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Ros
Davies' Co.
Down, Ireland Genealogy Research Site
© Rosalind Davies 2008 Permission granted to reprint research for non-profit use only |
Shipping Tragedy April 1937
by Leslie Campbell
Loss of SS Alder & SS
Lady Cavan in Carlingford Lough &
drowning of Capt. Robert Campbell & wife Kate
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Contents:
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The ALDER;
SHIPPING DISASTER
IN CARLINGFORD LOUGH SUNDAY 4th APRIL
1937
At 4a.m. on 4 April 1937, Fishers’ steamer the Alder (341 tons) edged her way into the Lough in dense fog,
steam whistle sounding sonorously. Unwilling to proceed through Narrow Water,
Captain Robert Campbell, dropped anchor off Greencastle, which is on the Down
side of Carlingford Lough, opposite Greenore on the Louth side and a short
distance north of Kilkeel. It was the intention of Captain Campbell to lie
up for a few hours before making for Newry.
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Aboard the Alder were Captain Robert
Campbell (42) and his wife Kate
(39) and the crew: Chief Engineer Robert
McGrath married with four children, of 3 Erskine Street,
Newry; Second Engineer J. Davis(47) married
with three daughters, of 41 Kingscourt Street, Belfast; Mate Michael
O’Neill of Fathom, Newry; Deck Hands - Jack
Gorman of Rooney’s Terrace, Newry; John
Conlon married with four children, of Upper Chapel
Street, Newry; James
Hollywood of Fathom, Newry and W.
Cahoun of Carrickfergus. The Alder was anchored for less than a quarter of an hour when the
Lady Cavan (602 tons), under the control of Captain Gallimore
and carrying a general cargo from |
| Capt. Robert Campbell | Mrs. Catherine (Kate) Campbell | |
The crew of the Alder thought that there was no immediate danger
(although coal could be seen pouring through a rent in the plates) but the
captain and crew of the Lady Cavan realised the great danger that the
Alder and crew were in and offered assistance but those aboard the
Alder declined it again apparently minimising the danger.
Captain Campbell went below to arouse his wife Catherine and she came on deck with
him wearing an overcoat over her night attire.
The bow of the Lady Cavan was plunged into the collier in the collision
and when they were locked together there was a steadiness which concealed
the gravity of the injury the Alder had sustained, so that when the
Lady Cavan reversed engines and withdrew from the collier the vessel
suddenly developed a list.
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The water rushed in through the yawning chasm caused by the impact and
carried the Alder to the bottom of the Lough. All aboard the Alder went down into to the depths. O’Neill and Just after they had got on to the lifeboat they saw Cahoun, a non-swimmer,
come to the surface fortunately beside an oar which he held on to until
a lifeboat from the Lady Cavan rescued him. The Lady Cavan lifeboat circled around and searched until daylight
but there was no sign of Captain Campbell, his wife, who had
only at the last minute decided to accompany him on the voyage, or the
other four crew members. |
| John Conlon | L-R; Michael O'Neill, James Hollywood & W. Cahoun | |
The three rescued men M. O’Neill, J. Hollywood and J. Cahoun were
good friends and had only a few weeks previous been photographed together.
They were fed, clothed and sent home by the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners’
Royal Benevolent Society.
Captain Campbell and his wife had been married 17 years and left
four children: James (16), May (14), Louis (12) and Percy (9).
Mrs. Campbell had two sisters- Mrs. Nicholson and Mrs. Harper and one
brother Mr. Samuel Hale who is in
Captain Campbell was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Campbell,
Maghereagh, Kilkeel and leaves four brothers; Messrs. Charles, William
John, James and Harry. It appears that Mrs. Campbell had arranged to be
home for dinner on Sunday. The children were stopping with their grandparents.
The mountains around the Lough still bore the traces of a recent heavy
snow and one can only imagine with a shudder how the six poor victims and the
three survivors must have felt in the icy waters of the Lough.
On the Sunday afternoon the Lady Cavan steamed up to Victoria
Locks, the entrance to the Newry canal. The vessel remained there for several
hours before going on to the Albert Basin, which she reached about 6 p.m. Groups
of people watched her sadly, in silence, for the tragedy affected everyone.
Like a funeral pall the black smoke hung over the green funnel as she steamed
past the pierhead.
The Sabbath stillness of the town seemed doubly intense as the dejected
townspeople gazed on the ship, gloomily conjecturing the feelings of those on
board her. Even the children stood wide-eyed and silent looking at her – and
beyond the town.
‘Under the dove-grey sky – as
wide as death-
The sea,
Fall, fall way, all soot and dust despair,
Turmoil and broil, uncertainties that rend,
All grinding noise and pain be ever still.
Here is the end-
Unmeasured sands to walk as spirits may
With washed unweighing feet, forever free.
The hush of waves, almost
unreachable
By mortal sense, as in Eternity’.
On Monday sightseers from various parts came to gaze at the scene of the
collision at Greencastle, but saw nothing more eventful than the operation of
shipping potato supplies from the Down to the Louth side of the Lough.
