The Honoria Disaster 1901

The above lost their lives whilst endeavouring to render assistance to the crew of the S.S. Honoria.

The following articles all appeared in the 'North Eastern Daily Gazette':

10th January 1901

Sad Tales of The Sea

Redcar has its stories bright and gloomy. As an attractive health resort it affords pleasures and recreation nearly all year round to many vistors as well as to the resident population. Its annals, however, like those of nearly every port, are from time to time darkened by stories of misfortune and bereavement. Thus its experience illustrates the truth of the poets plaint:-
                                           Smiling to you, but moaning to me
                                           Nothing is true in the false, cruel sea
The sad accident which occurred to a fishing coble yesterday at Marske has naturally thrown a gloom over Redcar, the town in which the Pinknett (sic) family have been so well known for more years that the oldest can remember. There has scarcely been a wreck or a shipping disaster for the last thirty years within a reasonable distance of Redcar, but some of the Pinknetts (sic) have been prominent in saving life, often at great risk to themselves. The last wreck on this coast, that of the ill fated Berger, in October 1898, will be remembered for the gallant manner in which Richard and Thomas Picknett, along with others of the crew, launched the old Free Gardeners lifeboat Emma in a vain attemptr to save life, and many will recall how the angry sea treated the boat as a plaything, and swept it swiftly through the Coatham Pier and buried it on the western beach. That had nearly proved a fatal adventure for the lifeboat crew, but they were mercifully preserved. Now, it is sad to relate, three of them have lost their lives in a vain and, in the opinion of many, an unnecessary attempt to rescue a trawler's crew who were in no immediate danger, and who eventually were taken off by the Saltburn lifeboat. The sea was not particularly rough yesterday and the trawler having come ashore in a fog, was left embedded in the sand when the tide went down. It was sheer mischance, not easily foreseen, that when the Redcar coble was afloat she should get astride of the lines of the Rocket Brigade, and thus be uplifted so that the crew should fall into the sea. All the same, it speaks well for the courage of Redcar fishermen that they should be so ready at all times to face danger, seen and unseen, in order to be the first to rescue their fellow men, and it is sad to think that in so doing any of them should lose their own lives.
          The calamity recalls to recollection a similar affair which occurred at Redcar twenty-for years ago. We are indebted to Mr William Imeson, an ex-councillor of Middlesbrough, now a Resident of Saltburn, and eldest son of Alderman Imeson, for drawing our attention to a report in a local paper of an accident which occurred on 1st July 1876. Four gentlemen, of whom two were Mr Albert Imeson and Mr Chas. Imeson, (the latter of whom is now a Councillor of Middlesbrough), went out in a coble to fish in Redcar Bay, the owner of the boat, Richard Dobson being in charge, when a sudden squall arose and their boat capsized. John Pinknett (sic) who was one of the plucky crew of yesterday's adventure, seeing the accident from the beach, sprang into a boat, and with his son, a boy of 14, and two other fishermen, pulled out to the rescue. They only succeeded in saving the life of Mr Charles Imeson, as his brother and the other three occupants of the coble were drowned. This is only one of the many timely rescues which members of the Pinknett (sic) family have effected in the course of their career, and it is no wonder that when three of them have met their fate in a similar adventure the residents of Recar should feel a sense of distinct personal loss.

