The Wreck of the 'Juanita'

27th January 1876

On Christmas day the 'Juanita' of Bayonne, France, left Antwerp bound for Hartlepool in ballast. Between four and five o’clock on the Wednesday morning in thick weather the 306 ton barque ran aground a short distance from Robin Hood’s Bay, the crew had not noticed their proximity to the coast.

The Coastguard on duty saw the vessel run aground and immediately the Life Brigade were summonsed. The rocket apparatus was taken from the Coastguard Station along the shore. The Lifeboat was not launched as being of old design and lacking the improvements of more modern Royal Nation Lifeboat Institutes craft it was not deemed practical.

At about 6:20am on the 'Juanita' Captain Jean V Lautram had the ship’s boat launched in an attempt to gain the shore, however in the rough sea it was capsized spilling three men and a boy into the sea. Two of the men managed to struggle on to the shore, the third was gallantly rescued by Coastguard James Watson, who swam forty yards into the surf to recover the exhausted man. Dr.Miller administered brandy to the man. Unfortunately the thirteen-year-old Pierre Augustine Coriton of Quiberon, France was not so lucky, his body was washed onto the beach later.

Communication with the vessel was affected by means of the rocket apparatus and the remaining seven crewmen were soon rescued. Later the ship took fire from an over turned galley stove and soon became a total wreck. The crew were taken to the village and provided for by Rev. R. J. Cooper and Rev. Thomas Phillips of the Ship Wrecked Fishermen and Mariners Society. Mrs.Cooper was the only resident capable of speaking fluent French and was of immense service acting as interpreter. The boys body was taken to the vicarage and an inquest held into his death. One of the seamen Pierre Vincent le Quillec was witness and as no one was to blame for the tragedy a verdict of "Accidentally Drowned" was recorded. Pierre Augustine Coriton was interned at the new Fylingdales church, this was the first funeral to be read there.

Nine of the crew were sent to the French Consulate in Hull, the tenth member remained at the New Inn and received medical attention from Dr. Miller.

On Monday 1^st January 1877 the French Consulate visited the Bay to thank all those involved in the rescue and subsequent care of the crew. Stores salvaged from the "Juanita" were sold in Whitby by auctioneers Messers Turner & Mead for about £145.

For his part in the drama the 35 year old Boatman, James Watson of Robin Hood’s Bay Coastguard was awarded The Royal Humane Society’s Bronze Medal No.20074. Witnesses to the event were Dr. Miller, R. Robinson and J. Robinson both Naval Reservists. The reward was paid on 6^th June 1877