Sailing vessel PLADDA collides with Steamer EAGLE off Arran

From: Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 7th September 1973

The Perils Of The Sea SAVED BY THE SHEEP

With the Clyde being one of the busier waterways of Europe for longer than living memory, there has been a fair number of shipping disasters, accidents or curious incidents in its waters - or connected with the ships built in the Firth.

Some are still remembered or spoken about - the CHUSAN disaster and the HJORTNES tragedy at Ardrossan, the wreck of the TRELAWNEY off Stevenston; others are long ago forgotten.     The greatest loss of life was probably incurred in the DASHER during the past war when she sank in mid channel: but other founderings around local coasts have had their quotas of catastrophe.

One stormy Monday night - November 28, 1850 - the steamer EAGLE left Greenock at 9 p.m. bound for Londonderry with 80 passengers and a cargo of 200 sheep. The weather was fine at first but became dark an squally as the ship headed down the firth, and the skipper, Captain Eaglesham, hugged the Arran coast.

RAMMED About midnight, as the steamer was passing Holy Isle, the lights of another ship were seen off the port bow.      To avoid her the EAGLE turned hard a port, but while the other ship - the PLADDA, a sailing vessel loaded with timber, homeward bound from Quebec - took similar action but she did not answer her helm swiftly enough and her stern rammed the EAGLE amidships on the starboard side.    The size of the PLADDA is not known, but she was apparently waterlogged, making her difficult to handle.    On the collision, the EAGLE’s funnel collapsed, and the aft compartments filled with water which rushed into the engine room and extinguished the boilers. The ship rapidly began to sink by the stern.    

A passenger described the scene: “I was sitting in the cabin with two or three others, the other passengers reposing peacefully in their beds, when a fearful crash startled us: the large mirror was smashed in fragments and the whole of the fittings of the cabin came down upon us like rubbish.

The passengers in the cabin rushed on deck, many entirely naked.    The cries of the passengers were horrendous.

The vessel was rapidly sinking.    The stern descended, while the bow rose out of the water, till the vessel was almost as perpendicular as a steeple.

“Great numbers of the passengers must have been seriously injured as those who were in the bow, having lost their hold, fell down the dizzy height on to other parts of the steamer or into the water

 A tugboat named RESTLESS was a short distance away and made for the scene.      The master later described his difficulty in reaching survivors from the EAGLE, as in the darkness of the night he had great difficulty in distinguishing the faces of the sheep, of which there was about 200 floating about, from the faces of human beings.

A macabre situation as he also had bother distinguishing the cries of the humans from the bleating of the animals.    Forty persons from the EAGLE - passengers and crew were drowned, but one survivor at least was saved with the assistance those same sheep, he grabbed one under each arm and swam with them as lifebelts to the shore of the Holy Isle.

NOTE: EAGLE sank in Lamlash Bay, Isle of Arran    HM Customs sold cargo, boots and Gratings belonging to ship

Tugboat RESTLESS assists in rescue from sinking steamer EAGLE off Arran

From: Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 7th September 1973

The Perils Of The Sea SAVED BY THE SHEEP

With the Clyde being one of the busier waterways of Europe for longer than living memory, there has been a fair number of shipping disasters, accidents or curious incidents in its waters - or connected with the ships built in the Firth.

Some are still remembered or spoken about - the CHUSAN disaster and the HJORTNES tragedy at Ardrossan, the wreck of the TRELAWNEY off Stevenston; others are long ago forgotten.     The greatest loss of life was probably incurred in the DASHER during the past war when she sank in mid channel: but other founderings around local coasts have had their quotas of catastrophe.

One stormy Monday night - November 28, 1850 - the steamer EAGLE left Greenock at 9 p.m. bound for Londonderry with 80 passengers and a cargo of 200 sheep. The weather was fine at first but became dark an squally as the ship headed down the firth, and the skipper, Captain Eaglesham, hugged the Arran coast.

RAMMED About midnight, as the steamer was passing Holy Isle, the lights of another ship were seen off the port bow.      To avoid her the EAGLE turned hard a port, but while the other ship - the PLADDA, a sailing vessel loaded with timber, homeward bound from Quebec - took similar action but she did not answer her helm swiftly enough and her stern rammed the EAGLE amidships on the starboard side.    The size of the PLADDA is not known, but she was apparently waterlogged, making her difficult to handle.    On the collision, the EAGLE’s funnel collapsed, and the aft compartments filled with water which rushed into the engine room and extinguished the boilers. The ship rapidly began to sink by the stern.    

