Snippets after the Loss of the TAYLEUR 1854

Southport Visiter,

Feb 23rd 1854

On Sunday afternoon a box was picked up on the Southport shore by Henry WRIGHT Fisherman. It is supposed from some of the contents to have belonged to one of the passengers of the ill-fated Tayleur. The box has the words “Joseph Porter wanted” painted in green letters on the front and contains, 13 shirts, 2 blankets, a black cloth coat, a pair of corduroy trousers, a waistcoat, several cotton neck-ties and pocket handkerchiefs, a fiddle and 2 bows, a small mug of butter, new quarter boots, 2 cloth caps, a suit of clothes, a silver watch, a pipe, a purse, clothes brush, a razor, a prayer book with “Alice PORTER” written on the fly leaf, and several pairs of woollen stockings.

The watch was marked "WATT and Son C. No 414, Dublin”, and on the paper inside, “Barlborough Dublin.” In the purse were two small scraps of paper, one was written “To Belfast, Victoria Mount, McIver Diggings” and on the other, “Mr John BOWLES of Mrs Margaret BOWLES, in the care of Mrs KERBY, Gleanly, in Portland Bay, Australia.

xxxx

2nd Mar 1854

The Ocean Child

The Rev J. H. ARMSTRONG says,

“I am happy to say that I have discovered the relatives of the little fellow saved from the wreck of the Tayleur, who has been in my house for the last 4 weeks. It appears that he is Arthur Charles, son of Charles GRIFFITH, who had been formerly a servant in the neighbourhood of Hereford, and latterly kept a small shop. His maternal grandmother has come over to claim him, and into her hands I have this day delivered up the child, with the full concurrence and approbation of the agent of Lloyd’s J. WALSH Esq. She lives near Hereford, and I have ascertained, by reference to my friend the Rev John JEBB, Rector of Peterstow, Rop, who lives in the neighbourhood, and who kindly investigated the matter, that she and all his relations are respectable people of good character, members of the established church, and very poor. The old woman earns a living by weeding gardens and other similar work, consequently the subscription which I have raised will be most beneficial, and I shall immediately invest it, and what ever sums I receive for the child’s benefit in the name of Mr JEBB and myself. I am truly gratified by the way in which my appeal has been responded to, and I have only to express the hope that the future career of the “Ocean Child” may be such as to recompense the warm and wide spread interest which he has excited.”

xxxx

30th Mar 1854

Several bodies undoubtedly those of male and female passengers of the Tayleur have been washed ashore between Malatide and Skerries. One of these is identified as Timothy BOYD of Ballymena. He had papers on his person including a printed copy of regulations for passengers by the Tayleur.

xxxx

Captain WALKER’S report of his investigation into the loss of the Tayleur

March 9th 1854

Captain WALKER’S report of his investigation into the loss of the Tayleur, made under the Board of Trade, has been laid before parliament.

Capt WALKER attended the inquest and has also examined the witnesses himself.

He reports he does not consider the ship was sufficiently manned; he says that according to the usage of the port of Liverpool, three to 100tons is considered a sufficient crew, but, this is upon the old measurement, which is a fallacy entirely, and he suggests that as the Emigration Commissioners require 4 men to 100tons for vessels under contract, so this rule should be applied to all emigrant ships. It appears that before the pilot had left the Tayleur the Captain had remarked that there was a difference of half a point in the compass, and on Saturday morning there was a difference of one and a half and two points between the compass before the helmsman and that in front of the poop, while the one on the skylight between the two was so sluggish it would not act at all. The master attributed the circumstances to the influence of the chain mizentop sheets, and acted upon the supposition that the compass before the wheel was correct.

Capt WALKER says:-

“From a careful consideration of the evidence, I am of the opinion that the loss of the Tayleur was occasioned by the master making his calculations upon the supposition that the compass before the helmsman was correct. He was aware that there was a difference of two points between the compasses and knew not which was in error. I further think the wreck may have been prevented had the master taken the precaution of using his lead. He had the Admiralty chart on board and looked at it every hour, the soundings must have stared him in the face. I put the following question to him :- "Such being the case do not you think you were wrong, in not trying for soundings?”

“I think I did wrong, and this will be a warning to me in the future.”

And Lieut PRIOR. RN, a very intelligent officer who for three years commanded a packet conveying the mails between Liverpool and Dublin states :-

“I have run between the bell-buoy and Kingstown by my soundings.”

"My inquiry having elicited the particulars of the wreck, I beg to observe that it appears strange to me that the owners of an iron ship, with iron masts, who spared no care or expense in fitting her for the sea, should have omitted to take the necessary precautions of ascertaining the local disturbance of the compasses, by swinging the vessel after the store and equipments were on board, this operation having been performed two months prior to sailing, and before the cargo was taken on. The number of instances in which vessels have been lost by the compasses being in error, renders it desirable that more care should be bestowed on this subject, and it is extraordinary that the captain of the Tayleur who holds a 1st class certificate and was recommended by the Liverpool Examiners as an excellent officer, should have proceeded to sea unprovided with an azimuth compass, and should have started in an iron ship on a voyage to the Southern Hemisphere, when the compasses might have been differently affected without the means of ascertaining with accuracy the error of his compasses: more especially when he admits in evidence that he had carte-blanche, from the owners to procure everything he wanted." "I beg to suggest to your Lordships whether it not be desirable that the Emigration Commissioners in addition to the excellent instructions now issued to their officers, that they should require every vessel coming within the provision of the Passenger’s Act, be provided with an azimuth compass and all iron ships and steamers have their compasses adjusted, the deviation ascertained, and a card with a table of errors produced before the vessel proceeds to sea".

MAIN PAGE