AYACANORA M108
Official No: 104111 Port Number and Year: 2nd in Milford, 1894 (M108)
- in Swansea, 1905 (SA8)
- in North Shields, 1908 (SN72)
- in Aberdeen, 1917 (A838)
Description: Steel side / beam trawler; steam screw, coal burning. Ketch rigged: foresail, mainsail, mizzen
Crew: 9 men (1894).
Registered at Milford: 20 Mar 1894
Built: 1894, by T.R. Oswald, Castle Steel Works, Castle Pill, Milford. (Yard no. 266)
Tonnage: 147.01 grt 56.1 net.
Length / breadth / depth (feet):103.5 / 21.1 / 9.8
Engine: C 2-cyl. 48 hp. Engine: Ross & Duncan, Glasgow.
1958: Diesel engine fitted.
Owners:
20 Mar 1894: As AYACANORA M108.
24 Mar 1894: Thomas Ridley Oswald, Castle Hall, Castle Pill, Milford.
Managing owner.
23 Oct 1905: Thomas William Islay Young, Swansea. (Manager, Metropolitan Bank.)
28 Oct 1905: As SA8.
3 Nov 1905: The Rhondda Fishing Co. Ltd., South Dock Basin, Swansea.
Manager: Crawford Heron. (Same address.)
As SN72
17 Mar 1908: William Purdy, North Shields.
19 Mar 1913: Purdy Steam Fishing Co., North Shields.
Manager: William Purdy.
19 Sep 1916: Peter Walker, Aberdeen.
04 Jul 1917: As A838
As PUNTA BERMEJA
23 Mar 1920: Jose Monis Garcia, Huelva, Spain.
1943: Felix G Ruiz, Huelva, Spain.
1949: As CASTIPURITAS
Landed at Milford: 19 Mar 1894 - 27 Aug 1903
Skippers:
John Chamberlain Cert. 0889, age 40, born Happisburgh, residing Robert St., Milford; signed on 24 Mar 1894.
Fred Hardisty 1891, 27, Barton on Humber, 58 Robert St., Milford; 25 May 1894; ?? 1896.
C. J. Wildridge 1847, 30, Hull, Manchester Sq., Milford; 3 Jul 1895; 1 Jul 1896; 1 Jan 1898.
J. Clark 612, 42, Grimsby, - ; 9 Jun 1898.
H. Glansford 1660, 30, Hull, - ; 7 Jul 1898
Thomas Leggett 4759, 26, Gorleston, - ; 12 Jul 1898
J. Kilby 1427, 36, Hull, - ; 23 Jul 1898
F. Dollin 841, 42, Lyme Regis, - ; 2 Dec 1898
John Johnson 2459, 34, Nottingham, 8 Jubilee Tce., Milford, 24 Jan, 29 Jul 1900; 7 Jan 1901
C. Fears 2279, 39, Hull, St.Ann's Rd., Hakin; 9 Jul 00
A. Abbey -, 36, Oundle, - ; 17 Jan 1901
Robert Webb 5757, 32, Scarborough, Hakin; 4 Feb, 17 Jul 1901
L. Fitzclark 2695, 35, Kent, - ; 1 Sep 1901
J. W. Peters 3915, 31, Hull, Greville Rd., Milford ; 20 Dec 1901; 15 Jan 1902
H. Rostron 5429, 30, Manchester, - ; 9 May 1902; 17 Dec 1903
E. Walker 3445. 38, Brighton, 29 Jun 1902
W. T. Smith 5908, 25, Bexhill,44 Lynton Tce., Port Tenant, Swansea; 11 Jun, 26 Jul 1903; 22 Mar 1904
Edwin Cox 4408, 34, Boston, - ; 21 Aug 1903
H. Ragworth 3687, 34, Leeds, - ; 5 Dec 1903
Henry Reynolds 05335, 48, London, Brookfield House Priory Rd., Milford; 26 Jan 1904
H. Ellis 1908, 34, Plymouth, - ; 9 Feb, 3 Dec 1904
Edgar Garnham 1571, 38, Sittingbourne, 12, Kensington Tce., Swansea; 9 May, 20 May 1904
S. Richards 6941, 24, Neath, - ; 27 Jul, 27 Oct 1904
W. Blackler 1890, 30, Berehaven, - ; 28 Dec 1904
Notes:
Ayacanora is the name of a Caribbean Indian maiden in the novel "Westward Ho!" (1885) by Charles Kingsley.
