. These dissentients found exponents in the persons of Messrs. Howell, Womersley, and Harvey. Nevertheless, a committee was formed for carrying out the contemplated object, whose names were the Rev. W. W. Hume, G. H. M. Wagner Esq., A. Burton, Esq. and Messrs Ross, Rock, Putland, Bromley, Beecham and Bannister, together with the Mayor.
The Hastings News, on the following Friday had an editorial, with which the St. Leonards Gazette coincided, as follows:- “The public meeting has been held – some glowing speeches have been delivered – and a committee formed to attempt the realization of the visions which dazzled the imaginations of some of our good townspeople on Monday. So far the movement has taken more definate(sic) shape, and -
