EBENEZER [23/11/1824] – The 80-100 ton EBENEZER, carrying government stores from Plymouth to Portsmouth became quite famous. Whether intent or by luck the ship ended up at the top of the Chesil Beach, when, after repairs, it came time to re-launch her it proved easier to to manhandle down the shingle on the opposite side. In this incident the Captain and one other were swept away, the rest of the crew survived. [1824 GALE] NIL. Times: [1/12/1824]
Quote from; Highways and Byways in Dorset by Sir Patrick Treves.
“An ordnance sloop laden with stores was being driven by the gale towards the fatal beach, when an enormous wave seized hold of the ship, lifted it up, and carried it to the very top of the bank, where it was left, to its astonishment, high and dry. The sailors, who had all hope battered out of them, stepped over the bulwarks on to the beach, walked, wet and amazed, into Portland, where greeted by some as liars, by others as men who had come out of the jaws of death. As they crawled into the first tavern in the town, and, above the howling of the wind and rattling of casements, told how their sloop had been lifted by the sea out of the West Bay and deposited unhurt on the top of Chesil Beach, the men in jerseys who were sheltering round the fire must have stared at them open-mouthed. The doubters were perforce convinced when in the course of days the sloop was launched down the far bank into the Fleet, and was brought round to Weymouth Bay by this unfamiliar overland route. The sloop was a craft of ninety-five tons, by the name of the ‘Ebenezer’ and in fearsome voyage only two on board were drowned.
Story from the 1824 Gale. Also HUTCHINS Vol. II p.825. “the EBENEZER, in the service of the Board of Ordnance and laden with heavy guns destined for some fortifications in the north of Ireland, was carried over the beach by a tremendous sea uninjured, and, after remaining some months on the beach was finally launched on the eastern side. The master and one of the crew were washed overboard and lost.”
Times: Wednesday, December 1, 1824, Issue 12512 – Weymouth, Nov 28: Two Sisters, from Malaga, of and bound for Hamburg, laden with fruit was wrecked in the west Bay off Abbotsbury at eleven o’clock on the Monday night. The master and three men are saved, one was drowned; The Sally of Portsmouth, is lost in Weymouth Bay, nearly opposite Osmington-mills; the Captain’s son saved himself by leaping on board the Nancy brig, of Weymouth; the rest of the crew were drowned. The Ebenezer, George Pett, Master from Plymouth to Portsmouth, with King’s stores, was thrown by the sea on top of Portland Beach, the master was drowned; Ageneria, Elliott of Weymouth safe in Portland Roads; Colville, Wilson, wrecked in West Bay, 17 bodies picked up and buried at Portland, MI) Westmorland.
The number of bodies picked up in the island of Portland amounts to 25. More detail on the distressed state of the island. MI. Gales & Ship Incidents
Day of Loss: 23
Month of Loss: 11
Year of Loss: 1824
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