A passenger described the scene: “I was sitting in the cabin with two or three others, the other passengers reposing peacefully in their beds, when a fearful crash startled us: the large mirror was smashed in fragments and the whole of the fittings of the cabin came down upon us like rubbish.

The passengers in the cabin rushed on deck, many entirely naked.    The cries of the passengers were horrendous.

The vessel was rapidly sinking.    The stern descended, while the bow rose out of the water, till the vessel was almost as perpendicular as a steeple.

“Great numbers of the passengers must have been seriously injured as those who were in the bow, having lost their hold, fell down the dizzy height on to other parts of the steamer or into the water

 A tugboat named RESTLESS was a short distance away and made for the scene.      The master later described his difficulty in reaching survivors from the EAGLE, as in the darkness of the night he had great difficulty in distinguishing the faces of the sheep, of which there was about 200 floating about, from the faces of human beings.

A macabre situation as he also had bother distinguishing the cries of the humans from the bleating of the animals.    Forty persons from the EAGLE - passengers and crew were drowned, but one survivor at least was saved with the assistance those same sheep, he grabbed one under each arm and swam with them as lifebelts to the shore of the Holy Isle.

NOTE: EAGLE sank in Lamlash Bay, Isle of Arran    HM Customs sold cargo, boots and Gratings belonging to ship

THE CONTEST was launched by Barr and Shearer, Shipbuilders, Ardrossan

   When Barr and Shearer, Shipbuilders, Ardrossan, built and launched the ship “THE CONTEST” on 16^th September 1853, it was the largest ship to be built in Scotland at that time.

   Among those present at the launch were : - Earl and Countess of Eglinton, Earl and Countess of Buchan and Mr. E. H. J. Crawford, M.P.

   “THE CONTEST” was a ship of 1119 tons

Mutiny on board "Alan Ker" from Ardrossan to USA

The following transcript was kindly contributed by Mr. Jim Hunter, of Ardrossan.

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated 2nd January 1858, page 2

MUTINY ON BOARD AN ARDROSSAN SHIP

On Monday, says the "Northern Whig", the ship "Alan Ker" of Belfast, Captain Winter, bound from Ardrossan to Norfolk, Virginia, United States, put into this port, the crew being in a state of mutiny.
The ship left Ardrossan on the 27th November, and had proceeded to sea a considerable distance, when the crew refused to proceed further on the voyage.

We have learned from her owner, Mr James Barnet, that the seamen had been paid, as usual, in monthly advance notes, and that the vessel had not proceeded far to sea when signs of mutiny were evidenced among the crew - indeed, some of them, it appears, entered her with the determination of not proceeding on the voyage.

We conversed with some of the seamen on Monday night in the police office, and the most intelligent among them stated that the "Alan Ker" is about twenty-three years old.
All the men on board believed her hull to be sound, but when she was nine days at sea, they found that her rigging and pumps got into such a state as rendered her completely unseaworthy.
All of the "forecastle hands," in this state of things, passed aft, and told Captain Winter that they would not proceed on the voyage, but that they would "work" the ship into the nearest British port.
Captain Winter asked them if they were mad? To which they replied they would not proceed farther on the voyage.
The course of the vessel was immediately altered, and on arriving in Belfast on Monday, the seamen were given into custody.

On the trial, at the Police Court, the master stated that the pumps were new, but - with characteristic vagueness of attestation - "to the best of his knowledge the vessel was seaworthy," and that "the ship was tight, and made no water."
The prisoners were not, of course, allowed to give evidence; but we have three other seamen who were not in custody, and who will be obliged to proceed with the ship called to prove she was not seaworthy.
The bench read a lecture to the prisoners.
They were reminded that, had they been in the Royal Navy, two of them would have been "assuredly hanged," and "the others flogged"; that they could not be allowed "to set the Captain and mate at defiance, or there would be an end to all order, and no man would invest his money in ships," that two of them should be imprisoned for twelve weeks, at hard labour, and to forfeit whatever wages were due to them, and the others to be imprisoned for eight weeks, at hard labour.

We have no doubt the sympathy of a large portion of the community will go with the incarcerated seamen of the "Alan Ker," while the case only shows the further necessity for reform in the mercantile laws of the country.
The underwriters will not think better of their chores with Belfast shipowners for the present proceedings of the Belfast bench.

