Ardrossan - On This Day In History

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WIKIPEDIA WRECKS
23 OCTOBER 1878

NORA

The NORA, while carrying pig iron from Ardrossan for Newport, grounded on the Horsebank, off Southport.

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GLASGOW HERALD
23 OCTOBER 1911

LAUNCH AT ARDROSSAN

The Ardrossan Shipbuilding Company launched a twin-screw steamer, which they have built to the order of the North Coast Steam Navigation Company, Sydney, NSW.

The dimensions of this vessel are:- Length, 150 feet, breadth, 30 feet, depth, 9 feet 6 inches. She has been built to the British Corporation special class under special survey.

Machinery will be fitted by Messrs Dunsmuir and Jackson, Govan.

[Further details of this vessel, including two photographs when later named HIMITANGI and HMAS COOLEBAR, are contained in the following link:-

https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?y ... l=COOLEBAR

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GLASGOW HERALD
23 OCTOBER 1945

ARDROSSAN LAUNCH

Ardrossan Dockyard Limited launched yesterday the cargo vessel BALMORAL QUEEN for the Channel Islands Trading Company Limited.

The new vessel is of 1382 tons deadweight and 202 feet in length.

She was named by Mrs Ford, wife of one of the directors of the owning company.

[Further details of this vessel, including two photographs, are contained in the following link:-

https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?y ... ORAL+QUEEN

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GLASGOW HERALD
23 OCTOBER 1874

THE LOSS OF THE CHUSAN

It was expected that yesterday a list of the crew would have reached Ardrossan from London, but it did not arrive. It is therefore impossible to form any correct idea of the numbers lost, and difficult even to obtain an accurate list of the saved, as they are scattered throughout the town. One of the quartermasters, who was supposed to have been lost, turned up yesterday, and it is probable the numbers reported lost may yet be diminished.

Most of the articles which are being washed ashore from the wreck are coming up on the beach near the Inches. The captain’s chest has been picked up with the lashings unbroken. The second officer’s chest has also been thrown up. It contains a bank book, showing £35 to his credit, but the chest contained no money. The box belonging to the second engineer was picked up at sea by a schooner and brought to Ardrossan on Thursday. The owner affirms that the lock has been forced open and a pocket book containing nine sovereigns in gold, some American dollars, and an album abstracted.

Large numbers of people visited the harbour yesterday, the mid-day train from Glasgow especially bringing a heavy load of passengers. All seemed to bend their footsteps to the scene of the disaster and gaze upon the spot with great interest.

The chief mate, JOHN MURDOCH JOHNSTONE, exhibited an amount of bravery which elicited the admiration of all who saw his feats of gallant daring. He moved about as one who set no value on his own life so long as that of others was endangered, and but for his great efforts it is more than probably the lifeboat would have returned without accomplishing its mission of mercy. He established a mode of communication between those who were clinging to the wreck and the lifeboat, going about his work as calmly as if he been discharging ordinary duty, and evidently thinking of everybody but himself. It was only when he saw that all were safe that he thought of safety for himself, and he was brought on board the lifeboat thoroughly exhausted with his noble efforts.

Despite the melancholy surroundings, the crowd on shore could not suppress their admiration of the conduct, which found a vent in several ringing cheers.

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GLASGOW HERALD
24 OCTOBER 1892

LAUNCH AT ARDROSSAN

The Ardrossan Shipbuilding Company launched on Saturday a splendid new screw steamer, built to the order of Messrs Robert Tedcastle & Company and intended for the cattle trade of that firm between Dublin and Liverpool.

The dimension of the steamer are: - Length between perpendiculars, 213 feet; breadth moulded, 32 feet; depth moulded, 16 feet. The gross tonnage will be about 800 tons.

The vessel is the largest that has yet been built at Ardrossan, and she is much stronger than the requirements for the class of 100 AI at Lloyd’s.

She has accommodation for 30 first-class and 30 steerage passengers, and will be lighted by electricity.

On leaving the ways she was christened the “EBLANA” by Mrs Crawford, wife of the inspector of works for Messrs Tedcastle & Company.

[Further details of this vessel are contained in the following link:-

https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?y ... sel=EBLANA

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GLASGOW HERALD
24 OCTOBER 1873

ARDROSSAN – SCIENCE CLASS

A public meeting, under the auspices of the School Board, was held in the school room on Wednesday evening, the object being to form a class in connection with the Science and Art Department.

Mr Comrie, teacher, briefly stated the object of the class.

After a few remarks from Mr Emslie, a number of names were enrolled, and the class was open on Monday evening first, and meet every Monday thereafter.

Evening classes for reading, writing and arithmetic will also be formed.

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GLASGOW HERALD
24 OCTOBER 1874

THE WRECK OF THE CHUSAN

Yesterday, the return of the crew was received from London, and it has now been found that the actual number of persons drowned is nine – seven men of colour, and two whites.

