The Virginia Gazette

LONDON, January 30.

An Account of the unfortunate Accident which lately happened to the Spaw at Scarborough.

THE Spaw, as to its Situation, lay South from the Town, on the Sands, and fronting the Sea to the East, under a high Cliff on the Back of it West; the Top of the Cliff is above the High Water level 54 Yards, and all about a Quarter of a Mile from the Town. The Steith or Wharf adjoining to the Spaw House, which was a large Body of Stone, and bound by Timbers, and was a Fence against the Sea, for the Security of the House, was 7 Feet long, and 14 Feet high, and in Weight by Computation, 2453 Tons. The House and Buildings were upon a Level with the Steith or Wharf, at the North End of which, and near adjoining to it, upon a small Rise above the Level Sands, and at the Foot of the Stairs that lead up to the Top of the said Steith, and to the House, were the Spaw Wells.

On Wednesday the 28th of December last, in the Morning, a great Crack was heard from the Cellar of the Spaw House; and upon Search, the Cellar was found rent, but at that Time, there was no further Notice taken. The Night following, the Inhabitants heard another Crack, and in the Morning entering the Cellar, they were surprised to see the strange Posture it stood in, and then got several Gentlemen to view it, who were of Opinion, that the House would soon fall, and advised them to get their Goods out; but they did not do it.

On Thursday following, between 2 and 3 o'Clock in the Afternoon, there was another Crack heard, and the Top of the Cliff behind it, rent 224 Yards in Length, and 36 extreme Breadth, which was all immediately in Motion, slowly descending, and continued so 'til it was dark. The Ground thus rent, contained about an Acre of Pasture Land, and Cattle then feeding thereon, and was on a level with the main Land, but sunk down near perpendicular 17 Yards. The Sides of the Cliff nearest the Spaw stand as before, but rent and broke in many Places, and forced forwards to the Sea; the Ground when sunk lay upon a Level, and the Cattle the next Morning feeding on it, the main Land being as a Wall on the West, and some Part of the Side of the Cliff as a Wall on the East; and the Whole to a View, is at present such a confused Prospect, as is scarce to be expressed.

The Rent of the Top of the Cliff aforesaid from the main Land, was 224 Yards. The Rent continued from each End down the Side of the Cliff to the Sands, was measured on the Sands from one End to the other, 268 Yards, viz. 143 South of the Steith and Spaw Wells, and 100 to the North of the Spaw.

As the Ground sunk, the Earth or Sand which the People used to walk on under the Cliff, arose upwards out of its natural Position for above 100 Yards in Length, on each Side of the Steith, North and South, and was 6 and in some Places 7 Yards above its former Level: the Spaw Wells rose with it, but as soon as it began to rise, the Water at the Spaw Well ceased running, and was gone.

The Ground thus risen was 26 Yards broad; the Steith, which was computed at 2463 Tons, rose entire and whole, 11 Feet higher than its former Position, but rent a little in the Front, and was forced forwards towards the Sea 20 Yards.

The most reasonable Account that at present is given for this uncommon Phenomenon, and the Occasion of the Destruction of the Steith, Spaw House, and the Loss of the Spaw Spring, is as follows:

When this Steith, or Wharf, was lately rebuilt, (it being thrown down by the Violence of the Sea) Mr. Vincent, Engineer for building of the new Pier at Scarborough, was desired to rebuild the Steith at the Spaw; and digging a Trench to lay the Foundation thereof, with great Difficulty cleared it of Water; and when he had done it, could, at several Places thereof, very easily thrust his Stick or Cane up to the Handle, from which it's concluded, that all the Earth under the Steith, was of a porous, spongy, and swampy Nature, and is much the same below the Foundation of the Spaw-House, and all under the Sides of the Cliff adjoining, as well South as North.

Allowing this to be Fact, we may naturally conclude, that the solid Earth sinking on the Top of the Cliff, as aforementioned, which was of so vast a Weight, as by Computation, amounts to 261,360 Tons, and pressing gradually upon and into the swampy boggy Earth beneath, and under it, would of Course, and did raise the Earth and Sands as before noticed, and ruined the Steith or Wharf, and the House, and for the present deprives us of the Spaw.

Since this most unhappy Accident, which could not in the Nature of Things have been prevented, diligent Search has been made, and is still continued to be made; and great Numbers of Labourers are employed in working, with great Application, to find out the Spa Water for that Purpose to remove the Earth and Sands, and clear the Ground where they imagine the Spring is most likely to be found; and 'tis hop'd, that none who know the Virtue of this Spaw, and the great Good it has done to Thousands of Invalids, and the Health and Pleasure it afforded to all that drank it, but will heartily wish Success to their Endeavours.