GOLDFINDER GY526

Official No:  108500     Port and Year:  Grimsby, 1898

Description: Steel side trawler; coal fired, steam screw.

Crew:

Built: by Cochrane & Cooper, Beverley, in 1898.  (Yard no. 194)

Tonnage:   162 grt  64 net

Length / breadth / depth (feet): 100 / 20.6 / 11

Engine: T 3-Cyl; 45 rhp; by Amos & Smith, Hull

Owners:   Feb 1898: Wilkin & North, Grimsby   Oct 1903: H. Wilkin, Grimsby   Apr 1904: John Setterfield, Docks, Milford Owner / Skipper

Landed at Milford: 28 Feb 1900 - 9 Mar 1908

Skippers: 1900 : Cobley; Hastings; Kilby; Hastings. 1901: Hastings; Trott; Leader; Huddlestone; Walker; Dove 1902: Dove; George Horth 1903: Dove; Mingby; Davies; Kingston; Bennett 1904: Hastings; Woodgate; Screech; Dove; John Setterfield 1905: Setterfield 1906: Setterfield

Notes: 20 Mar 1908: Foundered 12 N of Godrevy Island, St. Ives.  Crew rescued by the Brixham trawler SUPREME.  [See below.]

 Accidents and Incidents:

From the Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 3rd October 1906:

 

    John Setterfield, master of the steam trawler "Goldfinder", and William Frensham, master of the steam trawler "Alpha", were summoned for entering Milford Docks abreast in contravention of the Bye-laws.  Defendants denied the offence.

    Captain James said the previous Monday night about half past eight 0'clock, the boats of which the defendants were in charge of, entered the docks nearly abreast.  Some dozen steam trawlers were outside, and defendants' boasts were coming in at a good speed.  Fearing that one of the boats might have turned over into the gates, he left them alone.  He afterwards noticed that the "Alpha" was about ten feet ahead of the other vessel, but for all practical purposes they were abreast. There was no accident, but this was due more to good luck than good management.  Skippers did not seem to realise that the Dock Gates were afloat like a ship.

    The Clerk asked Captain James why he said "practically abreast".  Captain James replied that if one vessel was overtaking the other lapping by ten feet, they were abreast.

    Mr. J. Ll. Davies:―  They both might think they had a perfect right to go through first?

    Captain James:― Perhaps outside, the other might have been two lengths ahead.

    Skipper Setterfield said that Captain James' evidence was not true.  The "Fishergate" was the boat that did all the disturbance, and the skipper of her was not summonsed.  It was mentioned that summons had not yet been served.

    The Clerk asked if there was any object in getting in first.

    Captain James:― No object at all.  He asked the Bench to impose a penalty in this case.

    Skipper Frensham:― We were several lengths ahead of any vessel in the Channel.

    The Clerk:― The offence is not in the Channel.

    Skipper Frensham:― The rule is, first in the Channel, first into the docks.

    Defendants admitted that the vessels were abreast in the Docks' entrance, and a fine of £2 each and costs was imposed.

 

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From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 20th March 1908, transcribed in Les Jones Archive:

The steam trawler Goldfinder, manned by Captain John Setterfield (who was also the owner) and a crew of 8 men, was working 12 miles north of Godrevy Island, St.Ives, Cornwall, on Saturday when she foundered.  According to the opinion of the skipper, pulling in the fishing trawl, the iron on its beam fouled and pierced the Goldfinder's bottom, unknown to those on board.  At all events, preparations were being made to shoot the trawl again when the engineer went below and found the trawler half full of water.  Fishing a little way off was the Brixham trawler Supreme, and seeing the Goldfinder in trouble, she bore down.  Leaving the trawler as quickly as possible, the crew of the Goldfinder entered their small boat and pulled to the Supreme, where they found safety.  They were landed in St.Ives and returned to Milford on Monday.

 

 

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