The men were mustered yesterday morning for the purpose of being discharged. They were asked to accept a gratuity of 5s, given in the name of Captain King, it being understood that the Hon. Secretary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution would grant each of them a free pass to Glasgow. To this the men demurred, threatening to keep possession of the fore part of the hull till their claims were settled. It appears that their engagement ran six months, and that they had obtained a month’s advance on joining the ship, 30 days ago.

In the afternoon, however, the men accepted the offer, and several of them left for Glasgow last night.

Wreckage still continues to come ashore, and it is being looked after by the receiver, but none of the bodies have yet been found.

Messrs Barr & Shearer, shipbuilders, have been asked to raise the vessel, and pontoons will be sent from Glasgow to aid them in the work. Meantime they are engaged removing articles from the submerged hull. Yesterday afternoon Mr Peter Anderson, who has charge of the work, recovered a fine gold watch belonging to Mr Gardner, the engineer, and the owner was very much pleased when it was restored to him. It had stopped at twelve minutes before seven. He is residing with Mr Anderson, merchant, where he has been since the disaster.

Mrs Johnstone, the captain’s widow is progressing favourably, and, together with her sister, Miss Elliott, and her little boy, has been received to the Pavilion, the residence of Mr John Cuninghame (of Messrs Merry & Cuninghame).

Five of the crew have been retained to attend the inquiry into the loss of the steamer.

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GLASGOW HERALD
23 JULY 1900

TERRIBLE DISASTER IN BELFAST LOUGH
TWO GLASGOW STEAMERS IN COLLISION
ONE FILLED WITH FAIR HOLIDAY-MAKERS
FIVE KILLED – FORTY INJURED

…..The steamers which collided with so deplorable results were the DROMEDARY and the ALLIGATOR, both belonging to Messrs G. & J. Burns, of Glasgow…..INJURED AT HOSPITAL…..JOHN McCANN, (52), Stevenston, and BERNARD GREEN, (45), Stevenston, both miners with Messrs Merry & Cuninghame.

[The DROMEDARY was sailing between Belfast and Ardrossan; and the ALLIGATOR between Ardrossan and Belfast.]

[A detailed account of the disaster is provided in the following link:-

http://www.plimsoll.org/resources/SCCLi ... /17902.asp

GLASGOW HERALD
24 JULY 1900

BELFAST LOUGH DISASTER
ARRIVAL OF THE INJURED

News of the disaster was received in Ardrossan with deep regret and much consternation.

In the afternoon the steamer HOUND arrived with a number of the Dromedary’s passengers, and her arrival was awaited by a large crowd, among whom were many who were looking out for friends…..On arrival of the ADDER last night – an event awaited by a large crowd, despite wretched weather conditions – several who had been in the disaster were met by friends.

Two Stevenston men had each an arm broken.

GLASGOW HERALD
24 OCTOBER 1900

THE BELFAST LOUGH DISASTER

As the outcome of the disastrous collision at the entrance to Belfast Lough, on the afternoon of 21st July last, between Glasgow steamers DROMEDARY and ALLIGATOR, nearly 80 actions for damages brought by next-of-kin of killed and injured have been entered in the Irish Law Courts against the owners of the vessels.

The total claims amount to a very large sum.

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GLASGOW HERALD
25 OCTOBER 1912

DEATH OF A CAPTAIN

The death occurred at Ardrossan yesterday of Captain JAMES WYLLIE, late commodore of the Liverpool-Canada service of the Allan Line Company.

Born at Saltcoats in 1833, he started his nautical apprenticeship before he was 12 years of age, his first voyage being from Liverpool to Callao on a sailing ship, of which his father was master.

Prior to attaining his majority he was in command of the Allan Company’s ship ALBION, and later he took charge of each new steamer added to the company’s fleet.

He retired in 1888.

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GLASGOW HERALD
26 OCTOBER 1917

DEATH ON SERVICE

ADAMSON: Killed in action, 12th October, Second Lieutenant GEORGE ADDIS ADAMSON, son of Rev. R. M. Adamson.

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GLASGOW HERALD
26 OCTOBER 1905

PORT PARAGRAPH

The new steamer DRUMLOIST, belonging to Messrs William Christie & Company, Ardrossan and London, has arrived at Ardrossan with a cargo a sleepers from Riga.

The DRUMLOIST was built to replace the DRUMBAIN, which was wrecked at the Pentland Firth some time ago.

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GLASGOW HERALD
26 OCTOBER 1874

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Sir,

THE CREW OF THE CHUSAN

With reference to the crew of the CHUSAN, the Hon. Agent of the National Lifeboat Institution is stated in Herald of today (24 October) as having forwarded the crew to Glasgow. We presume this is inadvertently stated for the agent of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, as it was he who sent them here; and after keeping them one day in the Sailors’ Home, we send per rail tonight those that wish to go to London; the remainder expect to ship here.

We are &c.
CAMPBELL & HALL
Hon. Agents, Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society