Catherine or Katherine or Mary of IonaResearch involving the sinking of the Catherine of Iona. There appears to be a considerable amount of confusion regarding the name of the sloop that sunk in the Clyde off Gourock in August 1822. For interest sake and to get a clearer picture of the incident that took place on the 18th of August 1822, I have copied all the references that I have so far been able to discover. The result of this research has been achieved with the help of several very generous people including many people on the Argyle and Mull Rootsweb link but especially Mike Porter from the Glasgow Tourist Information site, Alison Kentuck from the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, Betty Hendry from the Watt Library in Greenock, and Mike MacKenzie from Largs, Ayrshire. This research is a project in progress and will be added to as more information comes to light. I am hopeful that we will be able to identify as many families of the victims as existing records and family oral histories allow. Kind regards Janice McGilvray-Peasnell - November 2004 The Coast Guard had reference to two boats involved in accidents during the period of August 1822. Regarding the ‘Mary’ The position given is 55 57 00N 04 45 00 and she is described as a Scottish smack which was run down off of Greenock August 1822. However there was also a note on the wreck of the ‘Catherine of Iona’, a wooden sloop of Tobermory (built 1814) which was apparently in a collision with a vessel called Hercules on the 18th of August 1822 and consequently the Catherine of Iona was sunk. This incident took place near Levan Castle in the Gourock area. Deputy Receiver of Wreck, The following are extracts from newspapers and books about an accident to the sloop Catherine (or Katherine) or Mary of Iona which at the time was carrying 44 passengers from Mull and Iona who were reapers on their way to the low country harvest. A map of the general area is shown below.
Sufferers on board the Katherine of Iona (From the Glasgow Herald.) We would beg to call attention of our readers to the attested list of the names and particular circumstances of those people who were lost on board of Allan and Hector McInnes’s boat, by coming in contact with the Hercules Steam Boat on the 10th inst. We hear that a subscription is going on in this city for the orphans and aged relatives, and we hope the liberality of the public will afford the means to alleviate, in some *** the misery of the survivors. Names of people lost when Allan and Hector McInnes’s boat from Icolmkill on Saturday, the 10th of August 1822.
Extract from page 18 of 'Clyde Shipwrecks' by Peter Moir and Ian Crawford. Catherine Wooden sloop Shortly after 11pm on the night of Saturday, 10th August, 1822 the Catherine crept past the Cloch Lighthouse, sails hanging limply on the mast and the crew at the oars to give some steerage way. The night was calm and clear and the party of reapers from Iona, who where on their way to Greenock to work in the forthcoming harvest, had retired for the night. As she approached Levan Castle she was run down by the steam tug Hercules which was on an excursion to Ailsa Craig and Campbeltown. The collision sheered off the stern of the Catherine, instantly killing several of the passengers and the sloop sank almost immediately in deep water. The Hercules picked up only four survivors leaving forty two dead, including all of the crew. The stern portion of the stricken ship was washed ashore the next morning close to Roseneath Point. A few days later relatives of the dead succeeded in locating and raising the wreck, recovering nine bodies.
Extract from pages 53-54 of 'Notes about Gourock' by Rev David Macrae. Published by Andrew Elliot, Edinburgh 1880 Leaving Ardgowan, and passing Lunderston Bay, on the road back to Gourock, you will reach the Cloch Lighthouse - a huge white tower, erected in 1791. It is 88 feet in height, and its fixed light is seen from a distance of 13 miles. Round the point is Cloch Inn, with its Ferry, the ancient highway to the kingdom of the Dalriadic Scots, and much used down to the close of the last century as a waterway from Renfrewshire across to Dunoon and the neighbouring districts of Argyll. Off the shore here, in 1822, a disaster occurred which was long remembered in Gourock. The "Catherine of Iona", with forty-six persons on board, was run down by a steamer, and almost instantly sank, carrying with her the whole of the crew and passengers excepting three or four. A similar disaster occurred at Kempoch Point three years later, when the steamer "Comet"* , as she was rounding the point at night, on her way to Glasgow, was run into by another steamer (the "Ayr") and sunk. About seventy of the bodies washed ashore from these disasters were buried in Gourock, in the upper corner of the Old Burying-ground, opposite the Eastern School. * This was Comet No. 2. Comet No. 1 was lost on the shores of a Highland loch - Henry Bell being on board at the time. Comet No. 1 is preserved in Kensington Museum (now the Science Museum).
