in crumbling masses to the base of the said cliff abutting the road. At several points between the Caves and the Railway Terminus Inn there are traces of an “avalanche” but in every instance, it is our pleasure to say, out of the range of buildings in that locality. It is fortunate that, not long since, a portion of the cliff was cut down in the rear of the buildings known as the Marina Inn and Caves Cottages, or we should have trembled for their safety.”
Snow Storm.
“Early on Wednesday morning (says the Hastings News) there was a heavy fall of snow in this district. The London nightmail on Thursday morning arrived two hours late, and the Dover mail was obliged to be brought in by the first train from Rye. Throughout the northern counties snow fell to a considerable depth on Tuesday night.” Tuesday was the 18th of December, and the weather forecast for that day (published several days in advance) was “Fair and mild for time of year; night brings wintry atmosphere.” On the following day, Wednesday, the forecast was “Sol and Saturn now in trine[1]; still more cold and still less fine.” And on Thursday, when the mails were impeded, the forecast was “Saturn now doth stand at ease; bidding ground and water freeze; where not that, a chilly blow; with, methinks, a fall of snow.” The forecasts were published in the St. Leonards Gazette.
A Summer Gale.
On Saturday the 2nd of June, a tempestuous gale visited the south coast, and caused destruction of property on land and loss of life at sea. Although in our own immediate district the loss of property was comparatively small, no fewer than ten of the Hastings fishermen found a watery grave along the coast. Of these, Edward Pomphrey and his son, White, Sutton, Mann, Britt and Spice, whilst attempting to get into Newhaven harbour, in the fishing lugger Endeavour, were drowned. Two others, Gallop and White, were submerged whilst making a similar attempt, and the tenth, (Sutton) was lost near Brighton. There had been a succession of gales quite ununusal(sic) for that time of year for nearly a week, but coincidentally, nevertheless, with untoward astronomical indications. On that particular Saturday the planet Mercury was in conjunction with Herschel and Jupiter, whilst the Moon was in quartile aspect to Saturn, and trine position with Jupiter and Venus. During that stormy week, as shown by the Board of Trade returns, there were no fewer than 143 wrecks, and on the particular Saturday here noticed 51 more were added to the lamentable wreck-roll. “As we were going to press, remarked the St. Leonards Gazette, of June 9th, a public meeting, convened by the Mayor, was being held for organising relief for the -
- ↑ Trine = an astronomical term meaning relating to, or being the favourable astrological aspect of two celestial bodies 120˚ apart. - Transcriber
