Forfarshire (ship)
Encyclopedia
The Forfarshire was a paddlesteamer with brigantine
rigging
, built in Dundee
in 1834, and which struck and later foundered on one of the Farne Islands
on the 7 September 1838, giving rise to the rescue for which Grace Darling
is famed.
Forfarshire was commissioned by the Dundee & Hull Shipping Company, to carry passengers and cargo between Hull
and Dundee on the east coast of Great Britain
. Costing some £20,000, she weighed 400 tons
(363,000 kg), was powered by two 90 horsepower (67 kW) steam engine
s, and had the capability of being powered by sails.
The Forfarshire set out from Hull, sailing north, on the 5 September 1838, with some sixty people and cargo on board. She had in very recent times had maintenance work undertaken on her boilers. Passing Flamborough Head
a failure of pumps supplying water to the boilers reduced her steaming capacity. Her situation deteriorated through the next day as leaks from her boilers flooded the bilges, and at 10pm that night, off St Abb's Head
, her engines failed. Despite near gale
force North-easterly winds, her captain put her under sail and continued on his way; but the weather worsened to a full gale, with heavy rain and a change in wind direction to due North. At this the ship was turned around to run before the wind and seek shelter behind the Farne Islands.
At 3am on the 7 September, she struck aground with considerable force, on Big Harcar, one of the Outer Farne Islands. A group of eight sailors and one passenger managed to lower and escape in a lifeboat, to be picked up the following morning by a passing schooner
. The remaining passengers and crew were left to the mercy of the sea, which swung the Forfarshire around and tore off the stern quarterdeck and cabins, leaving only the bow and fore sections of the ship anchored to the rock.
A few passengers managed to hold on to railings, and make it through the night, later transferring to Big Harcar; including a Mrs. Dawson, who was distraught, holding the bodies of her two dead children. Their predicament was spotted at first light by Grace Darling, daughter of William, the keeper of the Longstone Lighthouse, which was situated about 600 yards (550m) from the wreck site. Together father and daughter launched their 21 foot (6.4m) coble
(rowing boat), and rowed some 1,700 yards (1,554m) to Big Harcar through heavy seas, effecting a rescue first of five; after which William and two of the rescued then returned for the remaining four survivors. Some 42 people, including the captain and his wife, perished. Both William and Grace received the RNLI
’s Silver Medal in 1838 - the first recipients of this new award. They also received the Gold Medallion from the Royal Humane Society
, while Grace additionally received silver medals from the Glasgow
Humane Society and the Edinburgh
and Leith
Humane Society
A first inquest on the 11 September found that the ship was "wrecked due to the imperfections of the boilers and the culpable negligence of Captain Humble" - in part a reference to Humble's decision to press on with the voyage rather than put in to port after the initial failure at Flamborough Head; a second inquest on the 1 October - to which the shipping line had had time to dispatch a representative - watered down the findings to the tempestuousness of the weather.
Some remains of the Forfarshire woodwork can be found at Piper Gut in depths from 7-22m (3.8 - 12 fathoms), but mixed with remains from other wrecks, on a rock and kelp
sea floor. A plaque can be found on the side of Minerva Terrace at Hull Marina
commemorating the voyage. The marina entrance was once the entrance for the docks from where the Forfarshire sailed. One of the original name-plates of the Forfarshire is now on display in the main bar of the Olde Ship pub in Seahouses
.
Behind the altar
of Dunkeld Cathedral
, a plaque is erected "To the memory of Rev John Robb who, on a voyage for the benefit of his health, perished by the wreck of the Forfarshire Steamship off the Fern Islands". Robb had been the minister of Dunkeld for two years.
Brigantine
In sailing, a brigantine or hermaphrodite brig is a vessel with two masts, only the forward of which is square rigged.-Origins of the term:...
rigging
Rigging
Rigging is the apparatus through which the force of the wind is used to propel sailboats and sailing ships forward. This includes masts, yards, sails, and cordage.-Terms and classifications:...
, built in Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
in 1834, and which struck and later foundered on one of the Farne Islands
Farne Islands
The Farne Islands are a group of islands off the coast of Northumberland, England. There are between 15 and 20 or more islands depending on the state of the tide. They are scattered about 2.5–7.5 km distant from the mainland, divided into two groups, the Inner Group and the Outer Group...
on the 7 September 1838, giving rise to the rescue for which Grace Darling
Grace Darling
Grace Horsley Darling was an English Victorian heroine who in 1838, along with her father, saved 13 people from the wreck of the SS Forfarshire.-Biography:...
is famed.
Forfarshire was commissioned by the Dundee & Hull Shipping Company, to carry passengers and cargo between Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
and Dundee on the east coast of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. Costing some £20,000, she weighed 400 tons
Long ton
Long ton is the name for the unit called the "ton" in the avoirdupois or Imperial system of measurements, as used in the United Kingdom and several other Commonwealth countries. It has been mostly replaced by the tonne, and in the United States by the short ton...
(363,000 kg), was powered by two 90 horsepower (67 kW) steam engine
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
s, and had the capability of being powered by sails.