Greenock Advertiser 13th August 1822 MOST DISTRESSING AND EXTENSIVE CALAMITY We have the melancholy office of announcing the loss of no less than forty two human lives arising from accident. On Saturday night the Hercules, a powerful steam vessel employed in tugging ships upon the Clyde, proceeded from Greenock with a party for a sail around Ailas to Campbelltown, and back again the next night. Betwixt eleven and twelve o’clock, when betwixt Gourock and the Cloch Light house, the vessel came in contact with a small Highland wherry from Mull and Icolmkill, which immediately sunk. Of forty six persons on board, all of whom, except the master and one seaman, were shearers on their way to the low country harvest and most of them women, only four, two men and two women, were saved, by the exertions of those on board the steam-boat. The cries of the poor people were distinctly heard from the shore, but the generous attempt to afford them relief proved unavailing. The master, Allan McInnes, and the other boatman were among the sufferers. One of the men saved has lost his wife, mother-in-Law, and a sister-in-Law, - One of the women saved has lost her son and daughter, the other has lost a brother and sister. We have received several communications on the subject, which we abstain from inserting, as the whole of the business is now in the course of legal investigation, and we shall be enabled hereafter to state the particulars more fully. It seems agreed by all hands that after the unfortunate accident happened the master of the Hercules, and those who were on board of her, did everything possible to save the unfortunate sufferer, as well as to minister to the relief and comfort of those who were picked up. We copy the above from the Glasgow Herald, and, from the same motives which actuated the conductor of that journal, we forbear making any comments on the facts there stated. We understand that the stern of the unfortunate vessel has been driven ashore at Roseneath, which it would appear was separated from the hull by the concussion of the Hercules, or by a stroke of the engine. The name of the sloop (for she was not a wherry) was the Katherine, of Iona, to which island, and to that part of the island of Mull called the Ross, the passengers belonged. Six dead bodies were picked up on Sunday morning, and conveyed hither in one of the luggage steamboats; and it may afford a melancholy consolation to their surviving relations to know, that they were decently interred in the new burying-ground, and their funeral attended by a number of persons residing here, and from Glasgow, who had originally come from the islands we have mentioned. The clothes of each individual have been tied up in separate parcels, in order that such of their friends as may come from the islands on the distressing errand, may have an opportunity of completely identifying who they were. Their names, as we have learned, are Mary McDonald, Mary McEachran, Flora Beaton, Effy Beaton, Christian McLean, and Effy MacGilvray. The dead body of a female was carried to Glasgow in the Hercules, but we have not heard her name, nor the names of the two men and two women who were saved.
Greenock Advertiser 16th August 1822 The Glasgow Chronicle of Tuesday gives the following particulars regarding the melancholy catastrophe which took place on Saturday night, between the point of Gourock and the Clock Light House, the Hercules steam boat running down the sloop Katherine of Iona. “Allan McInnes, the master of the sloop,” says the Chronicle, “hailed to those on board the steam boat to take to a side, as from there being no wind at the time, they were quite becalmed, and unable to get out of the way. While the persons in the sloop where striving with oars to move her, the steam boat came straight forward and *(hit) her right through the ster, the sails being placed round the paddles, and she immediately went to pieces. At this awful crisis many were asleep, and none had the least intimation of approaching danger. Several by the shock of the concussion and went to the bottom; and in the moment the water was covered with the unfortunate people, chiefly females, whose cries for assistance were dreadful beyond description; in their agony they grasped one another; and many of them, by means of their garments, kept floating for a considerable time, laying hold of a piece of wreck; but by the time the steam boat people stopped their engine, and sent their yawl, all that could be picked up alive were four; and another was found dead floating on the water.
