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The Lisle Family of Cullercoats
Extract from the Newcastle Journal 5/2/1848
He was so near that his brother shouted to him “Jim swim ashore.” Stocks answered “I'm done, I'm done,” and, after combating a while with the sea, he hung his head and sunk. Thus closed this awful scene in the presence of the wives, children, and parents of these unfortunate men. The shore was crowded with people, who could give no assistance, and three cobles which put off could not, without a further sacrifice of life, approach the spot. From the commencement of the catastrophe to the close scarcely an hour elapsed. The coble has since come ashore.
Pilot Geo. Lisle, sen. Has left a wife and family grown up; pilot Robt. Lisle, his brother, has left a wife and family grown up; pilot Geo. Lisle, jun. Son of the above George, has left a wife, lately confined, and five children, the oldest eleven years of age; fisherman Robt. Lisle, son of the above George, has left a wife, lately confined, and three children, the oldest eight years of age; pilot James Stocks, has left a wife, lately confined, and six children, the oldest fourteen years of age; pilot Robt. Clarke, has left a wife, one daughter, and two sons, one insane; and fisherman Chas. Pearson, a single man, who maintained his aged father. Thus, six wives, and fourteen children under eleven years of age, are rendered destitute, and must now depend upon the assistance of the humane and charitably disposed for their immediate support.
An universal gloom has spread over the whole locality on account of this fearful accident, as the whole of the deceased were highly respected, and belonged to what might be termed the better class of pilots and fishermen. It is the intention of the inhabitants of the village to enter into a subscription for the widows and families of the sufferers; and we are confident the public will sympathize with them and most willingly join in their truly benevolent endeavour to relieve the widows and orphans so suddenly and so awfully deprived of their support. This sad catastrophe shows the necessity of having a life boat stationed at Cullercoats; had such been the case several of the unfortunate sufferers might have been saved. Mr. Burdon Sanderson, of Jesmond, promptly sent £5 for the relief of the families of the poor men, and it is understood that further subscriptions may be paid at Messrs. Lambton and Co's Bank, in this town, at Messrs. Philipson and Hare's, North Shields, and at Mr. Bell's, grocer, Cullercoats.