Shipwrecks1896

The Wrecks off Folkestone

Rarely have visitors or even residents at seaside resorts so exciting an experience as that to which Folkestone awoke on the morning of Sept. 25. Shortly after six a.m. when a gale which will be long remembered by all who felt or even saw its fury was at its height, the coastguardsman on duty saw a barque disabled and drifting ashore. She was presently dashed by the fury of the waves on to the beach in front of Marina Crescent, near the Victoria Pier. The vessel proved to be the Agder, from Fredrikstadt, bound for Southampton, and her unfortunate crew were plainly seen through the torrents of falling rain, huddled together in most pitiable plight.

Intense excitement prevailed, and the plucky coastguardsmen were soon at work rescuing the shipwrecked men, which was no easy task in the heavy sea. The rocket apparatus was taken to the pier, and the Folkestone life-boat, which was launched with great difficulty, at last succeeded in reaching the vessel and taking off the mate and three men. The rest of the crew, with their commander, Captain Bergh, refused to leave the doomed ship, but later on they were brought ashore by means of a line.

Between seven and eight a.m. another Norwegian barque was seen in the same predicament, about two hundred yards away from the Agder. The second vessel gallantly, and at last, amid the cheers of the thousands of spectators who had assembled on the beach and the overlooking "Leas", all were brought safely to shore. The Norwegian Vice-Consul, Mr. N. Schjott, has made all arrangements for the return of the crews to their own country......

The article didn't mention the name of the second ship, but the photograph, which was taken by Jacob of Sandgate, had the title of:

THE WRECK OF THE "AGDER" AND THE "BARON HOLBERG" OFF FOLKESTONE