WRECK OF THE GRASSMERE, from GLASGOW 1863 (Invercargill Times February 22nd 1864, p2 c1 We insert the following communication relative to the wreck of the Grassmere. Some particulars respecting the wreck of the Grassmere may be interesting to our readers. The letter from which they are selected was written by one of the cabin passengers and dated Glasgow 24th December 1863.
We left Greenock on the 14th and went to Lamlash Bay. On the morning of the 17th we left Lamlash Bay all in good spirits. We struck on the ship rock, off Balaferries Point at fifteen minuets past seven o’clock at night. It was a clear moonlight and no storm. We were about a mile from land, we had a fine fresh breeze during the day, but it calmed down in the evening., so that all lives were saved. Had it been stormy I believe not a soul could be saved.
We thought the Captain to be a clever seaman, the Captain was sitting at his tea when she gave the crash on the rock. He was up in an instant and put her under full canvas, to see and get her off. Fortunately he did not manage it, she was worse damaged than he thought. Had he got her off, all must have perished.
The Carpenter came aft and whispered to the Captain that she was leaking very fast, already there were three feet water in the hold. Several signal guns were fired and the Coastguard boats came to the rescue. The ships boats also were lowered, the women and children were landed first. We saved just what was on our backs, also one of the cabin gentleman saved small boxes that were in our berths. I had my slippers on, a fine new pair of chamois leather lined with fur, I could not get a dry pair of stockings.
About midnight we went to a farmhouse, I put off my stockings, wrung them and dried them a little. I then put them and my slippers to dry, and went down to the shore to see if anything belonging to us would turn up. When I came back my slippers were off, luckily I had my purse with me.
One baby died of bronchitis and another in the steerage was very poorly. All the adults are well except two, one of the Misses Fullerton and her brother. The ship is said to be heavily insured.
I am not too sure this ship or its passengers actually got to Bluff, but I am endeavouring to find out all that I can and will make any changes to this page as I learn more.
NAME OTHER INFO
Mary CHARMICHEAL assisted
Isabella GARROW assisted
Helen HUNTER assisted
Peter JARDINE assisted
Isabella JARDINE assisted
Catherine LAING assisted
George MANN assisted
Rachel MANN
Euphimia McINTYRE assisted
William McLEOD assisted
Isabella McLEOD
Annie McLEOD
Margaret McLEOD
Allan McLEOD
Jessie McLEOD
Helen McLEOD
Mary McLEOD
Robert REID assisted
Elsie REID
George ROBERTS assisted
Emily ROBERTS
Alexander ROBERTSON assisted
Janet ROBERTSON
John RUSSELL assisted
John W. SMITH assisted
Margaret THOMSON assisted
Andrew SCOTT nominated
James BURNS nominated
Andrew BURNS
Alexander BURNS
George BURNS
Jane BURNS
Micheal CAHILL nominated
William CHAPMAN nominated
Elizabeth CHAPMAN
Catherine CHAPMAN
Robert CHAPMAN
Mary Ann CHAPMAN
Elspet CRUIKSHANKS nominated
Ann DEMPSTER nominated
Elizabeth DUNCAN nominated
John FAIRWEATHER nominated
Janet FAIRWEATHER
Helen FAIRWEATHER
Mary FAIRWEATHER
Swean FAIRWEATHER
Isabella FAIRWEATHER
David FAIRWEATHER
Jane FAIRWEATHER
James FORBES nominated
Duncan FULLERTON nominated
Catherine FULLERTON
John FRASER nominated
Margaret FRASER
Catherine FRASER
Alexander FRASER
Kenneth FRASER
Margaret FRASER
Peter GILFEDDEN nominated
Honour HUGHES nominated
James LATIMER nominated
Adam LITTLE nominated
Ann LITTLE
William MARTIN nominated
Maria MARTIN
Mary MARTIN
Robert MARTIN
Henry MARTIN
Thomas MARTIN
George MARTIN
Emily MARTIN
Thomas MORTON nominated
Patrick MURPHY nominated
Micheal MURRAY nominated
John McKAY nominated
John McRAE nominated
Roderick McLEAY nominated
Charls MULRYAN nominated
James O'FLAHERTY nominated
Hannah O'FLAHERTY
John WHITEFIELD nominated
Donald McLEAN assisted
Flora McLEAN assisted
Isabella McLEAN assisted
Peter McLEAN assisted
John McLEAN assisted
Elizabeth McLEAN assisted
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"Grassmere"
List of Passengers from Greenock to Bluff on ship Grassmere .
