Page 343 - Reading Mercury

Roberts a soup kitchen has been started at the “British Workman.” On Tuesday, a
large quantity of soup was distributed, and the recipients expressed grateful thanks for
the nourishing food which the kind thoughtfulness of the charitable, through Miss
Roberts, had provided for them. There are distributions on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and
Saturdays, and subscribers to the fund have the privilege of presenting tickets to
deserving persons.

WOKINGHAM STOCK MARKET
This market on Tuesday last, considering the weather, was well supplied with fat
beasts, sheep, calves, hogs and porkers, all of which sold well. Mr. Goodchild and Mr.
Goddard were the largest buyers for fat beasts and sheep, and Mr. Tew for calves, and
Mr. Morris of Reading, bought 20 nice quality fat hogs. Poultry made 6s. per couple.
The business was conducted by Mr. Henry Hutt, the appointed auctioneer.

th
Thursday 14 April The Times
WRECK OF A CHANNEL STEAMER
This morning news was received at Dieppe that the London, Brighton, and South
Coast Company’s steamer Victoria, commanded by Captain Clarke, with 200
passengers on board, had run on the rocks under the lighthouse at Varengeville, nine
miles from Dieppe. I proceeded on a tricycle at once to the spot, and on my way met a
seaman, who told me that 50 persons had been drowned by rushing into the boats
immediately after the vessel struck. Proceeding to the lighthouse I saw the Victoria
lying about half a mile from the shore, stern on the rocks, with her bows under water.
I met the Commissary of Marine and Mr. Lee Jortin, Vice Consul, who had been
searching round the villages for news. At present the number of those drowned cannot
be ascertained. I can see as I write, a table and some chairs floating out of the ship.
Captain Clarke has just left her in a boat for Dieppe.
LATER
Captain Clarke, who commanded the Victoria, states that the vessel left Newhaven
last night with 94 passengers on board. On their nearing the French coast at about 3
a.m. a heavy fog settled down. At 4 he saw a “dark shade,” and ordered the engineers
to move astern at full speed. The ship’s head was to the north-west. She stopped,
ported, went ahead, and immediately struck her bows going under. He first heard the
foghorn an hour later.
He begged the passengers to be quiet, and ordered the boats to be lowered. The
ladies got into the first boat, but some gentlemen jumped in also. As it was being
lowered a lady’s shawl fouled the block, the boat capsized, and four only of those in
her were saved. The second boat filled, swamped, and drifted to leeward. The third
boat disappeared in the fog with those placed in her, and the fourth boat took off the
remainder. The passengers were panic-stricken
The captain attributes the accident to the fog, and to the fact that no foghorn was
being sounded, as it usually is. He is unable to give the number of those drowned. The
crew did all they could to allay the panic, and the captain remained on board until all
the passengers had left. He has been in service for 28 years and has never had an
accident before.
The bodies of three women and one child have been picked up. A Mrs. Smith and
three of her children have been drowned, and the fourth child is in charge of the Vice-
Consul here. They were going to Geneva. A Miss Hunter has also been drowned. At
the lowest computation 20 have perished, but their names are not yet obtainable. They
are mostly of French nationality

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