CATHERINE AND ALICE

Times: Thursday, May 15, 1884, Issue 31134 – “The Catherine and Alice schooner, of Nevin, from Middlesborough, with coals, was picked up derelict off St. Alban’s Head at 4 a.m. yesterday by the William Martyn, schooner, of Padstow, which took her into Weymouth. The crew is safe.”

Note: Issue 31207 ‘Scuttling a Ship’ “Judgment was yesterday given by the Deputy Stipendiary magistrate at Liverpool, Mr. Marsfield, with whom were Captains Palllison and Curling, in the case of the Catherine and Alice of Pwllheti, abandoned off Portland, in the English Channel, in May last. The Court believed that the sudden influx of a large quantity of water could only be accounted for by holes bored into the ship’s side, which were subsequently discovered when the vessel was taken into Weymouth. They believed the master made no effort to save the ship, though the evidence proved that he might have saved her. The Court believe that the holes found in the vessel were bored from the inside by an auger, and , must have been recently made from the appearance presented by the wood when examined by skilled shipwrights at Weymouth. They were under the deck of the cabin aft on either side of the vessel, well below the level of the water, and it was clear that they were made while the vessel was at sea. They were underneath the cabin which was occupied by the master and the mate, and it was difficult that they were made without the knowledge of one or other of the occupants. No satisfactory explanation had been offered. The conduct of the master at the time of the abandonment was wholly inexplicable, except upon the supposition that he was party to the act which caused the vessel to leak so suddenly. The vessel was bought by the master for £400, of which £200 was paid in cash and the rest remained on mortgage, and she was insured for £450 and her freight for £300. The vessel, however, being a coasting one, there was no master’s certificate for the Court to deal with.”


Day of Loss: 15

Month of Loss: 5

Year of Loss: 1884


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