Pete, the extract from the Hull Times is particularly interesting. What is strange is that I have done a quick search in the histories of the lifeboat stations at Scarborough, Flamborough, Bridlington, Spurn and Grimsby and can find no reference to a major incident in 1899. The Great Storm of 1871 is covered in detail and 43 of the bodies were buried in Flamborough churchyard:
(http://www.sprobson.f2s.com/t1871.html). In fact, I can't find any refernce at all to a storm in 1899 in the North Sea. The answer may be that the storm occurred far out at sea, out of range of the lifeboats. Herring craft and trawlers would easily work this far out but how far would fishing smacks go - they usually worked much closer to shore? If my assumtion is correct then 'I think I see them yet again as they leave the land behind' couldn't be true. I would think that the statement that 'many hundreds more were drowned' is also a huge exaggeration. However, if it was written to raise funds, a little elaboration wouldn't harm - or maybe it was just poetic licence. Interesting stuff!