A thick mist hung over the Lough like a pall of death. A few hundred yards
from the shore the mast tops of the ill-fated Alder mournfully projected
over the waves and the peace of death was all-pervading. The visitors included
some of the relatives of the drowned seamen and Mrs. Campbell.
The search for the bodies of the six victims of Sunday’s Carlingford
Lough disaster continued without result.
On Monday night the Lady Cavan passed over the spot where the
tragedy had occurred, captain and crew standing bareheaded as the steamer made
her way out of the Lough.
At a meeting of Carlingford Lough Commission on Tuesday 6 April 1937, the
Chairman (Lord Kilmorey) proposed that letters of sympathy should be
sent to all the relatives of the victims.
The motion was seconded by Mr. W. Moorehead, D.L. and passed in
silence, the members standing. The meeting was then adjourned as a mark of
respect. Afterwards the matter was discussed in committee, and arrangements
were made for a continuance of the search for the bodies.
At the first meeting of the newly formed Kilkeel Urban Council, the Chairman
(Mr. Edward McGonigle) read the following message from President de
Valera:-
‘I have learned with great sorrow of the deaths by the sinking of the Alder,
and I beg you to convey to the relatives of Captain and Mrs. Campbell
my sincere sympathy – Eamonn de Valera’.
On the motion of the Chairman, the members stood in silence in tribute
to their memory. The Clerk was instructed to convey the message to the bereaved
relatives.
At Newry Urban Council on Monday 5 November 1937 Mr. G.W.Holt, J.P.
referred to the recent shocking disaster in Carlingford Lough, when six people
– five from Newry and district and one from Belfast lost their lives and then
proposed a vote of sympathy with the bereaved relatives. The vote was passed
in silence
At a meeting of the Council of the Borough of Drogheda held on the 6 April
1937 on the motion of Alderman O. Kierans, seconded by His Worship
the Mayor (Alderman Walsh), a vote of condolence was unanimously passed
with the relatives of those who so tragically lost their lives on the ss
Alder in Carlingford Lough.
The Captain and crew were well known in the town and the tragic occurrence
came as a great shock to the citizens and the town clerk, J. Carr was
asked to convey to the relatives’ the deep and sincere sympathy of the Council
in their bereavement’.
At a meeting of the Carrickfergus Urban Council reference was made to
the tragic sea disaster which occurred in Carlingford Lough, resulting in the
loss of six lives and the clerk was directed to convey to the bereaved
relatives an expression of ‘the Council’s heartfelt sympathy and hope that all
will be comforted and strengthened in their sore trial.
BODY WASHED ASHORE
IDENTIFIED 7th APRIL 1937
On Wednesday morning 7 April 1937 the body of a woman, found washed ashore
at Rathcor, on
The body was found at a point six miles from Greenore, off which the vessel
sunk. It was clad in night attire, and a fur coat, and was identified by Mr.
William John Campbell, brother of Captain Campbell.
An intense search for the other bodies continued along the shores of the
Lough by police, coastguards and civilians. The remains were taken to the
licensed premises of Mr. Patrick Martin, Riverstown, Carlingford
and there an inquest was conducted on Thursday morning by Mr. J.H. Murphy,
solicitor, Coroner for Co. Louth. Evidence of identification was given by
Mr. Wm John Campbell, Kilkeel, a brother-in-law of Mrs. Campbell and the
inquest was then adjourned to a future date.
On Thursday 8 April 1937 the remains of Mrs. Campbell were conveyed
by boat from Carlingford to Greencastle, across the Lough and passed close
to the scene of the disaster. On arrival at Greencastle the remains were conveyed
by road to Kilkeel.
IMPOSING FUNERAL
IN KILKEEL OF MRS. CAMPBELL 9th APRIL 1937
Amid many manifestations of great grief the funeral of Mrs. Robert Campbell,
took place from the residence of her brother-in-law
Mr. Chas. Campbell,
It was a very imposing cortege, extending almost a quarter of a mile
long, and represented all creeds and classes from over a wide area. All
business in the town was suspended, windows shuttered and blinds drawn in
silent tribute to the deceased’s memory whose tragic death and that of her
husband and the other members of the crew of the Alder have occasioned grief
and sympathy. All shipping in
It was a touching sight to see the three little sons of the deceased, James,
Louis and Percy, march behind the coffin carrying
a wreath, which they placed on their mother’s grave after the internment.
The chief mourners included:-
Jim, Louis and Percy
Campbell (sons) and Isabella May Campbell
(daughter), Mr. James Campbell (father-in-law); Charles, Wm J. and
James and Harry Campbell; A. Kenmuir, G. Harper, R. Nicholson and R. Newell
(brothers-in-law); James and John Campbell, James Mitchell (uncles).
The remains were received in the Church by the Rev. H. Martin, M.A.
minister of Mourne Presbyterian Church, who conducted the funeral services
in the Church and at the graveside.