Campbell and his wife had hold of the mast at one time; but being clung to be several others he was forced to extricate himself, and his wife perished – he is a good swimmer, and he says he followed the steam boat for about 10 minutes crying for help, and the whole of the survivors, from whom this narrative was taken, declare that they saw no light in front of the steam boat, and that if there had been timeous assistance, the greater part would have been saved. McCullam is no swimmer but preserved himself by *** of a bed he was bringing with him. The pilot of the steam boat states there was a light and *** (two?) men at the bow at the time, but he heard of no *** (noise?) till after the vessel was struck; that they immediately lowered their yawl, but it filled with water and retarded them; and that half an hour elapsed before the lat man was picked up. About 5 o’clock on the Sabbath morning the steam boat returned to the Broomielaw with the survivors. The quay was crowded on Sunday with spectators, and those who had lost relations making enquiries after them. A investigation is going on.” The Chronicle, of yesterday, in reference to the article, says:- “Some of the passengers who were on board the Hercules on Saturday night, state that not a circumstance of what the persons saved from the small boat informed our reporter, relative to the incident, is correct. We offered to publish their own account of it: but they declined to give any statement at present. *** indicates unreadable text
20th August 1822 On Saturday, some of the relations of the persons who perished in the smack that was run down by the Hercules steam boat on the preceding Saturday, commenced trawling for their bodies, and succeeded that night in finding the spot where the catastrophe took place; but it being too late to get up the vessel, they placed a buoy over her, and next morning proceeded to effect their purpose, which they accomplished in a short time, when they found nine bodies, one man (the master) and eight women. It was understood there were more on board, but in getting the smack up, they parted from her. Four of the sufferers were found in the forecastle, where they had probably been asleep when the accident happened; the others were clinging to different parts of the rigging. They were all brought to town on Sunday and interred last night in the same burying ground with those who were found at the time the vessel went down. A deputation of the young relations arrived here from the place of their residence on Monday, just as the dressers were in the act of adjusting the coverings of those who had been carried to the Infirmary. The scene of mourning which here took place was truly heart-rending: some lamenting in wild distraction over the remains of a dearly beloved parent, while others, perhaps, with yet more agony, regretted the disappointment of not finding their relation even in any condition. Their conduct was of such a touching nature, as quite to unman the feelings of those engaged in the necessary duties of humanity to poor sufferers. We cannot leave this subject without mentioning the liberality of some ladies of this town, in providing and sending dresses for the unfortunate persons – indeed, the gifts were so numerous and valuable, and g9ven with such spontaneous good feeling, that we are only prevented from naming the donors, from conviction that the deed would fall, in their own estimation, if more publicity were given to it. Names of those got about the boat on Sunday:-
23rd August 1822 SUFFERERS ON BOARD THE KATHERINE OF IONA Since the list given in our last; the persons belonging to the smack Katherine, there were of the 20th and buried on the 21st-
On Wednesday the 21st, there was found
These were interred yesterday forenoon; the three first have left eighteen children to lament their fate: the other five were interesting young women. The number now got and buried here is 28. These bodies have been raised from the depth of 120 feet water, by the unremitting and laborious exertions of part of the relations who came from Mull, assisted by the seafaring people of Gourock. The conduct of a female relative, Mrs McDugald, who has lost a son and a daughter, is certainly calculated to impress with feelings of something more than astonishment; she is constantly in one of the boats which are employed in trawling, and only when the remains of her beloved daughter were forever closed from her sight, on nailing down the coffin, has she been observed to be relieved from the weight of her sorrows by a flood of tears. A number of ladies and gentlemen residing at Gourock have, with a prompt and considerate humanity, subscribed and deposited a small sum of money for procuring refreshments to those engaged in the occupation just alluded to. The procession of the funerals of the five persons on Wednesday, and the eight yesterday, presented a spectacle of truly sorrowful interest to the inhabitants of Greenock. Such a number of coffins carried together, and accompanied by the female relatives, could not fail to excite in the bosoms of all who witnessed the scene emotions of the tenderest sympathy. We are anxious that this feeling may not be confined to those who witnessed the mournful spectacle, but that kind interest may be propagated on behalf of the distressed relations, should they be compelled to ask for public assistance for defraying the expenses incurred by this shocking accident. We are convinced that an aiding disposition is very prevalent, as far as knowledge of the misfortunate has extended; and it has come to our knowledge that some miscreants have already begun to impose upon the public benevolence, founding their claim as kindred of the deceased; this has been done in Argyleshire, Innerkip, and even our own town – one fellow, an Irishman, now in custody of the police, was detected craving charity for himself and relatives, and narrowly escaped a summary chastisement from the very natural indignation excited among the highlanders by such a wicked and unchristian imposition. We are pretty sure that none of the relatives have as yet asked public charity, nor is it likely that they will do so, without being, at the same time, furnished with proper certificates from respectable and known quarters.
