Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

Appalling Catastrophy In The Clyde

From: Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald Dated Friday 21st November, 1874

APPALLING CATASTROPHY IN THE CLYDE

MAN OF WAR CUTTER RUN DOWN - SEVENTEEN MEN DROWNED

A most appalling catastrophe occurred on the Clyde on Thursday night. A cutter, occupied by men of war?s men, was run down off Greenock with the terrible result above stated.

Shortly after six o?clock the boat which belonged to H.M.S. ?AURORA? the guard ship stationed at the Tail of the Bank, pulled off from the landing stage at Prince?s Pier, and proceeded in the direction of the warship anchored about a mile out in the Channel. Having got about midway, the Dublin steamer ?DUKE OF LEINSTER?, commanded by Captain Emerson, which had left the Greenock old steamboat quay at ?15, was seen bearing down upon her. The men on board the cutter burned a lamp, and it being seen by the watch in the steamer, he was immediately heard to cry out successively ?Boat ahead on the port bow;? ?Stop her;? and ?full speed astern.? These orders seemed to be instantly obeyed. But with the impetus which was on the vessel at the time, it was impossible to bring her to a stand before a lamentable collision had taken place. The men in the cutter had apparently thought they would be able to cross the steamer?s bows. But on seeing an accident imminent, a number shouted for the oarsmen to pull harder and others to back. In the confusion thereby occasioned, the ?DUKE OF LEINSTER? struck the small craft amidships. She was completely cut in two, and the occupants plunged into the water, the fore portion of the boat drifting to one side of the steamer, and the stern portion to the other. A great many persons witnessed the accident from Prince?s Pier and in a few minutes the greatest excitement was intensified by the darkness and by the fact that although pitiful cries were distinctly heard, only something like the forms of men scrambling in the water could be seen. Ready crews at once manned the nearest boats, which put off to render assistance, and two boats were lowered from the steamer with all despatch. In this way, ten persons were picked up.

The brothers John and James Waugh, the crews of the boats belonging to Mr James Barbour, a boat owned by Mr Nicholson, two boats, manned respectively by deep-sea and river pilots, and the steamer?s boats were those which were successful in rescuing life. A great many more persons than those picked up were known to have been on board the cutter, but the most careful search on the part of the men in the various boats failed to discover any trace of those missing. The boatmen now and again seemed to hear a low sound apparently form a drowning person, or fancied they saw at a distance something like a head above water.

But on proceeding to the spot nothing could be heard or seen. The men picked up were Lieutenant C.H. Whithem, Jas. Sharp, an engineer, who is so seriously injured that he is not expected to live; Alfred Clark, principal stoker; John Tuner, John Thomas Gleddon, and George Hollman, seamen; Thomas Edney, John Knox, and William Middleton, boys; and George Pregnell, a marine - in all ten persons. One of the boys had his wrist broken and the majority of the other nine were greatly exhausted either from imbibing the salt water, or from injuries sustained in the collision.

One man was picked up clinging to the floats of the steamer. The wheel was in motion when he seized hold of it, and had the engines not been instantly stopped he would assuredly have been killed. Great credit is due the master of the ?DUKE OF LEINSTER? in this matter. In regard to the drowned, there can be little
doubt that a large number of persons have perished in that manner. Twenty seven men and boys were known to have been on board. Several were excellent swimmers, and in ordinary circumstances, and unimpeded, they might have been able to have reached the shore. As it was, however, it was most unlikely that any one saved himself by swimming. 17 of the cutter?s crew are missing, and several of those are believed to have been killed in the collision.

On seeing the danger, the postman of the ?AURORA?, a marine named Albert Baker, leaped overboard. He was a capital swimmer, but encumbered as he was with his greatcoat, the post bag, and side arms, the poor fellow soon sunk and was drowned. Frederick Morgan, a gunner?s mate, also tried to save himself by jumping into the water, and he too met the unhappy fate of his comrade Baker.

A few minutes after the occurrence of the catastrophe, the North Highland steamer ?CLANSMAN? came down the Channel. The master was of course unaware of the mishap, and he steamed forward into the scene of the wreck. On observing the state of matters, however, he stopped the engines, and launched a boat, which did all it could to save life. It was supposed that one or two of the missing men may have been killed by this steamer. The following is the list of the names of the persons killed or drowned -

William Luce, coxswain
Timothy King, seaman
William Dearie, seaman
Christopher Mathews, seaman
George Dobson, seaman
George Kyon, seaman ??? Check sir name
Samuel Dun, seaman
Charles Hacks, seaman
Francis Hallat, seaman
John Gall, boy
Alfred Arnold, boy
Charles Hawes, boy
John Warren, stoker
Albert Baker, marine
Wm. Henry Fretby, armourer?s mate ??? Check sir name
Frederick Morgan, gunner?s mate

The pilots and boatmen agree in stating that no blame can be attached to the captain of the ?DUKE OF LEINSTER? who did all he could to avert the collision. The steamer hung about for an hour and a half, during which time her boats kept cruising around. The ?CLANSMAN? also remained by for some time.

The persons saved were as soon as possible conveyed on board the ?AURORA?. News of the calamity quickly spread, and in the course of the night large numbers visited Prince?s Pier, although all evidence of the disaster had ceased to be noticeable.

Scribe Tango