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The assembly present sang ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’. Taking for his text: ‘Oh, death where is thy sting, oh grave where is thy
victory’. Rev. Mr. Martin preached a very touching and impressive
address. He said ‘ We in this church have all met on former occasion which have
been sad, but never on an occasion which is so full of sadness as the
present occasion’. ‘Robert Campbell, continued Rev. Martin, was a son of the
sea. He was born beside it and played along its shores as a boy. He
knew all its moods of storm and calm. Just before he embarked on what
was to prove his last voyage, he remarked that last winter was the worst
winter for storms he had ever experienced at sea. It is an irony of
fate that it was not in a storm but in a perfectly calm sea that the
brave Captain, his wife, and four other gallant men met their doom. Proceeding, Rev. Martin said that ‘he felt the present tragedy so
deeply that it was with difficulty he spoke of it. Captain Campbell,
he continued, was a powerful swimmer and could have saved himself but
he would not leave his wife to perish, and so in trying to save her,
the mother of his children, they were both drowned. ‘Greater love than this hath
no man, than he lay down his life for his friend’. In conclusion, Rev. Martin expressed his heartfelt sympathy with
the bereaved relatives, the sisters and the little children of Mrs.
Campbell, and the parents, brothers and other relatives of Captain
Campbell. |
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| Minister of Mourne Presbyterian Church | ||
Included in the funeral cortege were the three young men who were rescued
off the Alder.
Messrs J. Fisher and Son were represented by Captain Connor,
Captain O’Neill and Superintendent James Torrens, while Mr. J. Birrels,
Manager, represented the
Amongst the many beautiful wreaths
were the following:-
‘In loving remembrance’, from father and mother.
From Robert’s sisters – Isabella, Cissie and Libby.
‘In affectionate remembrance’, from her sorrowing sisters and nephew at
Teacher’s Residence, Ballinran.
‘With deepest sympathy’, from Mr. and Mrs. R.E.Green.
‘To our darling mammie’, from her children.
From Uncle John, Aunt Minnie and Family
From Robert’s brothers; Wm. John, Charlie, James and
Harry.
Amongst the letters and telegrams of sympathy received was one from Right.
Hon. The Earl of Kilmorey, P.C.D.L.J.P. and one
from Mr. Eamonn de Valera, President of the
13th April 1937
A double breasted black overcoat of heavy material and comparatively new
in appearance found on the
The Carlingford Civic Guards daily patrol the extensive coast line in
their area.
INQUEST ON BODY WASHED ASHORE
AT
Mr. J.H. Murphy, Coroner for
Mr. A. Fisher (Messrs. Fisher & Fisher, Newry) appeared for
the next-of-kin; Mr. Thos. M’Kinty (Messrs. M’Kinty& Wright, Belfast) appeared for the owners
of ss Alder; Mr. J.D.Chambers (instructed
by Mr. Robert Wallace, Belfast) for the owners of the Lady Cavan,
and Superintendent M’Donagh represented the Civic
Guards.
The Coroner said he had already taken a deposition from Wm. John Campbell,
who stated he was a brother of the deceased’s husband. He had seen the woman’s
body and had identified it. She was aged 39 and was married to Robert Campbell,
captain of ss Alder, the property of Messrs. Fisher, of Newry.
Deceased had gone with her husband on a trip from
Michael Sheelan, fisherman, Rathcor (Co.
Louth), deposed that he was at Rathcor shore at 7p.m. on 7th inst.
When he saw a bulk some distance away, and found out afterwards that it was
the body of a woman. He at once reported the matter to Guards M’Grath and
Darcy who went to the scene and removed the body to Riverstown. The body
was dressed in a singlet, short coat and a pair of stockings. There was a
slight mark on the nose.
Guard Darcy said it was dark when he reached the shore and he viewed
the body with the aid of a flash lamp. The remains were those of a woman dressed
in fur coat, vest, and stockings. There were some slight marks on the forehead
and nose. The body had been found at high water mark; the tide was practically
full in at the time witness was there.
Replying to the superintendent, witness said the shore was very rough
and rocky.
Dr. E.M. Finnegan, Carlingford, said the deceased was a well-nourished
woman of about 40 years. In witness’s opinion death was due to drowning. There
were several small bruises on the forehead, which he thought were caused by
the body coming in contact with stones on the seashore. There was a lot of
sand in the deceased’s hair and on her face. Deceased had no teeth – evidently
she wore dentures.
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The Coroner said that was all the evidence he had in court, and if, Mr.
Fisher, representing the next-of-kin wished he might recall witnesses.
He (the Coroner) would have to have evidence that this lady was on the
boat. Mr. Fisher said there were two witnesses present. Mr. M’Kinty, representing the owners of
the ss Alder, said he was not calling any witnesses, but he willingly
left any available at Mr. Fisher’s disposal. Michael O’Neil, Victoria Locks, Newry, said he was mate on the ss
Alder, which belonged to the Newry and Kilkeel Steamship Company.
