The INDIANA’s cargo was of a general nature, plus oranges and lemons. The crates of fruit broke open and thousands of oranges and lemons spilled out and were bobbing around in the surf and ended up on the shoreline from Goring to Rottingdean. They were retrieved in large quantities by the locals who no doubt set about eating them and making marmalade.

The scene of broken orange and lemon crates on the beach.

Costermongers arrived with their horse and carts and other stallholders arrived with baskets and sacks to collect the fruit. By the time the salvage boat turned up the following day, the beach had been picked clean. One beachcomber unfortunately lost his life after he waded into the crashing sea to grab more fruit and was bowled over by an unexpected wave.

Of course, the coastguards attempted to impound the cases of fruit washed up intact but those broken against breakwaters were left to the beachcombers … who had virtually turned into a mob.