27th August 1822 Sloop Katherine – The deputation of relatives from Iona and the Ross of Mull, having continued trawling for the remaining dead bodies on the 22nd and 23rd without success, were compelled on Saturday to relinquish this task which they had all along ***eced in with remitting industry. The same day they returned to their respective homes in the Highlander Steam Boat, leaving behind one of their companions, Archibald McFarlane, who has ***** employment from Lorn Campbell, Esq., **eath (Rosneath?). He remains for the purpose of identifying and burying any of the bodies that may be cast ashore, and has chosen Rosneath as the most convenient and centrical place, from which he can obtain information from all quarters on the opposite coast. Of the original number said to be lost, there are 13 bodies supposed yet missing: however the survivors are only certain of 10. Mrs McDonald, whose conduct was noticed in our last, has been obliged to return home without finding the body of her son. – the first shock to public feeling, from this accident is now over, and sorrow and sympathy begins to subside. The event has been recorded, on the fleeting pages of the day, among those occurrences of life which are quickly lost in the great concerns of the world; yet there are bosoms torn with **iction by this event, the wounds of which may be soothed but scarcely healed by time. The love and affection of the Highlanders, centred upon a **** objects, acquires intensity by such concentration and consequently every violation of these feelings *actrates deeply, and nursed it bosom of solitude, obtains an abiding place in their recollections, of which those who walk the busier scenes of life are comparatively strangers. It is a fact worthy of notice, that this calamity might have proved greater had not fifteen of the people, who originally went on board the Katherine, left her at some intermediate port and went on board the Highland Steamer Boat almost by main force, as the later was at the time over crowded with passengers, there being about *** persons on board. The Highlander landed all her passengers in safety, including the above 15, after a voyage of very great peril, from the crowded state of the deck, and which would have been greatly increased had not the weather fortunately been very favourable. *** indicates unreadable text
3rd September 1822 Three more bodies of the unfortunate persons drowned in the sloop Katherine been found. They were discovered on Sunday last floating on the surf near to where the boat was ***** down, and were decently interred here at six o’clock in the evening of the same day. The bodies were those of John McInnes, aged 40 years (his son, **** yet found) who has left a widow and seven children. – John McLucas aged 21 years and Mary McLean aged 20 years both unmarried. It does not appear to be correct that any of the passengers, that embarked and left Mull with the Katherine, abandoned her at any intermediate place: the boat might have been crowded with regard to room, but she was capable in point of tonnage, to have carried double to number with safety. *** indicates unreadable text
Glasgow, April 1823
CRIMINAL LETTERS HIS MAJESTY’S ADVOCATE, Against WILLIAM RUSSELL, &C.