On April 3 they sailed from At 10.30p.m. on the 3rd they arrived
off the The Coroner asked for the address of the deceased, but Mr. Fisher
said Kilkeel was sufficient address, as Kilkeel was a small, though
important place. Superintendent M’Donagh said it was two
cables from the County Down side and seven cables from the nearest point
in The Coroner said, subject to what might be said by those representing the
parties, he proposed to find a verdict that deceased was found drowned
on the beach at Rathcor, on April 7, and death was due to asphyxia,
due to immersion in the sea in Carlingford Lough, on Greenore (County
Louth), on the 4th. Mr. Fisher asked that it should not be stated ‘Carlingford Lough
( Mr. M’Kinty – That is an international
question. The Coroner – I am not doing anyone any harm. Mr. Fisher – As no evidence had been produced to you whether it
was |
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If you want your findings I will ask that the
inquiry be adjourned and we will bring experts. In justice to the relatives
of the deceased, it is not a fair thing to do. I ask you to say Carlingford
Lough, which is quite sufficient or Carlingford Lough, which lies between
Mr. Chambers said he did not want to put Mr. Fisher to any
trouble. He realised that Mr. Fisher was raising the matter for a technical
reason, but it did not affect the issue before the inquiry, which was to find
the cause of death. For his part he was agreeable to it being stated that
the body was found at a point in Co. Louth. He did not want Mr. Fisher
to feel that any difficulty was being put in his way as regards where deceased
died. He was quite agreeable that something neutral should be put in.
The superintendent – The only thing is that we claim the sea right round
the whole coast of
Mr. Fisher – It is inside, not outside.
Coroner amends verdict.
The Coroner amended his verdict to read that death was due to immersion
in the sea in Carlingford Lough, which lies midway between Co. Louth and Co.
Down.
Mr. Chambers, on behalf of the owners, master and crew of the Lady
Cavan, said he wished to tender to Mr. Fisher’s clients their deepest
sympathy. Those for whom he (Mr. Chambers) spoke were engaged in this
hazardous seafaring life, just as were those who had died, and on that account
their sympathy was very deep and sincere.
Mr. M’Kinty, on behalf of the owners of
the ss Alder, deeply deplored the tragedy and associated himself with
the expression of sympathy.
Superintendent M’Donagh said everyone
felt for the relatives, and especially for the unfortunate children who had
lost their parents.
The Coroner said it was one of the saddest cases that had occurred in
the district for many years. That they should have been so close to land and
yet met their deaths was a tragedy.
Mr. Fisher, replying on behalf of the relatives,
returned sincere thanks, and particularly to the Coroner for his action in
facilitating the identification of the body to permit burial without undue
delay.
It might be of interest to those present to know that at the funeral
service held in the Presbyterian Church at Kilkeel the Rev. Martin, who
officiated, bore public testimony to the kindness received from the Coroner,
the Guards, and all the people of the district.
The Coroner said he could assure the relatives that the officials there
were most sympathetic and tried to do their duty in the most humane manner
possible.
MEMORIAL
SERVICE TO THE LATE CAPTAIN
AND MRS. CAMPBELL
There was an extremely large congregation present on Sunday evening in
the Mourne Presbyterian Church, Kilkeel, when a memorial service for the late
Captain and Mrs. Campbell who perished in the recent Carlingford Lough
disaster.
The service was conducted by Rev. Herbert Martin, M.A. assisted
by Rev. Alfred Eadie, B.A.
THE ADDRESS
Basing his address on the text: ‘They that go down to
the sea in ships, and do business in great waters; these see the works of the
Lord, and His wonders in the deep’ (Psalm 107 v 23&24).
Rev. Martin said:
The session of this church invites the members of the congregation to make
this service tonight a memorial in the highest sense, and to join in this
expression of public sympathy with the
As the minister of the
What secrets it holds in its wild and wandering waters- secrets that will
not be revealed till the sea gives up its dead :
Thou goest forth dread, fathomless, alone’. Mrs.
Henmans, in her poem, ‘The Graves of a Household’, with
a plaintive melody touches the ground tone of many a mother’s heart: -
‘The same fond mother bent at night
O’er each fair sleeping brow;
She had each folded flower in sight,
Where are those dreamers now?
The sea, the blue lone sea hides one,
He lies where pearls lie deep;
He was loved of all, yet none
O’er his low bed may weep.’
Isaiah said’ There is sorrow in the sea – It cannot be quit.’ There is a
wistful fascination about the sea, it draws and holds. What is its influence?
That is part of its mystery.
In a little book called the ‘Surgeon’s Dog,’ one of the seamen says to
the young surgeon taking his first trip: ‘Don’t stay with us long if you don’t
mean to stay with us always, for once the sea gets you it will never let you
go.’
Robert Campbell was born by the sea; the first sounds he heard were
of the sea. Its vast expanse was amongst the first things he saw. As a boy
he played by the dancing waters. He grew up intimately acquainted with its
storm and calm. He knew the restless moods, the whimsicalities, the
diapason of the sea. His spirit was attuned to the music of the waves. Such
a man possessed the essential qualities of a great seaman – keen, intelligent
and without fear he answered the call of the sea. His home was on the sea.
One of his shipmates said of him ‘He would take you into storm, but he could bring you out of
it again.’ He always did. Just before he set out on his last voyage he declared
the past winter to be the worst in weather he had experienced in all his twenty years at sea. It has
been a winter of storms, and every storm has been a gale.
