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The Lisle Family of Cullercoats
Extract from the Newcastle Journal 5/2/1848
AWFUL LOSS OF LIFE AT CULLERCOATS. – a melancholy accident occurred on the morning of Wednesday last, off Cullercoats, by which seven men, five pilots and two fishermen, were unfortunately drowned. The ill-fated individuals belonged to Cullercoats; their names were George Lisle and Robert Lisle, brothers, Robert Lisle and George Lisle, sons of the first mentioned George Lisle, Robert Clarke his brother-in-law, James Stocks, and Charles Pearson. The morning was clear and fine, but, the sea was running high, and the wind squally from the North West, when several vessels were observed in the offing wanting pilots for the Tyne, and the deceased parties proceeded from Cullercoats in the coble to board them.
They had scarcely got clear of the broken water, when a wave topped the boat, and filled her nearly to the gunwale. The crew started simultaneously to their feet, and in a moment afterwards the boat was struck by another wave and upset. Two of the men, who had been at the fore oar, instantly disappeared, but, the other five contrived to reach the bottom of the coble.
The accident was distinctly seen from the shore and the village, and even from the houses of the sufferers. The inhabitants of Cullercoats were soon aroused, and crowds rushed towards the place, several sturdy fishermen in an incredibly short time having their cobles launched and manned; but on their putting off they were driven so strongly to the Southward, that they were unable to reach the unfortunate sufferers. Each sea washed over the poor fellows, turning the coble over and over, until three of the five disappeared. One of the sufferers, supposed to be young Lisle, supported himself for a long time by the aid of the mast and oars; he had apparently lashed himself to the mast, but after a severe struggle, he also perished.
The most lamentable fate was that of Stocks. He was a bold swimmer, and though washed of the coble's bottom several times, he always got back to it. The last time he was on the coble he stripped off his jacket and waistcoat and prepared to swim ashore, as the coble had then approached close to the rocks.