22 Aug 1894: Auction by the order of the Mortgagee at Lord Nelson Hotel.
23 Nov 1894: Towed the disabled S.S. CHIGAGO (2729g/1885) 90 miles into Queenstown Ireland. [See story below.]
18 Jul - 21 Aug 1903: Laid up.
16 Mar 1915: Rescued twenty one crew members from the S. S. FINGAL (1548g/1894) of Leith after she foundered of Coquet Island, Northumberland (following a submarine attack) and landed them at North Shields. (Six crew members, including a stewardess, were drowned.)
29 May 1917: Requisitioned as Fishery Reserve Vessel.
1918: Returned to Owners.
1 Sep 1978: Broken up in Vigo, Spain.
[Corrections and additions kindly supplied by Andrew Hall.]
Cert. Cancelled & Milford Registry Closed: 23 Oct 1905. Vessel transferred to the port of Swansea.
Accidents and Incidents
Log book entries:
20.11.1894
At 11.30 p.m. we saw a blue light, steamed to it and found it to be the steamer 'Chicago' disabled. Spoke to him at 12.30. He wanted towing to Queenstown. Took his wire hawser, started to tow at 3 a.m. 21st. Weather fine , light wind WSW. Took Pilot at Roches Point at 10.30 p.m. and had both ships safely anchored at 12 p.m.
F. Hardisty (Skipper)
18.02.1896
North Quay, Milford Dock.
Run into by the steam trawler 'Camellia' of the port of Milford, rendering [damage to ?] rail and bulwarks and stanchions. Engines of the 'Camellia' refusing to go astern when telegraph was rung.
J. Wildridge (Skipper)
11.03.1898
Milford Docks.
W.O. Pulford, age 20 (trimmer), lived in Saundersfoot. Burnt whilst engaged in cleaning furnace fire, through falling on to the clinkers in a fit, on stokehold plates.
07.08.1898
Bishops Rocks.
Stern twisted, striking the rocks, South Bishops, during dense fog.
J. Kilby (Skipper)
11.12.1898
On the 11th inst. we struck schooner 'Cicely' of Waterford doing her damage, her bowsprit and fiddle head being damaged, not hurt ourselves.
D. Dollin (Skipper)
05.04.1900
22 miles west by north of [?]
Steered the steam trawler 'Pembroke Castle' with broken rudder from 4 p.m. on the 5th to 1.30 p.m. on the 7th April 1900
J. Johnson (Skipper)
31.08.1901
140 miles W by S of St. Ann's Head.
J. Johnson, age 36, Skipper, born Nottingham, living at Milford. Leg jammed between warp & winch cylinder.
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From the Western Mail of Friday 23rd November 1894:
TIMELY HELP BY A MILFORD TRAWLER
A Lloyd's telegram says the steamer Chicago, which had been reported spoken disabled, with crank shaft broken, was picked up on Tuesday last about 90 miles S.W. of Queenstown by the steam trawler Ayacanora, of Milford, and towed into Queenstown on Thursday.
From the Belfast Newsletter of Friday 23rd November 1894:
THE DISABLED STEAMER CHICAGO
______________
SPECIAL TELEGRAM
QUEENSTOWN, THURSDAY - The Wilson Line steamer Chicago, 1,750 tons, in command of Captain Hadaway, which has been reported disabled in the Atlantic, was towed into the harbour this morning by the little steam trawler Ayacanora, which is only 25 tons and 21 horse power [sic]. This small steam fishing vessel, which belongs to Milford, has rendered valuable salvage services by towing her big prize to a safe anchorage inside the harbour. The Ayacanora fell in with the Chicago yesterday morning seventy miles south by east of Roche's Point, and by skilful seamanship and able management towed her to Queenstown. The disabled steamer left Newcastle-on-Tyne with a general cargo for New York on the 4th inst. Soon afterwards she encountered terrific weather, and on the 10th, in lat. 47.9 north, long. 16.3 west, during a hurricane the engines commenced to race, when it was discovered that her crank shaft was broken, which completely disabled her. Sail was at once made, and a course shaped for the Irish coast. For six days little progress was made, the ship being tossed about helplessly by the Atlantic waves until the steamer Alecto, belonging to the same company, came to her assistance, but soon after the towing hawsers were connected they parted three times through the boisterous state of the weather, and the Alecto abandoned her. A favourable wind to take the Chicago to Queenstown then sprung up, and fair progress was made until the trawler Ayacanora picked her up and towed her, as already stated, to the harbour.