Isn’t it a strange irony of fate that such a man should lose his life
when the sea was calm as the face of a sleeping child.
But he knew that a fog at sea is more to be dreaded than a storm, for
there the seaman does not fear the sea, but those who sail on it. There the
careful man is at the mercy of the careless and, indeed, the good seaman is the
enemy of the best.
Only a clever man could bring his vessel across the bar in the fog that
lay over Carlingford Lough that night. He knew the Lough – he knew how far to
go and when to stop. And only a skilled and careful hand could drop anchor
where he did – well out of the fairway, so as not to endanger other shipping.
I have been over the ground and within a few yards of the Alder’s
masts and funnel. They are a melancholy sight, rising upright from the water,
dignified in death. Experts will give their views on the position of the wreck
and it is not for me to say if the disaster could have been avoided or averted.
But the blow has fallen – Captain Campbell and his wife are gone, and
with them four brave seamen. It is said to be the worst disaster since the
sinking of the ill-fated
But black as this disaster is, it is shot through with rays of fine nobility.
Captain Campbell could easily have saved himself. He was a strong swimmer.
He was last seen standing with his wife on deck, awaiting an opportunity to
bring her to safety, while the others rushed to man the lifeboat, little dreaming
that the Alder was so badly damaged, and was sinking like a stone.
And in the vain effort to save his wife he lost his own life as well. ‘Greater
love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his
life for his friend.’ The large concourse of men at Mrs. Campbell funeral
was a genuine tribute of public sympathy. And here in this memorial service
I wish to recall the kindness received by Captain Campbell’s brother
from the people on the other side of the Border when he went to bring home
the remains of Mr. Campbell. The kind people there, and especially
the Sergeant of the Civic Guards, did everything they could to make this melancholy
offices as light as possible. Before such a human tragedy, thank God, all
our divisions disappear
– borders and boundaries melt into one: ‘One touch of nature
makes the whole world kin.’ A disaster like this makes deeper impressions
than we know.
Our characters must in some way
assimilate our pain. Three of our membership this year lost their lives at sea.
The wounds will heal but the scars remain, and those who sit in solitude
and mourn will see the scars the plainest. We, in the deepest sympathy for
them, will tell them that we will remember too.
Captain Campbell’s wife and children were
his darlings. Much as he loved them he never lost touch with his own parents
and his home family.
That fact has made natural for the children to turn to them and to find
with them all that a home should be to children who have lost their earliest
and truest friends. ‘The true way to mourn the dead is to take care of the
living who belong to them’.
There is a line in an old Greek play which says:’ The youthful mind is
not won’t to grieve,’ and yet these children are old enough to go into the
years with a memory that love will not let die till ‘ the
day break and the shadow flee away.’
‘You may shatter the glass in which roses distil,
But the scent of the roses will hang round it still.’
Life is like a troubled sea – we are voyagers – but we need not be helpless
victims of uncertainty, for we have with us One Who knows the sea, One Who
walked to meet the disciples on the
The praise portion of the service was led by the choir under the capable
direction of Mr. W. J. Chambers. Both choir and congregation gave a
sympathetic rendering of the 42nd Paraphrase: ‘Let not your hearts
with anxious thoughts be troubled or dismayed.’
The service concluded with the singing of the hymn: ‘For ever with the
Lord.
LOSS
OF THE ALDER- CLAIM and COUNTER-CLAIM in
Thursday 6th May 1937&
Friday 7th May 1937
Continuation of Evidence
Following further evidence on behalf of the Newry and Kilkeel Steamship
Co., Ltd., the master and crew of the Lady Cavan gave their account
of the accident in Carlingford Lough in the early morning of April 4 in the
Admiralty Court, London, on Thursday, when Sir Boyd Merriman, sitting
with Elder Brethren, continued the hearing of the action and counter-claim
arising out of the collision.
The action was brought by the Newry and Kilkeel Steamship Co., Ltd.,
owners of the Alder, who claimed damages from the British and Irish Steampacket
Co. (1936) Ltd., owners of the Lady Cavan.
The Lady Cavan, in counter-claiming, said she was misled by the Alder’s
anchor lights.
Having seen what she supposed to be the side lights of a vessel at
anchor, the Lady Cavan saw a further light, which she took to be that of
the No. 12 buoy, and she aimed to pass between it and the vessel. It was in
fact the Alder’s stern light.
It was further suggested by the Lady Cavan that the Alder
was not ringing her bell in accordance with the fog regulations and did not
sound her whistle, and that she was lying athwart the fairway.
The Alder pleaded that, bound from
PARAFFIN LAMPS
The mate of the Alder, Michael O’Neill, in answer to the
Judge, said the anchor lights were not the only lights to be seen from his
vessel. Lights were in all the cabins.
Some portholes might have curtains, but all of them had not. Some of the
lamps were hanging; some were in brackets.
The mate agreed with Mr. Noad, K.C., for
the Lady Cavan, that while there was a light in the captain’s room
and a lit swinging lamp in the mess-room, the mess-room curtains were usually
drawn for it was not desirable to have a glare upon decks at night time. The
lamps were paraffin and he did not think a vessel approaching him broadside
on could see the chimney and lighted burner of any lamp.