The Sad Affair at Marske
Survivor's Story

At high tide yesterday a Tees tug endeavoured to get the Trawler Honoria (H325) from Hull, which came ashore at 2.30 yesterday at Marske off the sands, but failed to move her. She will therefore have to be decked (docked) but as she is only a small boat and not in a dangerous position, it is thought that she will be safely released. She has sunk deeper into the sand, but has been found to be undamaged. The steamer has now got steam up, and it is thought that she may be released today. The bodies of the other men who have lost their lives have not yet been recovered, though it is stated that a "sou"wester was found on the shore early this morning. Fishermen were out during the night with lanterns searching for the bodies, but it ios thought that the clothes of the deceased men will have become weighted with sand, and will be keeping the bodies under water. The old mariner, Thomas Picknett, who escaped in a marvellous manner is progressing favourably, and today he was seen in his bedroom by a representative of the "North Eastern Daily Gazette" and his account is interesting. He said that there were a great many reports in the town which were incorrect. He had, he said, saved dozens of lives, and he had never done so for money or yet received money for his "endeavours to do his duty". "Early yesterday morning" he said "I heard two guns go off, and thinking it might be the mortar guns at Coatham I got up and looked out of the window. There was however, nothing astir, so I went downstairs and lighted the fire and placed the kettle on it. I then returned to bed, and when I thought the water would be boiling I got up again. It would then be about five o'clock. I had just called my lad up, when there came a ring at the house bell. I went down, and it was one of the Redcar fishermen who asked me if I had been out. I said no, and he told me there was a ship ashore near Marske, and that lights could be seen from the east end of the town. I had a cup of tea, and then sent my youngets lad out to ascertain if he could see the lights, and in the meantime I placed some tackle in the boat which I thought might be required were our services needed. I had a good look at the sea, and I was satisfied that a coble could manage "the job" if we were wanted without a lifeboat, as it was getting on for high water. The lad came back and told me he had seen rockets, so I said we will take the coble, and sent to Mr Hartgroves for a horse. We wheeled the boat along the sands, and when the horse overtook us we yoked it in. Several fishermen helped us to push the boat.. When we got about 300 yards to the west side of the ship we saw a boat to the west of the ship, a short distance away from the shore. As we got further along it turned out to be the lifeboat, which was drifting to the north-west. I asked someone on the shore and asked if the crew had been got out, and they said no, as the lifeboat had not been near the ship. I said, "We will take the coble lads." We came to the rocket apparatus ropes and stopped for two or three minutes to see the sea come in and break to ascertain if it was safe to put out, and we decided it was after seeing lots of runs. There was nothing to stop us getting over the shore sea into the lake. At this time the ship was over the lower keel in the lake. We put out the coble and some men who were on the beach got in. Not until we got out did I see that they were all Picknetts. We pulled straight off and had no occasion to wait for a smooth, the sea being small enough. We pulled right out into the lake, but there being a strong current setting to the north-west, the coble had set about to the west of the vessel. We laid the coble and rowed along to the ship, when the sees (sic) came in and broke on the outer bell. When the swell came we laid the coble with her head to the sea for fear that any of the swells might burst out. They did not, but broke on the shore. We laid the coble south-east, and pulled towards the vessel. The next lot of runs came in, and we repeated the same process as in the first swell. In the second the ship foremast was at the east. Owing to its rolling the warp had lightened, and when it sprang we were on the top to the north west side. The two men forward sang out that we were fouled and got hold of the warp, but it was so tight that they could do nothing. It moved with the ship, and tilted the boat on her starboard side to such an extent that she took water on her lee or starboard side. She canted sideways, having taken so much water, and this freed the rope, which flew up and caught two of the oars and clean unshipped them, and threw them onto the top of us. Then the rope caught us about our faces. It cut my neck and caught my lad, whose body has been found, about the mouth. It threw some of us clean out of the boat to the south-east sea, or seven yards from the coble. But previous to this, just about the time whe the oars were caught, my nephew got up to try and balance the boat, when his foot slipped, and he fell out of the boat, kicked it with his foot to put himself clear, and then dived. When he came up his face was for the shore, and he swam away for about twenty yards, when he looked around, and seeing the coble was swimming the right way up and pretty bold, he turned back, and was assisted by his uncle and brother. thos e who had been thrown out of the boat endeavoured to get hold of the warp, when it got from its lead from the shore, would be seven or eight yards from the coble. I looked round, and saw the coble right way up with two men in it, one aft and one forrard. The one aft was my brother John, and the other my nephew. "Here, try and get hold of this". I kept hold of the warp with my right hand, and made a spring for the oar, but could not reach it by feet. I therefore thought that the best thing I could do was adopt the same principle that I did under similar circumstances at Algiers years ago. That was to keep hold of the rope, and go along under water, and come up for breath. I did this, and when I felt my feet touch ground, I slowed up and got rid of a lot of water, and then saw the lifeboat to the south of me about 20 yards away. I shouted out six or seven times as loud as I could, but they either did not hear or heed. I kept on shouting, but was quite exhausted. I saw my nephew shove the crib in amongst the man on the warp.

