THEY came in their hundreds, scavenging by torchlight through the pitch dark of a January night - men, women and children joining the hunt for treasures given up by the sea.
Never in living memory had there been such riches washed up on the pebble beach at Branscombe in Devon, courtesy of last week’s storms which forced the mighty 62,000-tonne MSC Napoli to disgorge her cargo.
The rumours of BMW motorbikes still in their boxes proved to be true. Also there for the taking were oil paintings signed by Russian artist Aidir Chusainov, Nike trainers and perfume, car steering wheels, bottles of fine French wine, beauty cream, Bibles, dog food and camcorders.
Among those raking through the containers washed up in sight of the ship a mile offshore was Tom Stapley, a 21-year-old Royal Marine, who described the sight along the coastline.
“We got here at midnight and haven’t slept. I couldn’t believe my eyes. There’s so much stuff. We only went for a look around. I can’t believe I’ve come away with a BMW. There are containers with locks on and people running around with bolt cutters.”
Tom Coombs, 42, from Seaton, Devon, took home an oil painting he found. “I saw a painting - a very colourful abstract - and thought I’d take it. It’s like something out of a novel - shipwrecks and scavengers.'’
The scene was reminiscent of the wreckers who until the 19th century had a tradition of luring ships on to the jagged coastline of south-west England, flashing lights to imitate lighthouse signals.
Folklore has it that many also robbed and murdered crew members. There were frequent confrontations between scavengers and customs officials wanting duty for the Crown.
Author Richard Platt said tales of cynical wreckers guiding ships on to rocks may be exaggerated. He said it was more likely local people simply took advantage of ships that smashed into the coast.
“The people who lived in these coastal communities, all of their families were often at sea, and they were acutely aware of its perils.
“When ships were washed up on the coast of Cornwall, they were the people who would pick up bodies and they were paid to do that. There are tales of evil wreckers, but I find it difficult to believe the legends.”
He added: “Everybody wants something for nothing. Everybody loves beachcombing, a walk down the beach hoping to find something valuable.”
Scotland’s most famous scavenging episode was triggered by the SS Politician, a Jamaica-bound cargo vessel grounded off Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides in 1941. Among her cargo was 260,000 bottles of first-class whisky.
Islanders rowed out at night to the ship and succeeded in carrying off 24,000 cases of whisky before revenue officers arrived.
The events were immortalised in a novel by Compton Mackenzie and made into the classic Ealing comedy Whisky Galore!.
Yesterday extra police were drafted in after hundreds of looters broke through a cordon set up in Branscombe on Sunday to deter the influx of scavengers.
Attempts to stop them by blocking the lane to the shore were foiled when people parked elsewhere and walked more than a mile to the beach.
It wasn’t all good-natured - there were reports of scuffles.
Coastguard Seamus McCaffrey trudged the length of the beach handing out forms for people to fill in. For finds to be legal, the forms have to be sent to the Receiver’s Office in Southampton within 28 days.
“Some people have been coming up to me asking for forms. Generally people have been quite pleasant,” he said.
Gareth Topping, 32, a builder from Sidmouth, helped himself to a 1200cc BMW motorbike worth £9,095 but filled in a form before taking it away.
“You could probably build yourself a car from all the spare parts. It’s incredible. I saw about 30 BMW bikes all boxed up, in pretty good nick.
“I got here at 8pm on Sunday and stayed all night. Police gave us the go-ahead and we just started to search through things. There must have been 300 people down here doing the same.
“There were car parts and small tractors, barrels and books. I did fill out a form and was told if the shipping firm don’t try to get it back within a year it is mine.”
Another scavenger said: “As far as I’m concerned, it’s anybody’s. They’re trying to say it still belongs to the shipping company but half of it’s ruined.
“It’s only a few bits and bobs and if all they lose is the odd steering wheel, they should be grateful. It’s the spoils of war.”
The ship was carrying 2,323 containers, 158 of which are classed as having potentially hazardous contents.
Last night the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said 103 crates had fallen from the ship; 73 had been found.
The Mediterranean Shipping Company, the ship’s owner, has now hired a private security company to guard the beached containers.
(this article was taken from news.scotsman.com)
