SHIVERING ROCK
Shivering Rock Lighthouse
Off the Suffolk
coast
21st
September1852
My
dearest wife,
I arrived here at Shivering Rock lighthouse
this evening. The seas were rough but with the men rowing like Trojans we were
soon in sight of the comforting light atop the mighty tower of stone. It is a
lonely place my love, but Wilkins is with me and by sharing the shifts, the
three months will pass quickly.
I
have the Bible you gave me and I will be reading it each night when I am
thinking of you and the children.
I
will close now hoping God looks after you all.
Give
my love to Mary and Martha.
Your loving husband
Michael
Rose
Cottage
Myreswalk
Suffolk
1st
October 1852
My
beloved husband,
I
received your very welcome letter yesterday and thought that I would write back
to you right away.
The
girls send their love and to tell you they are missing you terribly.
I
have been taking in a bit of sewing from our neighbours. The money that they
give me helps and I was given some clothes from Mrs. Wilson as her daughters
have outgrown them. Myreswalk is a friendly place and I am sure I can keep busy
until it is time for you to return to us.
Read
your Bible, Michael: And think of us.
God
bless you and keep you safe.
Your devoted wife
Florence
Shivering Rock Lighthouse
Off the Suffolk
coast
7th October 1852
Dearest
Florence,
Thank
you for your letter it fairly warmed my heart to know that you and the children
are well.
I
got a bit of a fright last evening when I discovered old Wilkins gazing out at
the sea from one of the windows. He was sound asleep! Sleepwalking would you
believe! Well, he was muttering away about something coming and that we all had
to be ready! I led him back to bed and covered him up with his bedclothes. Did
we have a laugh the next morning, for he had no recollection of his nights
excursion and it fair amused him when I told him of it. When I repeated the
words that he had spoken, his demeanour changed and for a second it seemed as
if a shadow had passed over his face.
Still,
all we can do is work as hard as we can and pass this period.
I
was trimming the wick of the great light this morning and polishing the lenses.
The salt water in the air soon makes them cloudy.
Look
after yourselves.
God
bless you all.
Your loving
husband
Michael
Rose Cottage
Myreswalk
Suffolk
10th
October 1852
My
dearest husband,
We
had strawberry jam on our bread and butter this evening. Mrs Clarke had made
some jams during the summer and she handed in two jars, one of strawberry and
one of raspberry. I know you prefer the raspberry, so the children and I have
decided not to touch it until you come home.
Oh
Michael, It is so lonely at night when the children are asleep. I can’t tell
you how much I miss you, but I will be strong. We will be together soon.
My
mother and father are coming next week and the girls are so excited. My father
spoils them rotten with sweets and other treats and I know Mother will help me
with some of my sewing. Maybe we will get a chance to bake some cakes and
biscuits.
Mary
and Martha send their love and kisses.
Look
after yourself Michael and may God bless you.
Your devoted
wife
Florence
Shivering Rock Lighthouse
Off the Suffolk
coast
23rd October 1852
My
dearest wife,
We
have had a terrible storm over the last few days. Sometimes old Wilkins and I
thought that the sea would bring down the lighthouse. It was so fierce! The
boat with the provisions got out to us eventually and I got this letter away.
They don’t name this site Shivering Rock for nothing. During the ferocious
tides that broke over us we could feel as if the foundations were shaking, but
the building stood firm, just like the wise man who built his house on the rock
in the Bible.
The
nights are the loneliest part of the time for me, but I carry my bible and read
passages from it during the small hours. Old Wilkins keeps me company as much
as he can, but we both have to sleep sometime to be alert in case of
emergencies.
I
will close now as I must go up and clean the lenses again. It is almost a daily
job due to the heavy seas that we have been experiencing.
My
love to you and the girls and God bless you.
Your loving husband
Michael
Shivering
Rock Lighthouse
Off the Suffolk
coast
7th
November 1852
My
dearest husband,
How
we all worried when we didn’t receive your last letter as punctually as normal.
Our weather has not been good here, so we imagined that the seas would have
been quite rough and would stop the supply boat coming out to bring you your
provisions and letters.
We
are all well and my Mother and Father stayed on for an extra week, just to give
me support and company. Mother and I have baked and baked, I am sure I have put
on pounds in weight. Father took us all to the Ipswich Fair two days ago. You
should have seen the girls on the big roundabout! They were screaming, but
loving every minute of it!
I
was sorry to hear that your nights are so lonely. I often say a prayer before I
go to bed asking God to keep you company on these dark nights. I hope you feel
comforted by this.
