sailor

The Bosun's Watch



S.T. Chindwin H34


Technical
Official Number 92123
Yard Number 21
Launched December 03 1887
Registered December 31 1887
Gross Tonnage127
Net Tonnage59
Length100 ft
Breadth20.1 ft
Engine45 hp T.3-cyl by Charles D. Holmes & Co Ltd, Hull
Speed10 knots
Built byCook, Welton & Gemmell, Hull, 1887
OwnerGeorge Beeching & Co, Hull
History
December 03 1887 Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Hull (Yd.No.21) for George Beeching, Hull & Thomas Kelsall, Manchester as CHINDWIN (H34).
December 31 1887Completed.
1895Sold to George Beeching & Co, Hull and transferred to Fleetwood.
1895Sold to George Webster & Co, Glasgow.
November 31 1895Sailed Fleetwood for grounds off Colonsay (Sk. Glenton).
December 06 1895Homeward from West of Scotland grounds in gale force winds and snow storm lost her position and stranded in Pan Bay 6 miles south of Corsewell Point, Rinns of Galloway.
December 07 1895With great difficulty all nine crew got ashore.
December 08 1895Survivors discovered and taken to nearby farm at Garnock.
1896Wreck sold to Mr Garscadden, Glasgow and in summer months stripped and part demolished in situ.
NotesCHINDWIN was returning from the fishing grounds off Colonsay when she was hit by gale force winds and heavy, driving snow in the North Channel. This reduced visibility to such an extent that she became lost and eventually stranded in Pan Bay, 6 miles to the south of Corsewall Point and 300 yards from the wreck of the steamer STRATHSPEY.
Despite going full astern, the vessel was stuck fast and refused to budge as huge waves pounded her. The nine crew fired off distress rockets and then climbed into the rigging to escape the seas. They stayed there until daybreak despite the freezing temperatures then decided that their only chance was to abandon her. Tying a lump of timber to a rope they floated it ashore until it became snagged between 2 large rocks. The lightest member of the crew scrambled across the gap and secured the rope more securely so the rest of the crew could drag themselves ashore.
Once they got ashore, however, it wasn't over. They then had to scale sheer cliffs covered in snow and ice to each the open expanse of Galdenoch Moor. By this time they were suffering from cold and frostbite but they staggered and crawled for 5 hours through deep snow as they tried to find shelter. Around 04:00 they came across a manure heap and managed to light a fire with the stalks of straw.
The second engineer was so cold and his feet numbed by frostbite that he didn''t realise that his right foot was in the fire and 2 toes completely charred. The survivors were discovered at daybreak by a local shepherd and taken to Miekle Galdenoch Farm where they were cared for.
CHINDWIN was owned by George Webster and Co of Glasgow and was sold to Mr. Garscadden, also of Glasgow, who carried out extensive salvage work during the summer months of 1896.