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Story
December 13, 1819
Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
Dr. Currie recounts hearing a traveller drown in the Solway Firth at night, unhorsed by the incoming tide during a tempest. The man lashed himself to a net post and cried for help until submerged, his body found the next morning.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
DROWNING.
Dr. Currie the biographer of Burns, relates the following incident, in a letter to Walter Scott. It cannot fail to interest every reader. He had previously been speaking of the ballad of Anna Water, which is founded on a similar story:-
"I once, in my early days, heard (for it was dark and I could not see) a traveller drowning in the frith of Solway, close by the mouth of the Aunan River. The influx of the tide had unhorsed him in the night, as he was passing the sands from Cumberland. The west wind blew a tempest, and, according to the common expression, brought in the water three feet abreast. The traveller got upon a standing net, a little way from the shore; there he lashed himself to the post, shouting half an hour for assistance, until the tide rose over his head. In the darkness of night, and the pauses of the hurricane, his voice, heard at intervals, was exquisitely mournful. No one could go to his assistance for no one knew where he was. The sound seemed to proceed from the spirit of the waters. But morning rose, the tide had ebbed, and the poor traveller was found lashed to the pole of the net, bleaching in the wind."
Dr. Currie the biographer of Burns, relates the following incident, in a letter to Walter Scott. It cannot fail to interest every reader. He had previously been speaking of the ballad of Anna Water, which is founded on a similar story:-
"I once, in my early days, heard (for it was dark and I could not see) a traveller drowning in the frith of Solway, close by the mouth of the Aunan River. The influx of the tide had unhorsed him in the night, as he was passing the sands from Cumberland. The west wind blew a tempest, and, according to the common expression, brought in the water three feet abreast. The traveller got upon a standing net, a little way from the shore; there he lashed himself to the post, shouting half an hour for assistance, until the tide rose over his head. In the darkness of night, and the pauses of the hurricane, his voice, heard at intervals, was exquisitely mournful. No one could go to his assistance for no one knew where he was. The sound seemed to proceed from the spirit of the waters. But morning rose, the tide had ebbed, and the poor traveller was found lashed to the pole of the net, bleaching in the wind."
What sub-type of article is it?
Disaster
Tragedy
What themes does it cover?
Misfortune
Tragedy
What keywords are associated?
Drowning
Solway Frith
Tide
Tempest
Traveller
Net Post
What entities or persons were involved?
Dr. Currie
Walter Scott
Traveller
Where did it happen?
Frith Of Solway, Close By The Mouth Of The Aunan River, Sands From Cumberland
Story Details
Key Persons
Dr. Currie
Walter Scott
Traveller
Location
Frith Of Solway, Close By The Mouth Of The Aunan River, Sands From Cumberland
Story Details
A traveller is unhorsed by the tide while crossing sands at night during a tempest, lashes himself to a net post, shouts for help until drowned, and is found dead in the morning.