Proposal for a new vessel for Arran service

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" newspaper dated 15th January 1960.

"Taken from the files of a hundred years ago."

January 1860. At a meeting of the shareholders of the proposed Arran and Ardrossan Steam Navigation Company held at Ardrossan it was decided to get specifications and estimates for a first class steamer suitable to the station."

Vessel "Eagle" sunk

Vessel sunk.
Cargo retreived and sold by HM Customs

Spanish Barque "O" sunk off Holy Isle, Arran

Sale of cargo (list), retreived from sunken Spanish barque, off Holy Isle, Arran

In 1860 Barque HARLEQUIN made the fastest voyage to Canada and back

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 29th July 1960

From the files of 100 years ago July 1860

The barque HARLEQUIN 648 tons register, made the voyage from Liverpool to Montreal and back in 69 days from port to port, including the time employed in discharging and reloading.

As she had a full cargo each way, this is stated to be the quickest voyage on record.

Ritchie Brown Esq., a native of Stevenston, commanded the barque.

Purchase of ship under construction

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated 29th July 1960

From the files of 100 years ago.
July 1860

The large vessel on the stocks at Barr and Shearer's Yard, Ardrossan, has been purchased by Messrs. Potts, Wilson and Company, Glasgow.

Gale smashes four small boats in Largs Harbour

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated 7th October 1960

From the files of 100 years ago
1860

A gale that hit the Ayrshire coast smashed a smack and three smaller boats to pieces in Largs harbour.

Wrecked schooner BAMBOROUGH CASTLE exposed for sale at Saltcoats

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated 7th October 1960

From the files of 100 years ago

The wrecked schooner BAMBOROUGH CASTLE was exposed for sale on the Braes, Saltcoats.

The total proceeds amounted to £10 13s, exclusive of her anchors and chains.

Fishery Board aim to suppress trawling

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated 28th October 1960.

From the files of 100 years ago.

The Scottish Board of Fishery have stationed at Ardrossan for a short time, Mr. McIvor, Greenock, for the suppression of trawling, which is on the increase.

Ship "James" of Campbeltown launched at Ardrossan

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated 18th November 1960

From the files of 100 years ago.
1860

Mr. Russell, Shipbuilder, launched a ship, the "James" of Campbeltown.
She was 63 feet in length and could carry up to 100 tons.
The carpenters met in Mrs. Jamieson's Railway Hotel, Ardrossan, to celebrate the occasion.

From: Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald dated 7th September 1973

THE PERILS OF THE SEA

ONLY THE SKIPPER SURVIVED

Over the two days of Thursday and Friday the 7th and 8th February, 1861, among the vessels which sailed out of Ardrossan harbour were 16 bound for the coast of Ireland. By the Saturday morning, six of them were total wrecks, and another was never seen again.

An easterly gale had sprung up on the Friday night, described as “the most fearful experienced within memory”, and with the worst consequences in so far as loss of shipping was concerned, Ardrossan had ever experienced. All the ships wrecked claimed Ardrossan as their home port.

Despite the conditions, there was comparatively little loss of life: apart from the missing ship, and the “WILLIAM CAMPBELL”, all the crews were saved. On the “WILLIAM CAMPBELL”, only the Captain survived, and so did his narrative to tell us what happened.

The missing ship was the “BARASSIE”, whose Captain was from Ardrossan, one of the seamen was also from Ardrossan, the mate, three more seamen and the boy were all from Ardrossan.

On board the “WILLIAM CAMPBELL”, were the Captain, Mr. Anderson, his father who was the mate, two brothers Duncan and a boy, seamen, all belonging to Saltcoats, a boy named Hutton from Ardrossan, and a seaman belonging to Holland.

The description given later by Captain Anderson of his experiences still vividly depicts the tragedy.

“On Friday night”, he wrote, “About ten o’clock, the gale came on us from the ENE and continued so all the time with great force. It was the most severe gale of wind I ever experienced from all I have heard it would seem that we have been in its centre. The sleet was very thick and heavy.

HOVE TO

“From 10 to 4 a.m. we laboured excessively to keep the ship right, but about the latter hour we lost the topmast, and we hove the ship to with her head to the southward, with the three reefed mainsail. In this way we struggled on, all the while the wind blowing most furiously, till about 7 a.m. when a tremendous gust took away the main boom gaff and tore the mainsail all to rags.

