The Great Gale  - Abandonment of a Large Vessel - 'The Ben-y-Gloe, a sailing vessel of 2,000 tons, owned in Glasgow, and of which Messrs Barnes, Guthrie and Co, of Cardiff, are the brokers, has been abandoned on the Nash Sands, but not without loss of life. The vessel left Penarth a few days ago laden with coal for Rangoon, and having on board a crew of about 30 hands, of whom five were shipped at Penarth.

Owing to the storm which prevailed yesterday she was driven ashore at Nash, whereupon the crew took to the rigging, and as the tide rose they were in great danger. The life-saving apparatus was got out, but it does not appear to have been used. As the vessel became embedded in the sand, lying at an angle of 45 degrees the sea broke over her with great violence, and the crew had to cling to the rigging for their very lives. However, they bided their time, and when the tide receded they were able, at an early hour this morning, to walk ashore. The ship's carpenter was then found to be missing, and it is supposed that he was washed out of the rigging in an exhausted state. The rescued crew are being cared for in the neighbourhood of Nash Point. A Lloyd's telegram says the ship Ben-y-Gloe, from Cardiff for Singapore, is a total wreck near Nash lighthouse. All the crew are saved except the carpenter.' - South Wales Echo [163] [361] 16th October 1886.

The South Wales Daily News carried an almost identical story but added :

'The rescued crew were conveyed to Marcross, where they were visited by Lord Dunraven, who very generously supplied them with money to obtain food, and afterwards had them conveyed to Southerndown and lodged in the Three Golden Cups. The crew speak highly of the treatment they have received since their arrival there, and also of the way in which the pilot stuck to them until they anchored near the Nash. They, however, complain of the manner in which some of the Marcross folks dealt with them.

Robert Macfarren, one of the crew of the' Ben-y-gloe, who was bruised and sore from long exposure in the rigging, informed our correspondent that when at Lundy the hawser of the tugboat broke, and the vessel lost its course. The captain of the tug stuck gallantly to the ship, which drifted up channel, and got within the Nash bar. Ultimately the vessel was anchored near the Nash, and made signals. All through the dreary night the men had to cling to the rigging, and in the early morning the captain, 16 of the crew, and a stowaway landed safely. They later on found that the ship's carpenter was missing. This man's name was John Johnson, of Dumbarton. An attempt was made to use the rocket apparatus on Friday afternoon, but the vessel was out of reach. The action of the storm shifted the masts, and the vessel rapidly broke up, but for some hours the crew were in a most perilous position.' - South Wales Daily News [325] [361] 18th October 1886.

The Wreck of the Ben-y-Gloe - Further Grave Charges Against the Inhabitants - 'There is nothing fresh to record with reference to the wreck of the Ben-y-Gloe near Nash Point except to confirm what appeared in the Western Mail on Monday with regard to the treatment the crew received at the hands of the inhabitants. The 25 men who were rescued got ashore about twelve o'clock, but it was about six in the morning before they could get food. The landlord of the public house at Marcross refused to give them bread unless payment was assured in some way.

After daybreak on Saturday morning the crew succeeded In getting food from the vessel, but the landlord refused to go to the trouble of cooking it for them, and they had to do the best they could with their own resources. There is not the slightest doubt that a great quantity of valuable material has been stolen from the vessel. A large quantity of tinned meal was carried away and every bit of brass, lead, or other material which can be converted into money has been stolen.

It is not probable, however, that any valuables were found on the bodies of the men who were washed ashore on this part of the coast, and who, in all probability, belong to the crew of the Malleny, which went down off Ogmore. The people who loitered about, however, put their hands upon anything they could get, and walked away with it with impunity. One of the crew of the Ben-y-Gloe, who was nearly naked when rescued, succeeded in getting his box out of the vessel and conveying it ashore, where he left it locked, and went to assist. some of the other men in recovering their property. When he returned he found that his box had been broken open and the best of his clothes stolen. The captain of the vessel came across a person on Saturday sporting his (the captain's) umbrella, which he promptly secured. The people of Marcross and the neighbourhood are known to be inveterate wreckers, and probably they will continue to be until some of them are severely punished for their actions.