Mary
has got very good marks at school for her Arithmetic and Martha brought home a
picture that she had painted. Her teacher says she shows great promise with her
art, so we may have a future artist.
Look
after yourself and may God bless you.
All
our love.
Your loving wife
Florence
Shivering Rock Lighthouse
Off the Suffolk
coast
7th November 1852
My
dearest wife,
Thank
you for your letter. I am glad your mother and father stayed on and that you
all had a good time at the fair.
Old
Wilkins and I got a real shock this morning when we went outside at low tide to
inspect the base of the lighthouse. The storm must have stirred up the seabed
and brought stuff to the surface. I told you that before Shivering Rock had a
lighthouse several ships ran aground and sunk after striking the Rock. Well,
one in particular was the ‘Mintaka’. This vessel was making her way up the
coast on a special mission. A witch had been tied in London’s High Court and had been sentenced to
be burnt for her wickedness. She was locked up in the brig when the ship
foundered on the Rock and everyone forgot she had not been released. The
captain and crew lay off the sinking vessel listening to her screams and curses
she was shouting out of a porthole in her cell. She cursed all the men,
especially the captain. She said that the rock would be the site of many future
shipwrecks and that she would wreak her vengeance on generations to come.Sice
then until the lighthouse was built several ships did run aground on Shivering
Rock and the survivors all gave similar accounts of the figure of a woman
standing on the water waving a lantern, pointing out the way to the rock as the
safe passage. Once the lighthouse was built, well the ships had a clear warning
of the Rock and the superstition regarding the witch just was lost in the mists
of time.
The
problem is that the ‘Mintaka’ has resurfaced and run aground on the Rock. She
is in very poor condition considering the time she has been below the sea, but
you can still make out her name on the prow. She is little more than a rotten
wreck without her masts. I will have to write to Trinity House to ask what they
wish to do with her.It will give the hulk some time to dry out if our
instructions are to burn it. We will just have to wait and see.
Life
rolls on and as my time to leave Shivering Rock nears I am already looking
forward to spending time with you and the children.
I
love you all and miss you. God bless you and keep you.
Your ever loving
husband
Michael
Rose Cottage
Myreswalk
Suffolk
16th
November 1852
My
dearest husband,
What
a letter your last one was! Imagine the excitement of finding the wreck of a
ship just outside you front door! I told the girls and Martha laughed and went
off to draw a picture for you, of the lighthouse and the wreck. She certainly
has some imagination!
I was surprised by the look Mary gave me after
I had read the news to her; she got a far away look in her eyes and said that
you should be very careful! When I asked her about the remark she burst into
tears and I had to hug her to me to calm her down. The girls; they are like
chalk and cheese.
Mrs
Bryant brought some material to me to make her a dress. It is a lovely colour,
a kind of blue green with a little shimmer to it. I think she will pay me well
and I can think about buying a few Christmas presents to hide away.
That
is November already and only another four weeks and you will be home with us. I
have a few things needing your attention, but I promise I will give you a
little time to recover when you come home. It will just be nice to have your
warm body to keep my cold feet warm.
I
have put Martha’s picture in the letter for you. She has drawn you and Mr
Wilkins by the wreck as well as another figure. When I asked her about it she
just got all coy and refused to speak. See what you think of it.
The
weather is getting much chillier and I have been collecting wood from Lord
Denholm’s wood. It is very good of him to allow the local people to forage for
wood and berries. It certainly helps me to save a little money.
I
will finish now to allow me to get this letter off to you.
Look
after yourself my love.
Your devoted wife
Florence
Shivering Rock Lighthouse
Off the Suffolk coast
7th
November 1852
The
Manager
Trinity
House
West Beckenham
London
Sir,
I
wish to report the appearance of a large wreck which has run aground at the base
of Shivering Rock lighthouse. The recent storms that we have been experiencing
must have brought it up from the seabed and delivered it to its present site.
From
the faded lettering on the ship’s prow we have ascertained it was the ‘Mintaka’
out of London.
I
would respectively request your instructions for its salvage or destruction
I await your answer,
Yours faithfully
Michael Pearson.
(Lighthouse
Attendant)
Shivering Rock Lighthouse
Off the Suffolk
coast
24th
November 1852
My
dearest wife,
Thank
you for your letter and Martha’s picture. I must admit it came as a shock when
I saw it and the ‘extra’ figure. I have been feeling rather unwell since an
incident occurred three days ago.
