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| Atlas | |||||||||
| Came to grief: 26th November 1880 at/near Atherfield Ledge | |||||||||
| Cargo: maize | |||||||||
| Crew of 14 | |||||||||
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The Austrian barque, Atlas, was driven ashore on Atherfield Ledge in a severe storm of wind and rain. She was seen by a coastguard who alerted the Brighstone lifeboat crew. The Worcester Cadet put to sea but after a three mile struggle was unable to get alongside and was eventually obliged to return to station. A second attempt was also unsuccessful, several of the lifeboat crew being washed out of the boat and having to be rescued. The rocket life-saving apparatus was tried, but was abandoned after three rockets fell short. A member of the Atlas crew managed to attach a rope to a small tub and throw it overboard but it stuck fast on the rocks. A coastguard named Jimmy Fairweather waded into the surf and managed to bring it to land. The rope was then used to pull out a hawser which was made fast to the mast and one by one, the crew were brought ashore, the Captain being last. The vessel quickly broke up and became a total wreck. | |
Fatalities: 0 | |
Bibliography: Back of the Wight - Fred Mew Shipwrecks of the Wight - J.C.Medland Shipwrecks of The Isle of Wight - Ken Phillips The Lifeboats of Brighstone Bay - Christopher J. Willis and Edward H. Roberts |