Skegness Magazine

FROZEN TO THE BOAT

Great consternation was caused at Skegness on Monday last, when a report rapidly spread round the town that a boat containing dead bodies had been washed up on the beach near Gibraltar Point.

Various rumours gave the number of bodies found as two, three, four, and even five, and many other varying details in connection with the tragedy.
Although, happily, the smaller number turned out to be correct when the true details became known, yet the tragedy is shocking enough, and although only two poor victims have come ashore at present it is feared that more of their comrades have also lost their lives.

The facts, as far as can be ascertained pending the inquest, are these:
Whilst on the foreshore at Gibraltar Point, about four miles south of the Pier, on Monday morning last, about 11.30, an old fisherman named Bee noticed a ship’s “lifeboat” upside down on the beach. Upon investigation he made the shocking discovery that two men were frozen to the bottom of the boat. So firmly were the poor fellows fixed to the boat that ropes had to be used to get them out.

One, who had the appearance of a stoker, and was only attired in a shirt and trousers, had his head pillowed on his hand and lay in a sleeping attitude. The other, surmised to be Capt. L. Hunter, in charge of the vessel, was fully dressed, and about £3 in money and the ship’s papers were found upon him. The younger man is believed to have belonged to Crowle, Lincolnshire.

The boat was named the Gertrude. A ship of that name, registered at Middlesborough and owned by a Cardiff firm, left Hull on Friday last, bound for Weymouth with a cargo of coal. It is feared that the two men were part of a crew of nine and that the vessel has been wrecked in the recent gale.

The police were summoned and took the matter in hand, the bodies of the dead sailors being removed to the Red Lion Hotel, Wainfleet.

1935 local news article