Steamer Ashore at South Shields
Yesterday, towards nightfall, a heavy fog settled down over the lower reaches of the Tyne and the movements of vessels were very much impeded. About 7.20 a steamer was making for the entrance of the river, but ran ashore at the south side of the South Pier. Immediately the Coastguard fired the alarm signals, and they were responded to by the guns of H.M. Castor, lying in the Shields Harbour. There was the usual rush of excited people, and the South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade was on the spot in a very brief space of time. The steamer was observed about three hundred yards from the pier evidently firmly fixed in the sand. There was only a slight sea on, and not much risk to those on board was anticipated, but the cart containing the rocket apparatus was taken along the beach opposite to where the vessel lay, she being about five hundred yards from the water's edge. Four rockets were fired, but the steamer was out of reach. The lifeboats Bedford, from South Shields, and James Young from North Shields, pulled out of the harbour and went alongside, but the crew preferred to remain on board. The steam tugs Wallsend and Selina came up, and with their assistance and the rising tide the steamer's engines being kept working, the vessel was got afloat in about three-quarters of an hour and taken up the river. It was ascertained that she was the Giralda of Newcastle, bound from Middlesbrough, in ballast. The crowd on seeing the steamer move from her position sent up a cheer, and it was thought from the way which she afterwards travelled she was little or none the worse for the mishap.
Source: Shields Daily Gazette 4 June 1891