Atlas

The Austrian barque Atlas of 400 tons loaded with maize ran aground on Atherfield Ledge during a terrible storm on November 26, 1880. This night, Island lifeboat crews from Brighstone and local coastguards fought valiantly to save their fellow crew members

The gale blew away all five rescue rockets that had been launched. They ventured out into the dreadful waters in their own boat, but it was quickly overtaken by water and some of the coast guards were swept away. It was the only way they could save themselves and return to the shore without dying.

They tried to connect a small tub to the boat, but it also became trapped in the rocks when they tried to come alongside.
Jimmy Fairweather, a coast guardsman, wade out into the waves and release the line, which they then brought to where they could tie it off and connect a hawser to winch the crew out one by one, with the captain being the last to depart the sinking ship. The once-proud ship was destroyed by the storm and Atherfield Ledge in a matter of hours.

All the cargo and crew belongings were lost, latterly the coastguards were presented with a commendation and the Chief Coastguard, a George Sweetingham, was presented with a silver tea and coffee set inscribed –

“Presented by subscription to Mr George Sweetingham for his gallant rescue of the crew of the barque “Atlas”. November 25th 1880”

• http://backofthewight.co.uk/atlas.htm
• http://www.coastguardsofyesteryear.org/articles.php?article_id=285

•     Back of the Wight – Fred Mew
•     Shipwrecks of the Wight – J.C.Medland
•     Shipwrecks of The Isle of Wight – Ken Phillips
•     The Lifeboats of Brighstone Bay – Christopher J. Willis and Edward H. Roberts