A “Routine” Loss of Life (1862)

Any loss of life is hardly routine but such was the regular nature of this event occurring along our coasts that our local fishing population would have gone to sea fearing that one day they were likely to “meet their maker”. 

Another one of these regular or “routine” tragedies occurred on 19^th April 1862 and again it involved the death of two brothers, this time by the name of Leiper, who hailed from Findon. 

The Findon fishing boats were making their way homewards after hauling their lines. The wind was south south-easterly and the sea was rising when one of the boats was swamped by a large wave, filling the vessel with water, and at the same time throwing some of the crew of six overboard, one of whom immediately “sunk to rise no more”. 

The rest of the crew were picked up by one of the other Findon boats and safely landed, although they were deemed to be in a critical condition on their arrival ashore. Unfortunately one of those who had been picked up and landed later died.