Old
Wilkins had gone to bed and I had been up at the lamphouse checking on the
fuel. I had found that there was enough kerosene to see us through till mid
week and had decided to leave it. I turned to polish the lenses and the lit the
wick and after checking everything else was alright descended to my cabin to collect
my Bible. We normally sit in the main room during our shift.
I
had been sitting reading for a few minutes when I was conscious of a figure
standing in the doorway and thinking it was Wilkins asked if he wanted a mug of
tea. When I received no answer I turned and beheld a young lady dressed in a
green shift. Her hair was done up prettily with ribbons and she had little
plimsolls on her feet. I jumped to my feet in a mixture of shock and respect
and asked her how she had got here. She smiled demurely and said that didn’t
matter, that she was here now and that was all that mattered.
She
then approached me and put her hand up to my face. I must admit to you my wife
that she was very lovely and with not seeing a woman for that many months I was
enthralled by her. But as she began to become forward with me, planting small
kisses on my cheek and neck I became exceedingly uncomfortable and raised my
hand to fend her off. I had forgotten that I still held my Bible in my hand and
as I raised it, the Bible came into contact with her.
Well,
she sprang back as if I had touched her with a red hot poker. She crouched down
on the floor and began snarling at me. Her shift began to rot in front of my
eyes and bits of flesh began to peel from her face and hands. The smell of
brackish seawater pervaded the room and I could see strands of seaweed entwined
in her hair.
I
raised my Bible before her and shouted for her to begone and suddenly she faded
away in front of my eyes.
I
must have fainted for next I knew, old Wilkins was helping me to my feet and
the night had passed.
I
recounted my experience to old Wilkins, but he thought that I had just fallen
asleep and dreamt it all. He assured me that no mention would be made to our
managers of my dereliction of duty and he sent me off to bed.
Imagine
my shock when I saw Martha’s picture. The figure in green accompanying the
wreck. How could I know, when I had not seen the picture and how could she know
at all?
I
have written off to our managers asking for their instructions as to the
disposal of the wreck and hope that with its demise I will feel better.
I
hope you are still well and that you should try and stay as warm as possible.
When I get home I will ensure that the wood shed is suitably filled with fuel
for the impending winter.
My
love to you all.
Your loving husband
Michael
Trinity House
West
Beckenham
London
14th
November 1852
Shivering
Rock Lighthouse
Off the Suffolk
coast
My
dear Pearson,
Thank
you for your report of the 7th
November 1852.
We
have checked with Lloyds of London as to the salvageable value of the ‘Mintaka’
and find that it has no value attributed to it.
I
therefore instruct you to burn the wreck and thus remove it from any
interference with the effectual operation of the lighthouse.
Yours sincerely
Charles Pomfrit
(Acting Manager)
Rose
Cottage
Myreswalk
Suffolk
30th November 1852
My
dearest husband,
Your
last letter was so strange that I didn’t read it to Mary and Martha. How
terrible for you to have this happen. Could it have been a dream? It may have
been a horrible coincidence, Martha’s picture and your experience.
You
must put this all behind you for tomorrow is the first of December and in
twenty days time you will be safely home with us. We will have Christmas and
all the festivities to look forward to. We will all have a lovely time and I
have been able to buy little things for the girl’s Christmas stockings.
Now,
Michael, you must pull yourself together for all our sakes. Look to your Bible.
Our Lord was tested by the Devil and with God’s love came through it. You must
try and be like Him.
I
finished Mrs Bryant’s dress and she was so pleased that she gave me an order
for another one! She will deliver the material next week and hopefully I will
have it ready for her before Christmas.
I
have put an order into the butcher for a goose for Christmas. I will make a
large pot of soup and if you are all very good I will make Mother’s plum duff
for afters.
Mary and Martha send their
love and are looking forward to your return to us.
God
bless you and keep you safe.
Your devoted wife
Florence
Shivering Rock Lighthouse
Off the Suffolk
coast
8th
December 1852
My
dearest wife,
This
maybe my last letter to you, ever. I woke from a terrible dream this morning
and I know that something terrible is to happen soon.
In
the dream I had stepped out of the lighthouse onto the Rock. It was low tide
and the wreck of the ‘Mintaka’ was sitting high up on the rocks. I thought I
heard a woman’s voice calling my name and approached the wreck to see who was
calling me. No one was visible and so I climbed up onto the rotting hulk’s
deck. It smelt terrible there and most of the wood looked green and sickly. It
reminded me of a decaying corpse.