MASTER OF THE LADY CAVAN
Captain John Gallimore, of the Lady Cavan, gave evidence
of how he approached the Alder. He saw two lights, the lower a shade
to the left of the higher. He presumed they were on a vessel lying to the
flood end on with her head towards him. He intended to pass down her port
side to come to an anchor and was heading clear. The he saw a further light
lower than the others. He ordered the helmsman ’Hard aport (to lift her head
quicker), go between the ship and the buoy.’ Then he saw the hull of the vessel.
After collision he kept the Alder alongside with a rope for five minutes
till she began to heel. He called the crew to come on board and threw out
lifebelts. His speed had been about two knots. He thought the crew of the
Alder was preoccupied with getting their own lifeboat because the captain’s
wife was on board. They could quite well have stepped from the deck to the
Lady Cavan, though the necessity was not at first apparent.
From first seeing the lights of the Alder to the collision was
about a minute. He did not sound his whistle when the fog came on, though he
slowed his engines as a precaution.
The Judge – Why did you not sound your whistle?
The Captain said the weather did not appear thick enough.
They were coming up from
He had rung ‘slow’ at 4.10, he gathered from consulting the engineer’s
record just after the collision, and his speed would be four knots at sighting
and two knots when he struck.
Answering the Judge, Captain Gallimore said that travelling full
speed it would take about six minutes to pass from No. 10 Buoy to No. 12 Buoy.
The distance was just over a nautical mile.
On the distance from No. 10 Buoy the light could not have been No. 12
Buoy, but was misled by supposing the visibility was better than it was
Sir Boyd Merriman made the comment that the captain jumped to the
conclusion that the light was on the buoy although he saw the light on his
port bow, and the buoy must have been half a mile away.
DID NOT WANT CHAIN ROUND
PROPELLER
Witness replied that when he ordered hard aport wheel and full ahead he
did not want the chain round his propeller.
His Lordship added if witness thought he was near No. 12 buoy he must
have travelled faster than he admitted.
Captain Gallimore said his look-out man had only been in the ship
six days. The man, he thought, did not report lights and signals coming up.
He asked the mate about him after he rang ‘Slow ahead’
The Judge – The Elder Brethren who are assisting me would like to know
whether it is the practice in this ship, in reporting lights ahead, to include
the lights of buoys.
Captain Gallimore said it was.
His Lordship remarked that the vessel must have passed one light after
another without a hail.
The Captain said he called for the chief’s record immediately after
The chief officer of the Lady Cavan, Mr. John Joseph Higgins
said he took the last light to be the No. 12 Buoy on the port bow, though
normally the No. 12 Buoy would appear on their starboard hand.
Frank Giles, of the Lady Cavan said the engines had been
going astern for 15 seconds when the collision occurred.
A young man Hugh Hollywood, look-out on the forecastle head said
he reported the first two lights but the collision came before he saw the
Alder’s stern light.
The hearing was then adjourned till Friday.
THIRD DAY
The Judge had noticed the indication of an erasure in the Engineer’s Log
among the records of the engine movements round about the of collision, and
Mr. Robert Wright, the superintendent engineer of the British and Irish
Steampacket Co., went into the box and explained that when he was going through
the records at Newry with the engineer he lightly placed a mark at a passage,
as he frequently did he going through his papers.
Having made the pencil mark, he at once said ‘I should not have done
that. We must rub it out’ and he directed the engineer to take out the pencil
mark. He had been asking about the point when the engineer felt the contact
with the other ship.
Mr. Carpmael, K.C. (for the Newry
and Kilkeel Steamship Co.) asked was the mark place to indicate the moment
of contact?
Mr. Wright replied not the actual moment of contact. The mark led
down from immediately before the contact to the point of contact.
The Judge directed Mr. Wright to come on the bench and look at the
log through his magnifying glass;’ I never thought much about the erasure’
added the judge. ‘I am more interested in the next page.’
Mr. Wright turned over the page which bore the erasure mark and
observed that the page bound next after it in the book had obviously disappeared.
The Judge went on – ‘Do you see upon what becomes the next page, not
pencilled figures, but the impress of pencilled figures and the letters ‘a.m.’
Where do you think those pencilled letters were made?’
Mr. Wright said he could only suppose they were made on the page
which was missing. He thought possibly a blank page had been taken from the
end of the book and that had liberated the page about which his Lordship was
curious.
DECISION
The Court found that the Lady
Cavan was 4-fifths liable and the Alder one-fifth liable for the
collision, and apportioned the costs of the proceedings accordingly.
The damages will be assessed
on this basis later.
A record of clarity in the
Messrs. McKinty & Wright,
CLAIMS BY NEXT-OF-KIN OF
VICTIMS
Messrs. Fisher & Fisher, solicitors, acting on behalf of all the victims of the collision, having
issued writs for damages against the British and Irish Steampacket Co., Ltd.
