Wreck Report for 'Lammerlaw', 1881

(No. 1177.)

"LAMMERLAW."

REPORT of a Naval Court held at Portland, Oregon, into the stranding of the barque "LAMMERLAW," of Liverpool.

At a Naval Court assembled at the British Vice-Consulate, at. Portland, Oregon, U.S.A., on the 8th day of November 1881, and continued by adjournment on the 9th and 10th days of November 1881.

Present:

JAMES LAIDLAW, Esq., British Vice-Consul, Portland, Oregon, U.S.A., President.

Mr. ALBERT JARVIS, Master of British ship "Thunderbolt."

Mr. DUNCAN JOHNSTON, Master of British ship "Trafalgar."

Mr. C. MOSTYN-OWEN, Clerk of Court.

The Court, pursuant to an order from James Laidlaw, Esquire, British Vice-Consul, having been duly sworn, proceeded to make investigations concerning the loss of the British barque "Lammerlaw."

The "Lammerlaw" was an iron barque belonging to Liverpool, official No. 78,759; was owned by Wood Brothers and Co., 8a, Rumford Place, Liverpool. She was built at Glasgow in 1878, of 746 tons register, and was commanded by Robert Pringle, who held a certificate of competency as master, No. 81,353, dated April 1871. She left Newcastle, N.S.W., on the 2nd day of August 1881, laden with a cargo of coals, bound for Portland, Oregon, with a crew of 15 all told. From the evidence it appears that land was sighted on Sunday the 23rd October. About 10 p.m. of the 26th October the light on Cape Hancock was seen, and shortly afterwards the red light on Point Adams. At 12 midnight the master wore ship off the land. Until the night of the 29th October the ship was kept off and on, and during this time no observations could be got, the sun being obscured. On the 29th the master stood into 28 fathoms, wore ship at 6 p.m., and stood off again. At midnight he stood in towards the land with the wind veering from south to S.S.E., reckoning he was 25 miles from Cape Hancock course; east by compass. He then went below, leaving orders with the first mate, who came on watch, to keep the lead going and call him when he got 20 fathoms. The breeze was strong and the sky overcast. At 4 a.m., 30th October, the second mate came on watch, and received the same orders; set the fore upper topsail with all hands; the yards were braced up on the starboard tack, ship heading about east and going about 3 knots under fore and main topsails, foresail, and fore topmast staysail, with a good look out. The second mate took a cast of the lead, and found 23 fathoms. He then sent a man on the foretopgallant yard to look out for a light, cast the lead again, and found 19 fathoms, when the man aloft reported a light on the port or lee beam. The master was then informed and came on deck, the light then bearing N.N.E. He examined the light, thought it was Cape Hancock, and ordered the ship kept away and the yards squared. The ship was then reported in 11 fathoms, and all hands were called to put her head to the westward, the master believing the breakers on the lee bow were the north breakers of the Columbia Bar. Seeing he could not clear them he then put the helm aport, intending to run into Baker's Bay, and only discovered his error when the vessel had struck, about 5.30 a.m. The evidence is contradictory as to the actual position of the ship, but as the master was struck by a sea, knocked under the wheel, much injured, and rendered insensible, the Court attaches more importance to the evidence of the second mate on this point, and locates the position of the vessel as on the Middle Sands of Shoalwater Bay, in lat. 46º 41' N., long. 124º 04' W., the lighthouse on Toke Point bearing N. by W. 1/2 W., distant about 2 1/2 miles.

The wind shifted to about S.W. All square sail was set and attempts made to back her into deep water; but he lay in 2 fathoms aft, 2 1/2 forwards, making little rater for six hours, but striking very heavily on the ground. An attempt was made to launch a boat for the purpose of getting out a stream anchor, but the boat was broken. About 3 p.m. of 31st October, through the praiseworthy exertions of Captain Stream, of the U.S. Lifeboat Service, the crew were rescued from their dangerous position on the wreck, and the ship was abandoned. When the crew left the ship had 10 feet of water in her hold, and had since become a total wreck.

It appears from the evidence that all the ship's papers were lost with the vessel.

The light on Toke Point is a fixed white one, varied by white flashes every two minutes, while that on Cape Hancock is a fixed white light; but all the evidence goes to prove that the flashes were not noticed in the haze till after the ship had struck.

After due deliberation and careful consideration of all the facts and circumstances, as detailed in the evidence, the Court finds:—

First, that the ship "Lammerlaw" was lost by stranding on the Middle Sands of Shoalwater Bay, through the error of the master, Robert Pringle, in mistaking the Toke Point Light for that on Cape Hancock.

Second, that while the master took all the usual precautions when approaching the land, using the lead freely and keeping a good look-out, yet he committed a very grave error of judgment in standing in towards the light during the night; and even had he not mistaken the lights, he still ran a considerable risk of accident, as, in the opinion of this Court, it would have been only common prudence to keep off till daylight.

The Court, in consideration of the care exercised in all other respects, excepting that of standing in during the night, returns to the master his certificate, censures him for his error, and cautions him to be more prudent in future.

The Court returns to the first and second mates their certificates, but considers the evidence of the first mate very unsatisfactory, and is of opinion that he did not do all that might have been done to save the ship's logbooks and papers, the master being disabled, and censures him accordingly.

And the Court doth declare the costs of these proceedings to be—

To the Clerk of Court, for attendance in Court during two days, at 30s. per diem, 15 dollars (3l.):

To Mr. Albert Jarvis, master of the British ship "Thunderbolt" (who declines to render his services gratuitously), for attending Court two days, at 2l. 2s. per diem, 21 dollars (4l. 4s.):

To Mr. Duncan Johnston, master of the British ship "Trafalgar" (who declines to render his services gratuitously), for attending Court two days, at 2l. 2s. per diem, 21 dollars (4l. 4s.):

To stationery for the use of Court, and sundry small expenses incurred serving summonses, 3 dollars (12s.):

Which sum, amounting to twelve pounds sterling, or sixty dollars in local currency, shall be disbursed by the Clerk of Court under proper receipts.

Given under our hands at the British Vice-Consulate at Portland, Oregon, this eleventh day of November 1881.

 

(Signed)

JAMES LAIDLAW, British Vice-Consul, President of the Court.

 

 

ALBERT JARVIS, Master of the British ship "Thunderbolt."

 

 

DUNCAN JOHNSTON, Master of the British ship "Trafalgar."

 

 

C. MOSTYN-OWEN, Clerk of Court.

L 367. 947. 70.—12/81. Wt. 203. E. & S.