Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

Man's body found IN THE FUNNEL of James Warnock's Clyde puffer DANE at Paisley Harbour

Bill McKellar writes :

From "Glasgow Herald" dated Monday 6th April 1914

BODY FOUND IN STEAMER'S FUNNEL REMARKABLE DISCOVERY AT PAISLEY

The remarkable story of a finding of a body in the funnel of a steam lighter belonging to Paisley firm James Warnock was related yesterday by the Paisley Burgh Police.

It appears that on Saturday the DANE, which is employed in carrying cargo between Glasgow and Paisley, was brought to the new harbour about six o'clock and berthed on the east side of the River.Cart. The crew before leaving for the night damped down the furnace and left all ready to proceed further up the River Cart to Carlile Quay yesterday morning when the tide was favourable.

About six o'clock yesterday morning they returned to the boat and proceeded to get up steam. When halfway between the two quays they discovered that something had gone wrong with the draft of air through the funnel.

Smoke began to pour out of the stokehold, and the steam pressure steadily declined - so much so that it was only with considerable difficulty that Carlile Quay was reached. A ladder was raised against the funnel and a member of the crew investigated what was wrong.

An obstruction being discovered, paraffin oil and burning waste were sent down, but all efforts to clear the funnel proved futile. A boathook was procured and the man tried to bring the obstruction to the top, but was again unsuccessful.

The crew were now somewhat alarmed, and information was sent to the Police.

Sergeant Forbes and Constable Mair went to the harbour, and as a result of their work a human body was taken from the funnel.

Meantime Doctor Carrick, assistant medical officer, Chief Constable Duncan, and Detective George Cameron visited the DANE, and, after inspecting the vessel, had the body removed to the Police Mortuary.

It is that of a man about 5 feet 3 inches in height, and the clothes remaining on the body indicate that he had been dressed in a dark suit. The remains were in a shocking condition.

It is difficult to explain how the man came to be in the position in which he was found. The funnel is only 18 inches in diameter, while the body measuring from shoulder to shoulder is 15 inches.      During the time the boat was moored in the new harbour the funnel was fully 9 feet away from the wharf and below the level of the sea wall. It is stated that there are distinct traces of a footmark on the whistle attached to the funnel, which would seem to point to the fact that the man had been climbing up.    One of the arms was raised above the head, suggesting that he had held on to the funnel for a time; but it is probable that owing to the fumes and smoke death took place prior to the burning of the body.

The man has not yet been identified, but, as his features are recognisable, the Police do not anticipate much trouble in this direction.

ADDITIONAL NOTE The identity of the man and the reason for his being in the funnel was never discovered.