(owners of the Dundalk & Newry Steampacket Co., Ltd.), and same will come
on for hearing in the Northern Ireland High Court of Justice at Belfast.
The victims were:-
Captain Robert Campbell, Kilkeel, who left four children
Mrs. Catherine Campbell, his wife.
Chief Engineer Robert McGrath,
Second Engineer James Davis,
Jack Gorman, Rooney’s Terrace, Newry, deck hand (unmarried)
John Conlon,
CARLINGFORD LOUGH
DISASTER; ANOTHER BODY FOUND 9th May 1937
VERDICT OF ‘FOUND DROWNED’ RETURNED
at inquest on 10th May 1937
The shipping disaster in Carlingford Lough on 4th April last
had a further sequel on Sunday 9th May 1937 when the body of a
second victim – John Gorman, Rooney’s Terrace, Newry was recovered.
The body of Mrs. Catherine (Kate) Campbell who was drowned with
her husband Captain Robert Campbell, and four members of the crew of
the ss. Alder, the sunken Newry vessel was
recovered on 7th April, although an inquest did not take place
until 16th April 1937.
It will be recalled that the Alder, a vessel owned by Messrs.
J. Fisher & Sons the Newry Shipping Firm sank in Carlingford Lough
following a collision with the Lady Cavan.
Of the nine persons aboard the Alder, only three were saved.
Gorman’s body was seen floating in the Lough between Greenore and
Carlingford by members of a steamer making for Newry and the matter was reported
to the civic guards on the Louth shore of the Lough, and the R.U.C. on the
County Down side. The shore was immediately patrolled on both sides and at
4.20pm. when the tide had ebbed, the body was recovered
by Guard James Reynolds.
Two of Captain Campbell’s brothers made the journey across the Lough to
Carlingford when relatives of others who had lost their lives also attended on
Sunday evening.
The body was identified as that of Gorman, and an
inquest was conducted in Carlingford Courthouse on Monday morning by Mr. J.M.Murphy,
coroner, and Superintendent McDonagh represented
the police.
The first witness was Miss Mary Gorman,
Michael O’Neill, Victoria Locks, Newry, mate of the Alder, and
one of the survivors, said that he saw Gorman on the deck immediately
after the collision and did not see him alive afterwards. He identified the
body as that of John Gorman.
Guard J. Reynold said he was on patrol duty and saw the body floating
on the Lough about 500 yards from the shore at 2.30pm. He waited until the ebb,
about 4.20pm. and recovered the body from the shore in
the liberties of Carlingford.
Dr. Finnegan, who examined the body, said it was that of a man of
about fifty years of age and 5 feet 7 inches in height. Deceased had on black
boots, grey socks, brown dungarees, leather belt with buckle, greyish-black
shirt with short tucked-up sleeves. The hair was grey. The knees and chest
were injured – the skin being off – leading him to believe that the body was
that of a man who had been drowned about five weeks
previously.
The Coroner found that the deceased, John Gorman, was found drowned,
the cause of death being drowning due to immersion in the sea in Carlingford
Lough which lies between Counties Louth and Down.
He said he would record in his findings an expression of sympathy from himself
and he wished to repeat what he had said on the occasion of the previous inquest
at
The Superintendent of Guards joined in the expression of sympathy.
Mr. Alexander Fisher (Messrs. Fisher and Fisher, solicitors, Newry)
said Mr. Wallace,
solicitor for the owners of the Lady Cavan had asked him to state that
the owners of the Lady Cavan desired to repeat the expression
of sympathy already extended. Mr. Fisher said the owners of the Alder,
through him, desired to express the greatest sympathy with the deceased’s
and all other relatives. He said he represented the relatives of the deceased
and on their behalf desired to return most sincere thanks for all the kindnesses
which had been shown the relatives at the time of the discovery of the body
on Sunday afternoon and during the terrible ordeal of identification; also
at the inquest that day. He also said they wished to bear testimony to the
most commendable elasticity exercised in the Border regulations when vehicles
were passing and repassing to Carlingford; and also
to the arrangements made for and facilities given to the relatives in having
the body taken across the border.
Mr. Fisher also thanked Captain McKevitt,
harbour master at Greenore, for his assistance.
The funeral took place at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Newry, yesterday
amid many manifestations of regret
The chief mourners were – Misses Bridget and Mary Gorman (sisters),
Messrs. Harry Gorman, John Gorman and Jim Gorman (nephews), Mrs.
Gorman (sister-in-law), Misses Dora and May Gorman, Mrs. Brady, Mrs.
Campbell, Mrs. Trimble (nieces), M. K. Hughes, Mrs. Hagans,
Mrs. Hearty, Glasgow; Mrs. Malone, Mrs. Murphy, John Hughes, Hugh and
Paddy Golding (friends)
Wreaths were received from Mrs. McGrath,
Rev. Father Campbell, in the course of a touching panegyric, said
the Holy Spirit warned them to be prepared because they knew not the day or
the hour when the Son of Man cometh. They saw life all around them and death
occurring sometimes in unusual and peculiar circumstances. Death always brought
sorrow and sadness, but when it came in tragic and sudden circumstances the
blow was more severely felt. On that occasion they were paying their respects
to one who had been called away in sad and tragic circumstances, and it was
sufficient for them to remember that Christian charity required their prayers
on behalf of the soul of him who so suddenly lost his life. They knew that
death took him unexpectedly and suddenly, and he may not fully have realised
that death was about to take place. Even though death has come suddenly they
felt he was not entirely unprepared.