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From the Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 16th March 1898:
SERIOUS BURNING ACCIDENT AT MILFORD HAVEN.
A serious accident occurred on board the S.S. Ayacanora now lying in Milford Haven on Friday morning last. William Charles Pulford the fireman was cleaning out the hot cinders and ashes from the fire, previous to cleaning the engines, when he fell in. Some of the sailors attracted by his cries ran to his assistance and rescued him. They immediately conveyed him to the Haverfordwest Infirmary where his wounds were promptly dressed. It was found that he was severely burnt about the right side of his face and his right hand and arm. He was detained.
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From the Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 27th September 1899:
Seaman Suffocated at Milford.
At the Great Eastern Hotel, Hakin, on Monday, the coroner, Mr H. J. E. Price, held an inquest on the body of John Whitworth, a seaman, 23 years of age, who was found suffocated in the forecastle of the trawler Ayacanora early on Sunday morning.
William Manby said he was a seaman on the same trawler as the deceased was engaged upon. About 20 minutes to 11 o'clock on Saturday night he was with the deceased in Mr Humphries' potato shop. He appeared then all right and was sober. Soon after deceased left witness to go on board the trawler, where he slept, and that was the last he saw of him alive. On Sunday about 2.20 he went on board, but could not see the deceased. He went to the forecastle, and found the door shut. On opening it he found the cabin full of smoke. Witness managed to get into the place and found the deceased lying at the bottom of the ladder. The smell was of lamp smoke, but the lamp was out and dry of oil. Deceased was the only person who slept on board. He got the deceased out of the place and tried to revive him.
Thomas Lloyd Pulford, chief engineer on the trawler on which deceased was engaged, said he first knew the deceased in July last, he was 23 years of age in that month. He went on board on Sunday and saw the unfortunate young man. Everything possible was done to restore him.
Dr. Threnfall stated that he was called about 2.30 on Sunday to see the deceased. He found him insensible and hardly breathing. He performed artificial respiration, but the man died about 9.30 from suffocation from the fumes of the lamp.
The Jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony.
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From the Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 11th April 1900:
TOWED IN.—The trawler Pembroke Castle has been towed into Milford Haven by the Ayacanora from Belle Isle in the Bay of Biscay, its rudder having been broken.
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From The Cambrian of Friday, 2nd September 1904
Swansea Steam Trawlers Put Up
At the Hotel Metropole, Swansea, on Tuesday, Messrs. Leeder and Sons offered, by order of the mortgagees, a fleet of five steam trawlers, the property of Mr. Oswald, bankrupt, namely the Brazilian, Sea Swallow, Sea Gull, Ayacanora, and Birda. The first four had been working in the Swansea fish trade up to date of sale. The Birda needed repairs.
There was no bid for the fleet in one lot. Mr. Leeder asked for a bid over £6,000, saying they had an offer, but were just carrying out their engagement to offer the boats by public auction. Still there was no bid, and the same condition prevailed when the boats were offered separately.
Last of all the trawling smack Reaper, 63 feet in length, built at Brixham in 1883, was offered. Bids began at £100, and the boat was sold to Mr. W. H. Smith and Co., Goole and Hull, for £150.
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From the Cardiff Times of Saturday 25th January 1908:
ILLEGAL TRAWLING.
A Fishguard Bay Case.
Thomas Saddler, ex-skipper of the steam trawler Ayacanora, now belonging to the Castle Line of trawlers, Swansea, was summoned by the Milford Haven Sea Fisheries district officer (Captain W. Thomas) for trawling within the proscribed limits in Fishguard Bay on August 3rd last.
Mr W. Davies George, solicitor, and clerk to the Pembrokeshire County Council, prosecuted on behalf of the fisheries Committee, and stated that defendant mistook the patrol boat Maritana for a pleasure yacht bound for Aberystwyth, and continued to trawl until the Maritana was close up. Defendant admitted to Captain Thomas that he was doing wrong, but the weather had been very bad, and his vessel was making water rather badly. Defendant was fined £1O and £4 10s costs.
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