128 REPORT—1858. 
agency may be ascribed this remarkable phenomenon, that on the 17th July, 1761, 
the tide rose and fell at Whitby four times in an hour.’” 
Analogous phenomena have been observed at Pegwell Bay, on the southern coast, 
during the present year. 
The following documents refer to the observations of such waves made upon the 
coast of Wexford, Ireland, in 1854. 
The ‘ Wexford Independent,’ a local journal of the 27th September, 1854, gives 
the following account :— 
«« Extraordinary Phenomenon.—We are indebted to Mr. William Campbell, the 
professional helmet-diver, who has done so much for the improvement of the new pier 
of Kilmore, by blasting and removing the rocks which impeded its entrance, for the 
following account of an extraordinary phenomenon, witnessed there on Saturday 
evening, Sept. 16th, 1854. ‘I was’ (writes Mr. Campbell) ‘in one of our boats 
seeking after some implements, and not looking seawards, when, on a sudden, I heard 
a mighty rush of water against the back of the pier, and in a moment it came 
sweeping round the pier-head, full 3 feet high and abreast. It was within one hour 
and a half of low water at the time. The inner dock was crowded with the small 
sailing craft of the place, and quite dry, the tide being more than four hours 
onebb. In less than five minutes every boat was afloat, and we had high water. 
In five minutes more the water ebbed again to the lowest spring-tide. This was 
repeated seven times in the course of two hours and a half. St. Patrick’s Bridge was 
alternately dry and covered to the extent of a mile, and the sea formed a cascade 
from end to end of it, the influx appearing to come from the east. Atthe same time 
the sea was not by any means rough nor heaving. ‘Standing on the top of the 
parapet wall of the pier, I could descry two different currents running parallel, and 
counter currents to these quite visible, the discoloured water running east at a rate 
of ten or twelve miles an hour, and the intervening water of the original green hue, 
and stationary. These tide currents were as far out as the shore of the Saltee 
Islands. I can only compare the current to the opening of a sluice gate. There was 
no damage done to any of the craft, more than the bursting of a few warps. Had 
the occurrence taken place at the period of high water, the result would have been the 
complete overflow of the land in the district, and consequent immense loss. We 
have often heard old people of that place say that on the Sunday after Lisbon was 
destroyed by the earthquake of November 1, 1755, the day being remarkably fine, 
the sea at Kilmore suddenly rose and fell in like manner. This occurrence the other 
day has been owing, no doubt, to some similar and distant cause.’ ” 
The phenomena alluded to in the above paragraph, from the ‘ Wexford Indepen- 
dent,’ are not unknown on the Waterford coast, and-are there popularly termed 
“death waves.’ It is not very long since two ladies had a narrow escape of being 
washed out to seaat Dunmore, by a sudden wave, which surprised them whilst seated 
at a considerable distance above high-water mark on the beach. 
Repeated instances are on record of such waves upon the north-east coast of 
England and upon the south-west coast of Ireland, as well as in many other places 
(see also Second Report, p. 47-48), and even on the east coast of Africa. 
For the following, I am indebted to the Commissioners of Public Works, Ireland:— 
“‘ Office of Public Works, October 19, 1854. 
«‘Sir,—I am directed to transmit herewith a copy of a report which the Board 
have received from James B. Farrell, Esq., County Surveyor of Wexford, respecting 
an extraordinary tidal phenomenon at Kilmore on the coast of that county on the 
16th ultimo. The Board send this report, considering it will be interesting to you, 
on the subject of earthquakes, to which you are giving your attention. 
“To Robert Mallet, Esq.” ““W. Moonzy, pro Sec.” 
_ Wexford, October 10, 1854.—In compliance with the request of the Com- 
missioners, contained in your note of the 22nd ultimo, I forwarded a newspaper in 
which was an account of the tidal phenomenon at Kilmore. 
“«* Since then I have made inquiries along the coast, tracing from New Ross round 
by Ballyhack, Arthurstown, Duncannon, Hook Head, Slade, Fethard, Bannow, and 
on towards Carnsore Point. 
“* As far-as Bannow nothing unusual was observed. The Coast-Guard near there, 
Tse. 
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