He had been a man with a kind and charitable heart, and had been
faithful to his Christian duties. They had every confidence that God in his
mercy would take him to a happier existence than in his earth. He expressed
heartfelt sympathy with the sorrowing sisters and other relatives
BODY FOUND AT WHITEHAVEN
THAT OF ANOTHER LOUGH VICTIM?
Messrs. Fisher & Fisher , solicitors , Newry, are in touch with
Whitehaven police on behalf of Mrs. McGrath, Erskine Street, Newry,
as to the possibility of a body found at Whitehaven being that of her husband
Robert McGrath, chief engineer of ss. Alder who was drowned
when the ship sank on April 4th last.
The police authorities have given information to the effect that the
body was buried on Friday last (7th May 1937), but that they had
retained the clothing for identification purposes.
The clothing and other articles found on the body are to be dispatched
to the Bridewell police, Newry, so that Mrs.
McGrath may have an opportunity of inspecting them.
SUNKEN
COLLIER RAISED; ECHO OF CARLINGFORD COLLISION
The salvage work to retrieve the Newry collier Pine, which was
sunk in Carlingford Lough last November and which has been in progress at
intermittent periods during the past couple of months, was brought to a
successful conclusion on Saturday (8th May 1937), when the vessel
was removed from the fairway and brought close in to deep water at Greenore.
There is now no danger to navigation in the fairway, and the buoy marking the
wreck has also been removed.
The working of lifting the Pine was carried out by Mr. Samuel
Gray, salvage contractor,
Captain Campbell who lost his life, as
also did his wife and three of the crew when the Alder was sunk at
the beginning of April, was in charge of the Olive when she collided
with a sister ship (the Pine) which then sank in the Lough. No lives
were lost on that occasion.
CARLINGFORD
LOUGH DISASTER- A
THIRD BODY WASHED ASHORE DISCOVERY AT ANNALONG
Another body, identified as that of James Davis, aged 46 years,
The body is the third to be recovered, the others being that of Mrs. Campbell,
Kilkeel, wife of the Captain of the Alder, who was also drowned, and
that of John Gorman, deck hand.
It appears that about eight o’clock on Sunday evening, Mr. Bob McKibben and Mr.
Sidney Chambers, Annalong, saw
a body floating on the incoming tide at Annalong. They informed the police
and Constable Patterson accompanied
by Mr. T. McBurney, tailor,
went to the scene and recovered the body from the sea.
The body was in an advanced state of decomposition, and was removed to
Mr. Robert Gordon’s licensed
premises at the Harbour, Annalong.
The body was clad in a blue double-breasted coat and dungarees, and in
the pockets were found a union key, attached to a chain, and a cigarette
lighter.
The Coroner for South Down, Mr. R. S. Heron, was communicated with, and also the relatives of the three
men who are still missing from the wreck of the Alder eight weeks ago.
Mr. Alex Fisher, accompanied by Mr. Conlon, Newry, son of
Mr. J. Conlon, who perished in the disaster,
and Mrs. McGrath, Newry, wife of Mr. R. McGrath,
who was also drowned at the time, arrived at Annalong on Sunday night and
inspected the remains, but recognised that the body was not that of either
of the two missing Newry men.
The remains were identified by Mr. S. F. Kelly,
Mr. R. S. Heron, coroner for South Down, conducted the inquest yesterday,
when District Inspector Silcock represented
the police and Mr. Alexander Fisher appeared on behalf of the relatives.
Samuel F. Kelly, brother-in-law
, said the deceased was 46 years of age and was second engineer on
board the Alder at the time of the disaster. He had identified the
body.
Michael O’Neill, Victoria Locks, Fathom, Newry, one of the survivors
said he had been mate of the Alder at the time of the disaster. He
had known the deceased and remembered 4th April last when the vessel
was returning form Irvine to Newry, and had anchored in Carlingford Lough
on account of the fog. Between 4 and 5 am. On 4th
April the Lady Cavan struck the Alder amidships and the vessel
sank n a few minutes afterwards. Deceased perished with the others.
Robert McKibben,
The jury, of which Mr. Isaac Hamilton was foreman, found that death
was due to drowning in Carlingford Lough on 4th April and added
a rider expressing sympathy with the widow and children and other relatives
of deceased.
District- Inspector Silcock also joined
in the expression of sympathy on behalf of the police.
The Coroner said that in common with so many people and various public
bodies he extended his sympathy to the relatives. The sinking of the Alder
was undoubtedly a very sad affair but not so
terribly sad as on the occasion of the sinking of the ‘
Mr. Fisher, returning thanks on behalf of the relatives, paid tribute
to the people and the police of Annalong for the assistance they had rendered
in the recovery of the body.
The remains were removed to