(Culpable Homicide) GEORGE, &c. – Whereas it is humbly meant and complained to Us by Our Right Trusty Sir William Rae of St Catherines, Baronet, Our Advocate, for Our interest, upon WILLIAM RUSSELL, now or lately master of the Trusty steam luggage-boat, and now or lately residing in Carrick St, Brownfield, Glasgow, ARCHIBALD M’ARTHUR, now or lately employed on board the Dispatch steam luggage-boat, and now or lately residing in High Shaw street, near the Infirmary, Greenock, and ARCHIBALD M’LARTY, now or lately employed on board the Hercules steam luggage-boat, and now or lately residing in the Cowgate of Greenock: THAT ALBEIT, by the laws of this and every other well governed realm, CULPABLE HOMICIDE is a crime of an heinous nature, and severely punishable: YET TRUE IT IS AND OF VERITY, that the said William Russell, Archibald M’Arthur, and Archibald MacLarty, are all and each, or one or other of them, guilty of the said crime, actors or actor, or art and part: IN SO FAR AS, late on Saturday the 10th, or early on Sunday the 11th days of August 1822, or on one or other of the days of that month, or of the month of July immediately preceding, or of September immediately following, the said William Russell, Archibald M’Arthur, and Archibald M’Larty, did proceed, in the Hercules steam luggage-boat, from Greenock, in the Shire of Renfrew, down the river or Frith of Clyde, along the coast of Renfrewshire, with the intention of going to the rock or crag of Ailsa, situated without the entrance of the said Frith of Clyde, and, when opposite to, or nearly opposite to, a part of the said coast of Renfrewshire, which is about half-way between the village of Gourock and the Clough light-house, and, when about three quarters of a mile or thereby distant from the said coast of Renfrewshire, the said William Russell, Archibald M’Arthur, and Archibald M’Larty, having the charge, guidance, and direction of the said Hercules steam luggage-boat, and it being their particular duty to take care that the said steam-boat should not come in collision with any other boat or vessel, they did, culpably, and reckless of the consequences, and by their extreme and culpable carelessness and inattention in observing and directing the course of the said Hercules steam luggage-boat, bring the said steam-boat in collision with a small boat or vessel, the particular name of which is to the Prosecutor unknown, then on its passage from the Island of Iona, or Ikolmkill, in the shire of Argyll, to Greenock, or some other port in the river Clyde, whereby, the said small boat or vessel was sunk, and Allan M’Innes, the master of the said small boat or vessel, John M’Dougall, his assistant, Christian M’Lean, sister of Angus Campbell, now or lately residing in Killimore, district of Ardmeanach, Island of Mull, Argyllshire, Mary M’Lean, sister of the said Christian M’Lean, Catherine M’Cullum, daughter of Duncan M’Cullum, now or lately residing in Ross, in the Island of Mull, and shire of Argyll, Margaret M’Innes of Crehick district of the Ross, Island of Mull fore said, and a great many other persons, men and women, to the number of thirty-six or thereby, whose names and designations are to the Prosecutor unknown, were thereby drowned, and were thus culpably killed by the said William Russell, Archibald M’Arthur, and Archibald M’Larty, having been taken before James Andrew Anderson, depute-bailie of the river and Frith of Clyde, did in his presence at Glasgow, on the 21st day of August 1822, each of them, emit and subscribe a declaration: Which declarations, being to be used in evidence against each of them respectively by whom the same were emitted, will be lodged in due time in the hands of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Justiciary, before which they are to be tried, that they have an opportunity of seeing the same: AT LEAST, time and place above libelled, the several persons above mentioned were culpably killed as above libelled; and the said William Russell, Archibald M’Arthur, and Archibald M’Larty, are all and each, or one or more of them, guilty thereof, actors or actor, or art or part. ALL WHICH, or part thereof being found proven by the verdict of an Assize, before the Lord Justice-General, Lord Justice-Clerk, and Lord Commissioners of Justiciary, in the Circuit Court of Justiciary to be holden by them, or by any one or more of their number, within the Criminal Court-house of Glasgow, on the 24th day of April, in the present year 1823, the said William Russell, Archibald M’Arthur, and Archibald M’Larty, OUGHT to be punished with the pains of law, to deter others from committing the like crimes in all time coming. (National Archives of Scotland AD 14/23/27) OUR WILL IS HEREFORE, &c.
The following is a copy of a posting to the sct-isleofmull-l@rootsweb.com mail list. From: "Mary M. Hoff" Subject: Re: Partial list of victims of the Mary of Iona
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 14:07:46 -0700
One of my friends found some of the 1822 articles about the sinking of the Mary of Iona. She is sending them to me, but extracted the following partial list of names and e-mailed them to me. I will post the complete list when I have it.
Mary McLean Hoff
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