The Fatal Launch of Emma in Manchester (Part Three)

RELIEF

Subscriptions for the relief of victims of the disaster were rapidly forthcoming, £89 9s 9d in the first week. A committee was formed “for the purpose of investigating the circumstances of the sufferers by the recent calamity at the New Quay; and for applying any funds which the benevolence of the public may place at their disposal, to the relief of such of the bereaved families as may be found to be worthy objects of bounty”.

The committee was made up of ;-

The Boroughreeve and Constables of Manchester.

The Very Rev. the Warden of Manchester. [The Very Rev Thomas Dr Calvert of 38 Mosely Street]

Rev. John A. Coombs,

Mr. George Fraser,

Mr. William Harrison,

Mr. Wheeler, King Street,

Mr. Richard Potter,

Mr. Grimes,

Mr. James G. Frost,

M Harvey,

Mr. Joseph Willoughby,

Mr John Smith.

The majority of subscriptions were for sums of a pound or less and as in most cases information is limited to no more than name and amount and often the name is no more than “a friend” or “anon” a complete list would be of very little interest. There are however some worth repeating. For instance, I note that John Isherwood, Esq. Of Marple Hall subscribes £1, immediately after him, “a widow” 3s! The widows mite indeed. “Three friends” come along with £3, “an orphan” 1s. “Six little children” 6s. “A small school of children” 7s 6d. Although most of the money appeared to have been raised locally “three Manchester youths from Newport Monmouthshire sent £1 and Abram Harding of Birmingham put in £3. The largest single donation, from the Proprietors of the Mersey and Irwell Navigation per Mr. Lingard, £20, the smallest “Clericas” 2s 6d.

The committee.

The relief committee ended “their charitable labours” on the 11th of April 1828. The final sum raised being £302 17s 0d.

A straightforward comparison of the sum of money of equal purchasing power suggests that sum in 2002 would be equal to 18,657.00. A not inconsiderable sum considering the available means of publicity and the length of the appeal. Manchester boasted six newspapers at this time, all weekly, four published on a Saturday, one on Tuesday and the last on Thursday. They were expensive, in modern terms, about £1.50. The content was made up largely of business, London and Foreign news and would be of very little interest to the average Mancunian.

If we try to take into account some of the differences in perceived wealth between 1828 and the present day, a slightly different picture appears. In 1828 a typical skilled textile worker might earn between £55-60 per annum. This would provide the basic necessities of life and therefore the appeal would have raised about six years income for one man. In 2005 the British government calculates that an annual income of about £10,000 pa is needed to provide basic necessities. On that basis, we could say that the fund raised a sum more equal to £60,000 in present day terms.

“The committee, ~, acknowledge with pleasure the benevolence of that portion of the Public by whose timely aid they have been enabled to afford sympathy and succour to the numerous families affected by the recent casualty. It has been their care to distribute the funds of the Public with discretion and fidelity, and the task has been rendered grateful by the uniform thankfulness with which their offering have been received. Nor have they forgotten those whose gallant offices were directed to the rescue of their drowning fellow-creatures. In the estimate that has been put on their services, it has not been attempted to measure their extent by a mere pecuniary standard, because that would deprive their exertions of the grace of disinterestedness; but whilst the Committee have bestowed money in a few cases in which the poverty of the claimant rendered it the most acceptable present, in others they have determined to offer medal, as an honorary tribute to unasked and unpaid intrepidity.”

At the fourth annual meeting of the Humane Society for the Hundred of Salford, held on the 5th April 1828, passed resolutions; -

That a Silver Medal be presented to Mr Kinder Wood, for his successful efforts in restoring George (sic) Bibby from a state of suspended animation.

That Silver Medals be presented to Mr Hewitson Dearman and Mr Richard Clegg, for their strenuous and laudable exertions in rescuing several persons from their perilous situation in the late accident at the New Quay Company’s wharf.