The Forfarshire set out from Hull, sailing north, on the 5 September 1838, with some sixty people and cargo on board. She had in very recent times had maintenance work undertaken on her boilers. Passing Flamborough Head
Flamborough Head
Flamborough Head is a promontory of on the Yorkshire coast of England, between the Filey and Bridlington bays of the North Sea. It is a chalk headland, and the resistance it offers to coastal erosion may be contrasted with the low coast of Holderness to the south...
a failure of pumps supplying water to the boilers reduced her steaming capacity. Her situation deteriorated through the next day as leaks from her boilers flooded the bilges, and at 10pm that night, off St Abb's Head
St Abb's Head
St. Abb's Head is a rocky promontory at the village of St. Abbs, Berwickshire, Scottish Borders, and a National Nature Reserve administered by the National Trust of Scotland...
, her engines failed. Despite near gale
Gale
A gale is a very strong wind. There are conflicting definitions of how strong a wind must be to be considered a gale. The U.S. government's National Weather Service defines a gale as 34–47 knots of sustained surface winds. Forecasters typically issue gale warnings when winds of this strength are...
force North-easterly winds, her captain put her under sail and continued on his way; but the weather worsened to a full gale, with heavy rain and a change in wind direction to due North. At this the ship was turned around to run before the wind and seek shelter behind the Farne Islands.
At 3am on the 7 September, she struck aground with considerable force, on Big Harcar, one of the Outer Farne Islands. A group of eight sailors and one passenger managed to lower and escape in a lifeboat, to be picked up the following morning by a passing schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
. The remaining passengers and crew were left to the mercy of the sea, which swung the Forfarshire around and tore off the stern quarterdeck and cabins, leaving only the bow and fore sections of the ship anchored to the rock.
A few passengers managed to hold on to railings, and make it through the night, later transferring to Big Harcar; including a Mrs. Dawson, who was distraught, holding the bodies of her two dead children. Their predicament was spotted at first light by Grace Darling, daughter of William, the keeper of the Longstone Lighthouse, which was situated about 600 yards (550m) from the wreck site. Together father and daughter launched their 21 foot (6.4m) coble
Coble
The coble is a type of open traditional fishing boat which developed on the North East coast of England. The southern-most examples occur around Hull The coble is a type of open traditional fishing boat which developed on the North East coast of England. The southern-most examples occur around Hull...
(rowing boat), and rowed some 1,700 yards (1,554m) to Big Harcar through heavy seas, effecting a rescue first of five; after which William and two of the rescued then returned for the remaining four survivors. Some 42 people, including the captain and his wife, perished. Both William and Grace received the RNLI
Royal National Lifeboat Institution
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, as well as on selected inland waterways....
’s Silver Medal in 1838 - the first recipients of this new award. They also received the Gold Medallion from the Royal Humane Society
Royal Humane Society
The Royal Humane Society is a British charity which promotes lifesaving intervention. It was founded in England in 1774 as the Society for the Recovery of Persons Apparently Drowned, for the purpose of rendering first aid in cases of near drowning....
, while Grace additionally received silver medals from the Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
Humane Society and the Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and Leith
Leith
-South Leith v. North Leith:Up until the late 16th century Leith , comprised two separate towns on either side of the river....
Humane Society
A first inquest on the 11 September found that the ship was "wrecked due to the imperfections of the boilers and the culpable negligence of Captain Humble" - in part a reference to Humble's decision to press on with the voyage rather than put in to port after the initial failure at Flamborough Head; a second inquest on the 1 October - to which the shipping line had had time to dispatch a representative - watered down the findings to the tempestuousness of the weather.
Some remains of the Forfarshire woodwork can be found at Piper Gut in depths from 7-22m (3.8 - 12 fathoms), but mixed with remains from other wrecks, on a rock and kelp
Kelp
Kelps are large seaweeds belonging to the brown algae in the order Laminariales. There are about 30 different genera....
sea floor. A plaque can be found on the side of Minerva Terrace at Hull Marina
Hull Marina
Hull Marina is a marina for pleasure boats situated in the English city of Kingston upon Hull. It was opened in 1983 on the site of the former Railway dock and Humber docks....
commemorating the voyage. The marina entrance was once the entrance for the docks from where the Forfarshire sailed. One of the original name-plates of the Forfarshire is now on display in the main bar of the Olde Ship pub in Seahouses
Seahouses
Seahouses is a large village on the North Northumberland coast in England. It is about 20 km north of Alnwick, within the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.Seahouses attracts many visitors, mainly from the north east area...
.
Behind the altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
of Dunkeld Cathedral
Dunkeld Cathedral
Dunkeld Cathedral stands on the north bank of the River Tay in Dunkeld, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. Built in square-stone style of predominantly grey sandstone, the cathedral proper was begun in 1260 and completed in 1501...
, a plaque is erected "To the memory of Rev John Robb who, on a voyage for the benefit of his health, perished by the wreck of the Forfarshire Steamship off the Fern Islands". Robb had been the minister of Dunkeld for two years.
External links
- Report on the sinking of the Forfarshire in the Annual Register, 1838, from Google Book SearchGoogle Book SearchGoogle Books is a service from Google that searches the full text of books that Google has scanned, converted to text using optical character recognition, and stored in its digital database. The service was formerly known as Google Print when it was introduced at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October...
- Description of the sinking and Grace Darling's part in the rescue, from The Tragedy of the Seas, 1841, from Google Book Search
- Grace Darling, or, The Wreck of the "Forfarshire" a poem by William McGonagall