Joined other ships

The story of the coastal steamer William Hope has come to the attention of Craigie readers with a request from Bill Diack for any further information which might be out there.

A regular reader writes: “Built of iron and engined in Leith by Hawthorn & Co. in 1882 her first owners were J. W. Hope & Sons Ltd. of that port. Launched that year she was completed shortly after. Classed Lloyds 90A1 with a length of 92 feet, she would have been of similar size to a Tay sandboat.

“In December 1883 she was said to have been advertised in a Scottish newspaper for sale at the Leith Corn Exchange for £2,400. In January, 1884 her new owner was shown as Alfred Gordon Primerose (sic) of Dundee.

“Here arises an interesting question. The same source states: ‘Skipper G. Golder & five crew were rescued by a local farmer’s wife (Mrs Whyte) who anchored a rope to the shore.’

“This quote could be based on a typographical error, the numbers being similar. Alternatively, the ship was quite small and 15 does seem a large number of crew. All other sources consulted, however, give 15 as the total rescued.

“One reason there is no apparent list of crew members, who had salvaged all their effects, is that all were rescued and therefore no Kirk or other official records of interment locally or in other areas, would have been required.

“Another source states they made their way to Fraserburgh on foot and returned to Dundee by train presumably joining other ships. If there are any of the owner’s descendants in the Dundee area, then they might have had family papers handed down through the years.

“At the same time a telegram was received from Messrs. Joseph Gibson & Co. dated, Dundee Oct. 4: ‘William Hope on the shore near Fraserburgh: have wired Carr, surveyor of Hull Mutual Insurance Association who is there at steamer Craigforth to proceed to vessel and render all assistance possible.’

“The grounding close to Rosehearty of the Craigforth was a sad event in itself. She was a Govan-built iron steamer registered at Leith and completed in 1869. Her cargo of sheep and ponies had been taken on board at the small Icelandic harbour of Bordeyri.”