11th January 1901

The Stranded Trawler at Marske

The trawler Honoria, still remans fast embedded in the sand at Marske. The task of releasing her is not likely to be so easy as was first supposed. A determined effort was made last night, and it was repeated this morning at high water, to drag her away from her berth, but both attempts were futile, and the Tees tug which had been employed, had to leave the vessel to avoid being herself run aground. The tides are waning every day, and it may be ten days before there is one as strong as that which landed her in her present position. The cargo has been unshipped and dispatched to Hull, and it is expected some of the crew will be paid off. The bodies of the two drowned Redcar fishermen have not yet been recovered.
          At a social gathering in connection with the Parish Church, Redcar, the Rev. J. Groves made touching reference to the sad occurrence. Thomas Picknett, who was saved in so remarkable a manner, is still improving.

Death Announcement

Picknett.         Death on Jan 9th (drowned at Marske) Edmund youngest son of Thomas Hood and Mary Picknett of Redcar. Aged 21 years. Internment on Sunday at Redcar Cemetery cortege leaving residence at 3PM. Friends please accept this intimation.

14th January 1901

Letter

We have received and readily give publicity to the following communication:-
           "On behalf of myself and the crew of the Honoria (stranded at Marske) I wish to thank all of those who have done so much to make myself and crew comfortable under our unfortunate circumstances. No one more than I do regrets the catastrophe to the men who so took their lives in their hands to render us assistance, and I beg to offer my sincerest sympathy to the relatives of the deceased men.

                                               Captain C.A. Ward
                                               Marske-by-the Sea.
                                               January 11th 1901.

16th January 1901

The Death of a Redcar Fisherman.

To-day the Coroner (Mr. Wm. Richardson) resumed the enquiry regarding the death of Edmund Picknett (21) fisherman, Redcar, which occurred a week to-day ago (sic). The inquest was opened on the day of the fatality, but owing to the excited condition of his chief witness the Coroner was compelled to adjourn for seven days, so that the father of the deceased might recover, and that the bodies of the the other two men who were drowned might yet be washed ashore. The bodies have not yet, however, been recovered, so that a further inquest will have to be held. Mr Hudson was foreman of the jury.

                                                         (Proceeding)

24th January 1901

The Fatality to Redcar Fisherman

To-day at 8.30a.m., another of the bodies of the three fishermen who lost their lives some days ago at Marske when the steam trawler Honoria came ashore, was found by Mr Claude Pease, Cliff House, Marske, who was riding on to Redcar. The body was that of John Picknett (24), son of Thomas Hood Picknett, who was for some time in the Middlesbrough Police Force. It was found near to the place where the Honoria came ashore, and was removed to Thomas Picknett's house. The body of Richard Picknett has not yet been found.

25th January 1901

Picknett          On the 9th inst. Drowned at Marske. John son of Thomas Hood and Mary Picknett. Aged 23. Interment at Redcar Cemetery. Cortege leaving King St Redcar at 3.30PM. Friends please accept this intimation.

28th January 1901

The Redcar Disaster
Recovery of the Third Body.

Shortly after 12.30 to-day the body of Richard Picknett (60) fisherman of Redcar, who was drowned a fortnight ago, along with his two nephews, between Redcar and Marske, was recovered. Mr. Harry Baker, boatman, of Redcar, was near to what is commonly known as "Second Water-East", which is situated a quarter of a mile to the east of Redcar Pier, when he perceived a body in the water, and he immediately brought it ashore. The body, although having been in the water for a fortnight, was only slightly decomposed. The remains were removed to the Free Gardeners boat house.

29th January 1901

Picknett          On the 9th inst. Through the disaster at Marske Richard beloved husband of Margaret Picknett. Aged 60. Interment at Redcar Cemetery Wednesday 30th. Cortege leaving boat house King Street 3.30PM. Friends please accept this intimation.