Order to abandon ship

“My correspondent in Newfoundland, Jean-Pierre Andrieux, has alerted me to a connection between Dundee, The Courier and the islands off the south coast of Newfoundland, St Pierre et Miquelon, the last remnant of France’s North American empire,” emails Jane Watkinson of St Andrews.

“The steamship Strathtay II was built by Gourlays of Dundee and owned by, among others, William Thomson who in 1866 had invested in what later became DC Thomson. She sailed from Montreal, bound for Aberdeen, on November 12 1877, under the command of Captain William Small, a master with 20 years’ experience

in the Montreal trade. This was only the second voyage after her launch earlier in the year, and she carried a cargo of 2,000 qrs of wheat, 1,700 qrs of maize, and 3,000 barrels of flour.

“Making good progress under sail and steam, with a crew of 22, the vessel proceeded down the St Lawrence river. But as they believed they were passing Cape Ray, Newfoundland, the fog came down. The engine was stopped so that a sounding could be taken.

“Captain Small consulted his charts and concluded that he had come on the starboard side of the channel having passed Langlade, St Pierre and Newfoundland, and was then in the Atlantic. This was not so, and at 7 pm on the 17th, Strathtay II struck the sand dunes on the western side of Langlade, an area notorious for shipwrecks.

“The crew stayed on board overnight and the next day started to jettison cargo in an attempt to lighten the load. But with the weather worsening, the captain gave the order to abandon ship and the vessel started to take on water. The crew managed to reach the shore of Langlade. Some local residents were hired to salvage what they could. They saved 2,300 barrels of flour.

“On November 30, Small cabled William Thomson from St Pierre: “Materials saved; little profit sale; wreck advertised Thursday

next.” At the beginning of January 1878, Strathtay II was sold for £205 including the hull and machinery, and 1,000 tons of grain in bulk (under water) sold for £50. The cargo had been insured for £12,000, and the ship itself was valued at £23,000.

“Captain Small returned home to face a Board of Trade inquiry. He was accused of causing the stranding of Strathtay II through “unskilful and negligent navigation”. Several of the crew were examined and William Thomson and James Henderson, a part owner, testified to the competence of the captain, Henderson declaring the extent of his trust by not insuring his share of the ship.

“Evidence suggested that the causes of the stranding were the weather, strong currents, and failure of the ship’s compass. The charge was not proved and on March 7 it was reported that their certificates had been returned to Captain Small and his officers.”