LINER LOST

‘A Tobermory correspondent telegraphs: “Yesterday morning about seven o’clock, the Royal Mail steamer Labrador of the Dominion Line, which left St. John’s, New Brunswick [Canada], via Halifax on the 19th [February 1899] for Liverpool, struck on the MacKenzie Rock, about four-and-a-half miles off Skerryvore Lighthouse, and is expected to become a total wreck. The Labrador had 64 passengers on board, 21 first class (among whom was a lady named Mrs. Greenfields), 19 second class, and 24 third class. The crew of the Labrador numbered 94. AII the passengers and crew, with the exception of twelve, who were put ashore at Skerryvore Lighthouse, were safely landed at Tobermory yesterday evening by the steamer Viking, which providently hove in sight a few hours after the occurrence of the disaster. 

“The Labrador left Halifax on Tuesday 21st, and made a good passage till Sunday, when fog was encountered, and no bearings could be taken for three days. On nearing the British Isles, the fog became more dense, and Skerryvore light was mistaken, it is supposed, for Inishtrahull, [the most northerly lighthouse in Ireland]. Soundings of forty and fifty fathoms were got before the vessel struck. 

“Most of the passengers were still in bed or dressing when the alarm was given. The ship ran on the rock, and stuck fast amidships. The women and children, who numbered about twenty, were greatly excited, but the crew, taking their example from Captain Erskine who displayed extraordinary courage and self-command, behaved with great coolness. The boats were in excellent order, and were all utilised. They comprised six lifeboats and two small boats. The passengers and crew lost all their belongings. Life being in danger, everything had to be sacrificed. The captain made strong efforts to take off the mails for Moville [Donegal] and Liverpool, but owing to the imminence of the danger—for the ship might break up at any moment—they had to be abandoned. 

“The women and children were put into the first boat in charge of the fourth officer, and the other passengers in the second, under the command of the second officer. When these boats were swung clear, the rest of the crew followed in the other boats, and all were headed in the direction of Skerryvore. The Labrador carried a general cargo, a large part of which consisted of wheat and apples. As the boats left the vessel’s side, the sea was yellow with wheat, which poured from the hold. The passengers are loud in praise of Captain Erskine and his officers and crew, all of whom acted so bravely and faithfully. 

“The boats were about three-and-a-half hours at sea before the Viking could come to their rescue. The crew of this vessel, which was coming in the same route and was bound for Norway, immediately set about getting the passengers and crew of the Labrador on board, and, owing to the heavy swell running at the time, the operation was attended with considerable difficulty and some danger. No accident, however, happened to life or limb, and the rescue was most successfully carried out. 

“The gravity of the situation may be better realised when it is stated that the seas were going over the funnel of the Viking, while the Labrador, as the crew lost sight of her, was fast breaking up and sinking by the stern. 

“The Viking (Capt. Hunland) belongs to German owners, and was, fortunately for the safety of those on board the Labrador, delayed by the fog. Her small size also very materially facilitated the work of rescue. The wind which blew from the south-west was also moderate at the time. Capt. Hunland received great praise from the saloon passengers, who spoke very highly of the great precautions taken for their safety. Among those who are being mentioned—besides the two captains—as having taken a brave and conspicuous part in the arduous work of rescue, are Mr. Merritt, chief officer of the Labrador, and the chief officer of the Pacific mail steamer Empress of China, who was a saloon passenger on the Labrador. Among the cabin passengers were two Filipinos and seven gentlemen from Prince Edward Island. Most of the passengers were accommodated at Tobermory—in the Mishnish, Western Isles and Mull Hotels—while the remainder were lodged in private houses. 

“Included in the lost cargo of the Labrador were seventeen horses, comprising both carriage and heavy draught horses. 

“One of the passengers, [Felipe] Agoncillo, is the famous Filipino Envoy to the United States [who had helped to negotiate the end of the Spanish-American War the year before], who, on the outbreak of hostilities at the Philipines, fled to Canada … The Liverpool tug Great Emperor, with divers and appliances on board, was at once despatched to the assistance of the Labrador.”’ (Express and Echo, 2 March 1899, p. 4)

TIREE. VEGETARIANISM EXTRAORDINARY.

‘A correspondent at Tobermory states that the people and animals on the west side of Mull having been eating so freely of the apples, which have come ashore in enormous quantities from the wreck of the Dominion Liner Labrador, that considerable sickness now prevails. In the Tiree district, a number of pigs and young cattle that fed upon the apples have died from the surfeit of the unaccustomed food. The correspondent adds that a report is current that one of the horses from the Labrador has come ashore alive at the Dutchman’s Cap, one of the Treshnish Isles.’ (Highland News, 1 April 1899, p. 3)

Comments and information are always welcome. Dr John Holliday