The Story of the Mexico Disaster |
| On Wednesday 4th. December 2019 a number of Mark Masons made their way to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution Lytham St. Annes Station Boathouse, situated on the South Promenade in St. Annes on Sea to attend a presentation by Semper Fidelis Lodge of Mark Master Masons. The presentation was the story of the Mexico disaster a barque that floundered off the Fylde Coast in 1886 that resulted in the worst loss of life in the history of the R.N.L.I.. The presentation was delivered first by Semper Fidelis Lodge at the Masonic Hall (The Palace), St. Annes on 15th. April 2019 as part of the Blackpool and Fylde Festival which is hosted by the Mark Lodges on the Fylde annually. At the presentation in April several of the staff and crew were invited to attend and so impressed were they that they invited Semper Fedelis Lodge to deliver the presentation at the St. Annes Boathouse to a wider audience. |
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Mexico leaving Mersey Estuary with lifeboats on station |
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| Shanty Crew entertain us with song and verse |
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Story narrators Bro. Godfrey Hirst and W.Bro. David Kenworthy |
| Almost an audience of ninety assembled in the Boathouse where they were welcomed by Martin Jaggs and Digby Moulden of the R.N.L.I. The first half of the evenings entertainment was sea shanties by the Lytham St. Annes Shanty Crew and verse, a poem called Warriors of the Sea, delivered by Brother Godfrey Hirst. After a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie the Members of Semper Fidelis Mark Lodge Worshipful Brothers David Kenworthy, William Swindlehurst, Alan Davies, Kenneth Turner and Brother Godfrey Hirst prepared for the presentation. |
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| Members of Semper Fidelis :- W.Bro. Alan Davies, Bro. Godfrey Hirst, |
W.Bro’s. David Kenworthy, Kenneth Turner and William Swindlehurst |
| The story recalls how three lifeboats were launched, the Southport lifeboat Eliza Fernley, the St. Annes lifeboat Laura Janet and the Lytham lifeboat Charles Biggs to rescue the German barque Mexico sailing from Liverpool for Ecuador when it ran into ferocious seas. The first lifeboat Eliza Fernley was overwhelmed by the storm and fourteen of the sixteen man crew were lost, the second lifeboat Laura Janet joined the rescue but never reached the Mexico and all thirteen men were lost, the Charles Biggs managed to reach the Mexico and rescue her twelve man crew. The loss of twenty-seven crewmen was and still is the worst loss of life in the history of the R.N.L.I. and as a memorial the town had a statue depicting a lifeboat crewman looking out to sea erected on the Promenade adjacent the pier. |
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Mexico crossing bay |
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| Lifeboats attempt rescue |
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Semper Fidelis Lodge present television |
| Martin Jaggs thanked Semper Fidelis Lodge of Mark Master Masons for producing the presentation and giving up of their time to present it in the Boathouse, as a final gesture the Lifeboat Station was presented with a television set to make the waiting for shout a little more pleasant. As the Shanty Crew sang their closing numbers we made our home wishing those staying behind a peaceful night, Hopefully. |
| Words and pictures by Ernie Gavan |
