1799/02/03

Leighton page 42. Letter from Henry Watkin Williams Wynne at Newerk to Lady Charlotte Williams Wynne [Grenville] . Extract as printed

Newerk, February 3rd, 1799.

Here we are safe & sound, after having had a most Providential escape from the wreck of the Proserpine, which ran ashore about 8 miles from off Newerk (where I date this letter from) a small island not very far from the continent. We sailed on Monday the 28th, & were in hopes of having a most expeditious passage, but however Providence ordered it otherwise. Nothing remarkable happened that night. On the 29th we got off Heyligland of famous memory, on the Both we got a Pilot from the Island, & made for the red buoy at the entrance of the Elbe, where we anchored. On the 31st we struck on a sandbank, but got off without any injury to the ship. We anchored off Newerk, & were very much afraid that our Cables would be cut by the Ice which came down in great torrents, we therefore covered them with chains. On the 1st we saw that it was useless to endeavour to get to Cuxhaven, we therefore turned back for the red buoy, but at about ½ past eight in the morning we stuck again on a Sandbank which alas! was fatal to the Proserpine. The Captain then ordered that all guns & stores etc. should be thrown overboard. All the time the ice was collecting about the Ship, & was so strong that it bore some of the guns which were thrown overboard, yet we thought that the ice would be sufficiently strong all over to bear us to this island. On the night of the 1st, the Ice came down so strong that it broke the rudder, & injured the ship in other parts. The same wind had considerably lessened the chance we had of escaping over the ice, as it was broken in several places, & there was no probability of the ship holding together, if the wind blew with such violence as it had done the night before.

On the 2nd, at about 1 o’clock, we found that crossing the ice was our only chance of saving our lives, particularly as the Pilot said that the water was not more than three feet deep. We therefore left the ship, with Pikes in our hands to prevent our slipping, & I am happy to say that after many dangers we arrived at Newerk at about 4 o’clock. There is no describing to you what a scene it was to see the whole surrounding prospect covered with precipices of Ice. We wrapped ourselves up as well as we could, but were not allowed to take greatcoats on account of being obliged to scramble on all fours. I need not tell you how cold it was. For example the water which came from our eyes directly froze & formed Icicles. My Uncle suffered greatly from the cold, but I hope he is very well in health.

There are only 8 small houses on this place, in which we are all stuffed, & believe me, though rather uncomfortable we are more content with our lot than anyone ever was. I will give you an account of the room we are in. It is the family’s sittingroom, & in which three children are continually squeaking, & believe me German children make twice the noise that English do, in this room we & all the Officers are, The only thing that the house affords is smoked Beef & Bacon… I wish I could say that we had lost no lives. There were several of the men, who when they left the ship, were a little in liquor, having had some additional liquor to drink on their way. Some of these laid down in the snow, & some went to sleep, & were frost-bitten, & did not long survive their arrival here. Indeed some of them died before they got ashore. One poor woman who has been in the ship 7 years, & who has had several children in the ship could not endure the cold, & the other dangers of the journey, & with a Baby at her breast actually dropped down, & was not able to get up. I fear we have lost I3 men.

The thing that I regret the most having lost is my watch, which either in sliding down the ropes of the ship when we got down on the ice, or in scrambling over the ice fell out of my pocket.

1799/02/07

Leighton, page 44. Letter from Henry Watkins Williams Wynne to Charlotte Williams Wynne. Extract as printed

Cuxhaven, February 7th.

We have again experienced a most fortunate & providential escape, if possible when we were in more danger than before, We stayed at Newerk till yesterday morning, when our landlord thought we should be able to get to Cuxhaven. We therefore, (accompanied by 70 men) set off at 7 o’clock that morning, thinking that it was low water, but when we had gone about 1 a mile we found some water about a foot deep. Our Guide said it was only a little Gully, & that it was only 100 yds. over. We therefore went on, but to our great astonishment we did not see the, end of it, We actually waded through the water, which was in some places up to our middle, for 3 miles. The current was at that time amazingly rapid, as the tide was coming in, not going out. It froze so hard, at the time, that the water froze in our boots. I was very much afraid that on account of my being so wet that my feet would be frost-bitten, but luckily they are not. One of my fingers are a little frost-bitten, it blisters exactly like a burn has the same sensation… I am sure I cannot say enough, (& therefore shall not attempt it) of the great kindness & care which my best of Uncles shewed me. When we were in the greatest danger lie looked round for me & for the most part of the way made me take hold of his arm. He was more tired this time than the last, indeed we all were.

1799/03/26

Shortly after, the wreck of the Prosperine featured at Sadlers Wells. Extract of letter from Fanny Williams Wynne to Henry Watkins Williams Wynne. (Leighton, page 48).

Do you remember how much we laughed, some years ago, at the Escape of the Guardian being immediately represented at Sadlers Wells, the Part of Master Pitt by Miss Simonet? Little did we think we should one day see a representation of the perilous situation of the Proserpine etc., etc., with the wonderful escape of the passengers even etc., etc. the Part of Mr. Grenville by Signor Bologna, Mr. Fisher by the Signora, & Master Wynne by Miss Askins. There’s for you!