The weather has changed with the month. The morning of
Tuesday, October 1st, was fairly warm, but the day grew colder as it went on; and Wednesday and Thursday set the fires going in most country and many town houses. Early on Wednesday morning the South and West of England were visited by a tremendous storm of wind, and great destruction was done to shipping, chiefly, however, in the Bristol Channel, and on the West Coasts. A ship went ashore at Ilfracombe, and both at Clovelly and Lynmouth the lifeboats were called out to assist wrecks in . the Bristol ChanneL A striking account of the hurricane, for such it was, has been given by Captain Everett, of the vessel 'Merthyr,' who put into Ilfracombe Harbour for shelter. He declares that he never experienced such a sea in his life as that running in the early morning on Wednesday. He saw in the distance a great sea like a wall, a mile in length, coming towards him. " This sea struck the vessel, and how she escaped foundering was wonderful. The wave, carrying everything before it, swept the deck from end to end." The Merthyr,' however, weathered the gale, and is now safely at anchor.
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