The
voice called again and I felt compelled to go below decks to discover its
source.
I
went down a long passage and entered a large cabin in which there was a prison
cell. Looking through the grille in the door I beheld a skeleton lying on the
floor of the cell amidst dirty and stained clothing.
As
I watched the skeleton began to move and the flesh began to cover the grey
bones. Soon the soiled clothing pulled itself over the emerging body and I was
face to face with the creature who I had encountered all these days before.
She
smiled a pretty smile, but I shivered, for I knew what she had been.
She
then asked me to unlock her cell door and release her. She promised great
rewards if I did so and I felt compelled to do as she asked.
Then
upon looking down I realised that my Bible was in my hand and knew
instinctively that if I opened that door I would be releasing an evil onto the
World, just as Pandora had done when she had opened her box.
I
awoke then and felt a tremendous relief that I had not carried out her request,
all be it, that it was in a dream.
Imagine
my horror when upon descending to door out of the lighthouse to smell the odour
off burning wood. Old Wilkins had set the wreck alight and it was blazing like
a bonfire.
I
shouted at him to explain his action and he proffered a letter from Trinity
house, authorising the burning of the vessel and thus freeing the witch from
her watery prison.
I
would have advocated puncturing the hull and floating her off to sink again
into the deep water, thus imprisoning the witch again.
Old
Wilkins couldn’t understand my consternation as we watched the burning embers
of the ‘Mintaka’ settle and then sink into the water till nothing remained.
I
am writing this during my night watch. The wind has risen outside and I can
hear it howling round the lighthouse. There is also scrabbling noises almost as
if something with long fingernails is moving about the outside wall. The doors
are all locked. I made sure of that, but I feel whatever is outside has no need
of doors to gain entrance.
From
below I can hear something moving. I can see smoke coming up from below.
Something is on fire. I will investigate
The Manager
Trinity House
West Beckenham
London
10th
December 1852
Rose
Cottage
Myreswalk
Suffolk
My
dear Mrs Pearson,
It
is with much regret that I must inform you of the death of your husband
Michael.
It
would appear that a fire broke out in Shivering Rock lighthouse on the evening
of the 8th of
December 1852 and that your husband and William Wilkins succumbed
to the fumes.
I
am assured by the doctor in charge of the post mortem, that neither men would
have suffered any pain as both their deaths occurred due to smoke inhalation.
Due
to the severe burning that both bodies received after death, I have instructed
the undertaker to put both men into closed coffins for the respective funerals.
I am sure that you and your children would rather remember your husband as you
last saw him.
A
small pension will be paid to you by Trinity House, for your lifetime. This is
in respect of your husband’s excellent work as lighthouse attendant over the
past fifteen years.
If
I or my company can offer any other help, please do not hesitate to call and
ask for myself or my assistants.
Once
again, our sincere condolences for your loss.
Yours sincerely
James Fanshaw
(CEO Trinity
House)
Coroner’s
Department
Knightsbridge
London
11th December 1852
CEO
Trinity
House
West Beckenham
London
Dear
James,
Just
a further note for your ‘Top Secret’ files.
Both
corpses of Pearson and Wilkins were almost unidentifiable due to very deep
lacerations inflicted on their bodies by person or persons unknown.
It
was a very good idea of yours to instruct the undertakers to use ‘closed
coffins’ as sight of the injuries could have involved a lengthy and possibly,
costly inquiry.
Fancy
a game of golf this weekend, James? I fancy some of that pheasant in wine they
serve at the Golf hotel after the match. Are you on for it? Drop me a note.
Yours sincerely
William Toomey
(Senior Coroner)
Extracts
from The Daily Bugle
29th December 1852. The Daily Bugle
The
liner ‘Majestic’ struck the Shivering Rock last night and sank with a large
loss of life.
Earlier
in the month a catastrophic fire destroyed Shivering Rock lighthouse killing
the two attendants Michael Pearson and William Wilkins. Although plans have
been drawn up for the rebuilding of the lighthouse, it will be several months
before another light warns shipping of the Shivering Rock.
Survivors
of the Majestic sinking report a light hovering above the water which was taken
to warn off shipping, but in fact led the liner onto the Rock.
5th January 1853 The Daily Bugle.
The cargo
vessel ‘Intrepid’ ran aground on the Shivering Rock. Twenty crewmen lost and
four survivors.
“I saw a
light to starboard,” reported the helmsman. “I thought it was warning me off
the Rock!”
No comments:
Post a Comment