Mr, James Edwards, of Penarth, local agent for the Shipwrecked Fishermen's and Mariners' Society, informs us that the captain of the wrecked vessel Ben-y-Gloe landed without means, and, being unable to obtain assistance, called upon him. On Sunday night Mr. Edwards took two breaks to the scene of the disaster, and early on Monday morning returned with the shipwrecked crew, who were placed in the Sailors' Home. Mr, Edwards adds : I found that the Earl of Dunraven had been very kind to the men in providing them with lodging and in other ways, but, I am sorry to say, the villagers and the people of the neighbourhood were very hostile to the unfortunate fellows,"

Explanation of the Coastguard Officer - Upon being visited by one of our representatives, Mr. W. H. Daw, chief officer of the coast-guard at Penarth, made the following statement: " I first heard of the wreck about, half-past two on Friday afternoon. I went to the scene as quickly as possible, and found that the vessel had just come drifting in, broadside on. The Porthcawl people were already there with their apparatus, and had opened up communication. Two lines were on board, but, owing in the fact that the ship had heeled over to about 60 degrees out of the perpendicular, and that a heavy sea was washing over her all the time, the men who were in the mizzen rigging were unable to make use of either of the lines. Consequently, nothing could be done until the tide receded, when a party of the apparatus crew went round a point which had been left open by the ebbing tide, got into communication with the vessel, and eventually got on board. When we boarded the vessel we found the men in the act of changing their clothes. We had them taken to a small public-house, where they remained until the captain came. The vessel was a fine iron one and sustained comparatively little injury."

Interviews with the Crew - Startling Statement - Another correspondent states : - I have interviewed several sailors who are in the Sailors' Home, Bute Docks; Cardiff, rescued from the ship Ben-y-Gloe. The men make statements which certainly do not redound to the honesty or humanity of the inhabitants of the locality of the wreck.

William Marshall, cook; 145, Stanley-road; Liverpool, states that, he got ashore about half-past seven o'clock on Friday night. He brought some of his effects ashore, which were taken on a cart to the village inn; the Horse Shoe. He reached the place shortly after midnight: He only found very few of his effects. He could not get anything to eat, and had to lie down in his wet clothes on the stone floor, and could not get a blanket or anything to cover himself with. About half-past four o'clock on Saturday morning he had some very weak tea and bread. He had to go down to the ship, and succeeded in getting a little bacon. On returning to the inn he had a small ration of potatoes weighed out, and altogether had two meals in the house. On Sunday morning Lord Dunraven sent conveyances, and took them all tin to the Golden Cup Hotel, where they were entertained to a capital dinner and supper and remained there until on to Cardiff.

Robert Mc Farren, A.B., of Victoria, Australia; at the Sailors' Home, made a similar statement.

Colin Campbell, A.B Auchnadown, Lismore, Oban, N.B., also made a similar statement, With the addition that ho had two bags of clothes and bedding, and with the exception of a few of the contents of one bag all were stolen.

James Kemp, A.B., Dundee, at the Sailors' Home, stated that a man who assisted him in carrying his bag to the inn opened it when his back turned and left the bag almost empty. He, however, speaks highly of the conduct of the people of the lighthouse.

James Benson, A.B., Sweden, at the Sailors' Home, said Captain Dill came to the inn, and had to give the keeper of the place guarantee of payment before the men could gel anything to eat, and that was fully four hours after their arrival. They could not get anything in the shape or blankets to cover themselves with, so they lay on the stone floor of the kitchen. He had nothing to eat all Saturday except a little tea and bread in the morning. A gentleman from Dunraven Castle (the Earl of Dun raven) gave them a few pounds to be divided amongst them, and on Sunday gave them a capital dinner and supper at the hotel. He had a chest full of clothes and all the contents were stolen. He also saw a number of people stealing the contents of the captain's slop chest, tobacco, soap, and whatever they could lay their hands on.

Racinold Sawallish, A.B., of Germany, at the Sailors' Home, had similar experiences to the foregoing. He states, in addition, that the ship had scarcely ebbed dry when crowds of people rushed onboard, and shouted out, "The tide is rising,' save your lives while you can." They were all benumbed with cold; and the people took everything they could lay their hands on. He got ashore as best he could and took a few things with him ; but all he possessed else was stolen.

Mr. Arkell, of Messrs, Arkell Bros., of the Bute Docks, Cardiff, states that he was on the beach near the wreck about half-past four o'clock on Saturday afternoon, and saw a number of men with articles which he recognised as having formed part of the goods he had supplied for Captain Dill's slop chest. He also recognised a red table cloth which covered the cabin table. He expostulated with the men, but they did not take the slightest notice.' - The Western Mail [164] [361] 19th October 1886.