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Britannia, of Leigh

On the 20th October, during a gale from the E.S.E., the steamer Britannia, of Leith, was wrecked on " The Kidge," close to the bar of Holy Island Harbour.

The Britannia, had on board a number of passengers, and was bound from Leith to Newcastle. Finding the gale too strong to steam against, the captain bore up for Holy Island, and had nearly made good iis entrance to the harbour when a heavy sea struck the stern of the steamer, and, slewing her out of her course, caused her to strike on rocks under the Castle Point.

The Life-boat Grace Darling was at once launched and proceeded to the wreck, from which she removed 17 persons, mostly women and children. Some fish- ing vessels also made their way off to the lee of the wreck, and before long 78 pas- sengers had been landed in safety. The captain of the Britannia, relieved thus of the care of his passengers, used every endeavour to save his ship, but to no purpose; and at about 3 P.M., the vessel beginning to break up, and the sea hav- ing greatly increased with the flowing tide, the boats all washed away, and the holds and stokehole full of water, the Life-boat was again called into requisi- tion, and after three attempts she managed to embark the crew, 18 in number. The vessel was then finally abandoned..