You are here: Home >
Monday June 8th 1891 turned out
to be an interesting and financially beneficially day for the crew
of the Elizabeth Simpson. A whale later identified as a Lesser Rorqual
35 feet in length, somehow became disoriented amongst the sand banks
off Gorleston and finished up on an incoming tide, entering the
harbour to become entangled amongst the wooden pile structure known
as the Mousetrap. The Lifeboat was launched and managed with the
aid of other small boats to secure ropes on the unfortunate creature,
after which it was killed by the crew and towed to the Volunteer
Lifeboat shed which usually housed the Elizabeth Simpson. It was
then hauled up by a winch. It was decided to call in the local veterinary
surgeon, Mr. Shipley, who with the aid of the life boatmen dissected
it. A local taxidermist Walter Lowne performed the task of preserving
the whale for the sum of 30 pounds, finishing the job at his premises
on Fullers Hill Gt. Yarmouth.
The accompanying photo was given to me in 1947 by an old family
friend and lifeboat man, Shoots Parker. It was taken just prior
to leaving by rail from the South town railway station, to be exhibited
in London, at the Westminster Aquarium. My Grandfather Edward Bensley
other crew members accompanied the exhibit (It must be remembered
that prior to radio and television, newspaper accounts were all
that were available to the public, therefore it would have been
a popular exhibit.) After its return, it was shown at Norwich, Gt.
Yarmouth, and Lowerstoft, finishing its days in a long low building
on Pavilion Road Gorleston which became known as the Monkey House
an amusement arcade just prior to the Second World War.
(Photo From the left. Sam Woods, Edward Bensley, Unknown, Luffy
Lamb, (Coxswain Sidney Sparks Harris.) Charley Sappy Chilvers.Unkown.
Sam Parker. Crimo Crisp. The crewman holding the grappling hook
and chain ,also unknown, but one would guess this was the hook which
secured the whale when it was towed to the lifeboat shed Last in
line I was told was Mr. Wright who organized the exhibit.
Arthur. Edward. Bensley