4.--The Yarmouth Town Council, by a majority of 25 to 11, adopted the
Public House Closing Act, 1864.
8.--The first sod of the West Norfolk Junction Railway was turned by Miss
Ellen Simpson, daughter of Mr. Lightly Simpson, the chairman of the
company. Many persons travelled to Heacham to take part in the
proceedings. (_See_ January 8th, 1866.)
11.--Died, Captain Becher, "the well-known sportsman and father of
steeplechase riders, whose deeds in the pigskin some 30 years back have
immortalised him in the annals of that sport." Captain Becher was born
in Norfolk, and was the son of a farmer, "who was very conspicuous as a
horseman and the last of the leather breeches school."
16.--A new screw steamer, the Ontario, 3,200 tons, Captain Brooklin, upon
her first voyage, from Shields to Alexandria, laden with coals and iron,
struck upon Happisburgh Sand. Three steam tugs and the Caister lifeboat
proceeded to her assistance, and her cargo was thrown overboard, but
every effort made to get her off proved unavailing. On the 17th the
weather became very threatening, and the lifeboat took off 56 coal
heavers, but the captain and officers and 86 of the crew determined to
remain with the vessel. During the night the storm increased, and the
crew, apparently in great distress, sent up rockets and burned blue
lights. The Yarmouth lifeboatmen were implored by the ship's agent, Mr.
Butler, to go to the ship, but in vain. They refused to launch the
lifeboat unless they were paid from 400 to 500, saying that the steam
tugs had begun the work and had better finish it. The Caister lifeboat
stood by the vessel, which, by the 20th, had so settled down that it was
hopeless to attempt to get her off. On this day 68 of the crew left in a
lifeboat belonging to the steamer, but the captain and officers declined
to desert her. They were, however, compelled to leave on the 22nd, when
she became a total wreck, and was offered for sale. The original value
of the Ontario was 120,000.
21.--The church of St. Nicholas, Yarmouth, was opened after restoration,
at the cost of about 6,000. The sermon was preached by the Bishop of
Oxford, and at the luncheon held subsequently, under the presidency of
the Mayor (Mr. R. Steward), the company included the Bishops of Norwich
and Oxford, the Bishop of British Columbia, Lord Sondes (High Steward of
the borough), and many other distinguished guests.