“However though thus disabled, we got before the sea and went WSW, half an hour afterwards we pooped a huge sea which swept away wheel, skylight, binnacle, casks and boats, sweeping the decks clean and washing Isaac Abrams and John Duncan under the windlass and with such force as to break the leg of the former and some of the ribs of the latter. Canvas all being gone, with considerable difficulty and immense risk, we lashed half of the studding sail boom to the rudder head and kept right before the sea.

“The last tremendous sea sweeping the decks, we began now to make water, and about 10 a.m. our fate seemed to be symbolized when we saw a brig and schooner steering in the same direction and in much the same condition - canvas aft gone, and soon after, one after the other go down, and not a soul of either the one or the other saved.” - (These ships were not identified, and may have been Irish vessels).

The Captain continued: “We were now, as well as could be guessed, 25 miles from Howth Head, bearing WSW and all hands kept close at the pumps, each sea making us take great quantities of water. By this time we were almost undone, that excessive labours of the past night and the sorry condition we were in, and the gale blowing very hard, it seemed to us all a dark look out.

DRIVEN ASHORE

“We weatherd it out however till about 3 o’clock, when we made the Kish light, about a mile ahead. Being ebb tide, we were carried across the sand bank, touching once but very lightly and about 5 p.m. we were driven ashore about a mile and a half to the north Wicklow, the sea making a complete breach over us.

“Now was it,” continued Captain Anderson, that we met what stared us all day long face to face - it was every man for himself, and God for us all. Though we were so near the shore that every word we uttered could be heard, yet the back surge was so great, and the most of us so far gone already, safety could only be had in our own strength, or the appliances which they might have on shore.

“Of appliances they had none, or else I am convinced every soul would have been saved. The first who was washed away was the mate, my own father, from the main rigging. For 10 minutes did he struggle to reach the shore, but no helping hand was given him from the shore like as was given unto myself. The back surge drew him back, and back and he went down.

“A little after, from the same place I was washed away with a tremendous sea, and a like fear was to be mine had not Mr. Richard Flanagan - who had earned noble honours at other wrecks in the previous part of the day - ran into the surf and caught me and I was saved. Afterwards I knew nothing as I was rendered unconscious and had my arm dislocated, doubtless battling with the surge.”

An eye witness on the shore described the end of the story - “John Hutton (the boy) and next Issac Abram were in turn washed away and drowned. The last on the wreck were the two Duncans: the night was coming on, the floodtide was making and the sea raged furiously, so that the poor fellows were left to their fate, as nothing could be done for the want of proper appliances, and they too were drowned - and all the five lost their lives on a sandy beach”.

The wreck of the “WILLIAM CAMPBELL” was sold some time later for four or five pounds for firewood.

Scribe Tango

John Arnott, Apprentice to Barr & Shearer, Ardrossan, in 1861

From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated 21st January 1972....Scribe/Tango

WHEN I WAS BOUND APPRENTICE
When John Arnott junior of Saltcoats signed a contract to become a ship carpenter for a firm of Ardrossan shipbuilders, he bound himself to be an ?apprentice and servant? of the company for five years.
He also promised to serve them ?by night and by day? and to ?abstain from all vicious and improper company.? His father John Arnott senior also signed the contract.

For those who may be shocked at such working conditions and are wondering what the trade unions are doing in allowing a worker to sign such a contract, they can be assured that John Arnott junior signed those terms on October 1, 1861.

Dr A. Arnott, 43 Bowfield Road, West Kilbride is the grandson of John Arnott junior and recently he found the contract among some old belongings at home.

POOR TERMS

It illustrates the extremely poor working terms that workers endured more than 100 years ago, when youths usually bound themselves into a period of slavery.
An extract from the contract of Messrs Barr and Shearer, shipbuilders, reads that John Arnott junior promised to be honest, faithful, diligent on a work-day and holiday and that he should pay double the value of any lose his ?masters? might sustain through his fault.
In the case of absence from work his ?masters? were entitled to deduct two day?s pay for any day he was absent without consent and one day?s wages for any day he was absent through sickness.
In addition, John Arnott junior had to work two days at the end of his contract for any day absent without consent through his working period.

NO DRINK

Another extract read ?he shall abstain from excess in drinking and other ?. Immorality of every description.?
The reward for working under such conditions was that John Arnott junior was paid five shillings a week in his first year, six shillings a week in the next three years and then the ?grand sum? of seven shillings a week in the fifth year.

A far cry, indeed, from today?s working terms.