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SS Alexandra, sinks, Ardrossan men drowned
From the Weekly Northern Whig ( a Belfast newspaper) on Saturday February 3, 1877,
And reads as follows:
?We regret to have to chronicle this morning one of the saddest shipping casualties which has occurred in this locality for a great length of time. Seven lives have most certainly been lost, and it is to be hoped that the fears, which exist regarding the safety of four others, may not turn out to be only too accurate.
The ship which has been lost is the Alexandra, owned by Messrs, Palgrave, Murphy & Co. of Dublin. She was a fine screw steamer of 363 tons register and about five weeks since she arrived in Liverpool from Cadiz with a cargo of wine. Having discharged some of her cargo, she left for Dublin and, when off Holyhead, her shaft broke and in a south-east gale which prevailed at the same time she was driven ashore at Clogher Head, between Dundalk and Drogheda.
The underwriters at once commenced operations to have the ship floated. For the past three weeks the KINGFISHER (Captain Millar), a powerful tug, belonging to the Liverpool Steam Tug Company was in attendance and a numerous body of men were busily engaged discharging the cargo and executing temporary repairs.
The work went on satisfactorily and, on Saturday last, the CHALLENGER (Captain Harrison), another fine tug steamer, left Liverpool for Clogher Head, to assist in towing the ALEXANDRA off.
The CHALLENGER reached the scene of the disaster on Sunday and on the Monday morning, by the combined efforts of the two tugs, the ALEXANDRA was successfully floated.
As there was not sufficient water to allow the vessel to get over Drogheda Bar, it was decided to bring her round to Belfast for repairs and on the forenoon of Monday she left for this port.
The KINGFISHER had her in tow and the screw steamer Seamew was attached to the stern of the ALEXANDRA to assist in the steering of her round the coast.
The CHALLENGER accompanied close by, lest her services would be required. We understand that one of the ALEXANDRA?s lifeboats was also kept astern, in case the vessel showed any symptoms of sinking.
On board the ship were three steam pumps, which were constantly at work, in order, if possible, to keep the leakage under control.
Every precaution indeed seems to have been taken in order to bring the ALEXANDRA safely round to Belfast.
When she left Clogher Head there were on board some 30 hands all told, viz ?
Captain Tenlon and Captain Morrison, agents for the underwriters at Lloyd?s,
Peter Anderson, foreman, and twelve shipwrights from Ardrossan;
John Robertson, diver, and his attendant, from Greenock; Five engineers from Messrs Young?s engineering works, at Ardrossan; and eight labourers, natives of Logher.
Everything seems to have gone on satisfactorily up to a late hour.
When passing the entrance to Carlingford Lough a strong gale was encountered.
The weather from this point continued rough and dirty, but still it would seem that until near the Copeland Islands the pumps kept the leakage in subjection, and the safety of the vessel seemed secure.
Close upon midnight, and when the Copeland light was but a short distance off, those on board the ALEXANDRA hailed the CHALLENGER for assistance as the water was making headway upon them.
At this time there was a stiff westerly gale blowing, and a very heavy sea running.
The moon was happily shining brightly at the time, and the perilous position of affairs was thus the more easily seen by
Captain Harrison, who, with great promptitude, and with a gallantry, which reflects the utmost credit on himself and his crew, ran the CHALLENGER alongside the ALEXANDRA.
The only possible way of saving the lives of those on board was to run as close as possible, and thus give the crew an opportunity of jumping onto the paddle-boxes of the tug. At terrible risk to himself and his crew, Captain Harrison repeated this hazardous experiment, and the saving of the 13 lives crowned his heroic efforts.
One poor fellow named Peter Anderson had managed to get on to the paddle-box of the CHALLENGER, but as she (the ship) was pitching about like a cork in the storm, he unhappily missed his hold, fell back into the sea, and has not since been heard of.
In a few minutes from the time the CHALLENGER was signalled for help, the ALEXANDRA gave her final lurch, and went down. Up to this time it would seem that the KINGFISHER was able to give some assistance, being fastened to the ALEXANDRA by a hawser (ropes) which was happily cut in time to ensure the safety of that craft.
After the vessel went down, the two steam tugs sailed about amongst the wreckage to see if they could pick up any person. Captain Harrison, of the CHALLENGER, seeing a boat, made it with all expedition and found that it contained Captain Teulon and Captain Morrison along with three of the shipwrights.
They had got into the lifeboat, which had been put adrift from the ALEXANDRA.
The shipwrights had managed to get onboard the SEAMEW, but owing to the heavy sea that was running, the two captains could not follow them, and were being knocked about in a most perilous condition when they were fortunately rescued by the CHALLENGER.
Some time afterwards the CHALLENGER and KINGFISHER, seeing that they could not possibly be of any more service made for Belfast Harbour, where they arrived at three o?clock on Tuesday morning.
Nothing very definite is known as to whence the SEAMEW proceeded, but it is believed she sat sail for Ardrossan, and of course nothing certain can be known as to the number of lives lost until a report is received as to the persons saved by that steamer.
There is reason to believe that some other shipwrights got on board the SEAMEW before the ALEXANDRA went down.
The following is a list of those landed at Belfast:
Captain Teulon, Captain Morrison, James Clarke, carpenter, James Shearer carpenter, John Stewart carpenter, James Stirrat carpenter, John McCormic carpenter,
William Wood carpenter, - all of the Ardossan,
Charles Lindsay engineer, Duncan Calwell engineer, Joseph Mills, engineer, William Craig engineer - all of Ardossan,
A. Cooke diver?s attendant, Greenock,
and four labourers from Clogher.
The persons missing, and believed to be drowned, are as follows:
Peter Anderson, foreman carpenter, Ardrossan,
John Dunn engineer, Ardrossan,
John Robertson diver, Greenock,
together with four Clogher labourers,
whose names have not been ascertained.
It may be safely said that from seven to 11 persons have perished. The labourers from Clogher left Belfast on Tuesday by rail for home, and some of the engineers, divers from Ardrossan & Greenock, took their departure on Tuesday night by steamer for that town.? |
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