SS Agnes Jack

Last Updated on Tuesday, 18 May 2010 16:42

1883 - The SS Agnes Jack was a 737 ton Liverpool steamship carrying silver-bearing ore from Cagliari, Sardinia, to Llanelli.   She had sheltered overnight at Mumbles waiting for the high tide to sail into Llanelli.   She set off westwards while it was still dark but the weather worsened and she somehow struck rocks on Port Eynon Point.   Distress signals alerted the locals who sent for the Oxwich and the Rhossili rocket crews.   In the dark a ship's boat had been launched but was lost with all hands.   At dawn the wreck could be seen on Skysea with men hanging from the rigging and yardarm.   Both rocket crews attempted to get lines to the ship but it was too far out and the anguished villagers watched as one by one the men dropped or were swept off into the sea.   The bodies of the 18-strong crew, badly mutilated by the rocks, washed ashore over the following days.   This disaster, together with several others in the same period, ensured the provision of a lifeboat at Port Eynon. (Ref. 046)