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Twenty-seven RNLI
men died this day leaving fifty orphans. Thirteen men died
from the St. Annes lifeboat and fourteen from the Southport
crew. The Lytham boat also launched and was successful in
rescuing the stricken crew of the Mexico, who were carrying
a cargo of mixed goods from Liverpool to Ecuador. The St.
Annes crew were from local fishing families from Lytham and,
at this time, the small new town of St. Annes. One man paid
a taxi double-fare to get him from Lytham to the boat in time,
some were recorded as being malnourished and the coxswain
himself was rumoured to be dying of TB. The disaster shocked
Victorian England, for which loss of life was commonplace.
An appeal followed,
to provide for memorials, funds for the families left behind,
and money for better boats. The disaster was so terrible that
charitable giving was revolutionised, and the organisation
of street collections in Manchester was to lead to the creation
of the first flag days. The appeal raised over two million
pounds in today’s terms.
Today the disaster
is permanently remembered at St. Annes’ lifeboat house
and has been featured in programmes such as “Coast”
(series 1).
The graveside memorials
of those who died in the St. Annes boat are in great need
of restoration, and Lytham St Annes Civic Society is leading
an appeal for funds for the conservation and maintenance of
the graveside memorials.
The conservation
and stabilisation of the monuments will be carried out by
the Liverpool Museums Sculpture Conservation Department.
We need at least
£15,000 to restore the memorials. Please help keep the
memory alive of what these extraordinary young men did. We
must keep these pieces of our heritage from crumbling away.
To contribute
to the Appeal, you can do so online by credit or debit card
using a secure server at: www.justgiving.com/mexicoappeal
If you wish
to donate by cheque or postal order
please CLICK HERE for
printable form
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