The south-westerly gale which swept over these islands on Wednesday
night, and on the earlier part of Thurs- day, was one of the most violent and disastrous of recent years. Owing to the storm coinciding with the spring tides the coast towns and those on tidal rivers were in many cases flooded, while the craft in the harbours were dashed about in wild confusion,—many collisions occurring owing to ships breaking away from their moorings and becoming unmanageable. As was natural from the direction of the wind, the storm was worst on the Welsh and Irish coasts. The Daunts Rock lightship off Queenstown, with ten men on board has, it is feared, foundered with all hands. Her lights were seen at 4 o'clock on Thursday morning, but since then there has been no sign of her. It is feared that
t. the same disaster has overtaken the Solway lightship. She was seen drifting up the Scotch Channel, and when a light- ship breaks loose in a gale on a rocky coast there is seldom much hope of saving her. In Wales the railways suffered greatly from the storm, and in many cases embankments and bridges have been swept away. We are glad to note that the ' Germanic,' from New York, with Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain on board, arrived safely in Liverpool. She was unable, how- ever, to put in at Queenstown as usual. On the whole the disasters to sea-going shipping have been small. More actual damage has been done on shore than on the sea.
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