Discovery of Shipwreck Highlights an Important Link with Sligo’s Past

As you will have read in our front page story, an interesting link with Sligo’s past has been discovered by Isle of Man diver, Adrian Corkill.

Adrian located a shipwreck off the south coast of the Isle of Man last year, and having made about eight subsequent dives to the location, has identified the wreck as the steamship Liverpool which struck a mine on a sailing from Liverpool to Sligo and was lost on December 19^th, 1916.

Three Sligomen were lost in the tragedy but there were quite a few survivors. Now, Adrian Corkill is anxious to hear from surviving members of the families of those who were on the Liverpool or from those who might be able to furnish him with information about the ship itself.

Anybody who might be able to help Adrian with his research can write to him at: Creg Cottage, Bradda East, Port Erin, Isle of Man, IM9 6QA.

In a letter to the Sligo Champion, Adrian outlines the details of the steamship’s ill-fated sailing on a foggy night eighty-one years ago. He writes:

Dear sir, - Late in 1996 I located a shipwreck off the south coast of the Isle of Man. This summer after many more scuba dives I have been able to positively identify her as the steamship Liverpool.

The Liverpool, 686 tons gross, was built by Messers John Jones and Sons, of Liverpool and was built to the specifications and under the supervision of Mr. H. H. West, the naval architect for the Sligo Steam Navigation Company. The triple-expansion engines, also constructed by Messers Jones and Sons, were of 1,000 indicated h.p. On her trial trip the Liverpool attained a speed of thirteen knots. The ship was lighted throughout by electricity.

The Liverpool left Liverpool on Tuesday, December 19^th, at 5.10pm, bound for Sligo with a general cargo of merchandise. The weather was a bit hazy at the time and when she reached the Bar Light Ship, off the entrance to the River Mersey, it had cleared. The sea was quite smooth. Everything went well until 11.30pm when a shock was felt, and immediately it was ascertained that the vessel had struck a mine.

The position of the vessel at this point was eleven miles south-east by south of the Chicken Light on the south coast of the Isle of Man. Captain Francis Devaney ordered the engines to be stopped and the boats to be launched. He then went forward to inspect the damage which he concluded was not enough for the vessel to be in immediate danger of sinking.

After a head count of the men on board it was quickly surmised that three men were missing. The Captain then made a second journey forward in one of the boats in order to search for the three men, but received no reply. The remainder of the crew then stood off the Liverpool in the boats, ready to return if she did not sink.

Captain Devaney then went back to the bridge to sound the steam whistle in order to attract the attentions of a steamer coming up behind. With help from the chief mate he also went forward to get the signal lamps and these were lit and hoisted aloft. Soon the vessel approached the stricken Liverpool and identified herself as the steamship Ruby of Glasgow, Captain McCawley, bound from Wales to Glasgow with a cargo of stone.

The Ruby offered to tow the Liverpool to Douglas, Isle of Man, and so a hawser was passed to the Liverpool. The Ruby then commenced towing the Liverpool stern first as the head was too deep in the water. After towing for some time the Captain of the Ruby decided to change his plan and tow the Liverpool to Belfast instead as the weather had quickly deteriorated, making progress to Douglas impossible.

A second hawser was added and towing commenced for a second period. About 5.30am the Liverpool was noticed to be taking a bigger list to starboard and Captain McCawley immediately ordered the hawsers to be cut with axes. Ten minutes later the Liverpool disappeared beneath the waves.

The survivors of the Liverpool were Captain Devaney, Sligo (master); Michael McLoughlin, Raughley (first mate); J. Moffatt, Sligo (second mate); T. Boyd, Manchester (chief engineer); J. Thomas, Rosses Point (second engineer); J. Smith, Armagh (donkeyman); D Garvey, Sligo (winchman); J. Killgallen, Rosses Point (sailor); J. McGowan, Rosses Point (sailor); A. Petrie, Sligo (sailor); J. Moffatt, Sligo (sailor); J Burns, Liverpool (fireman); J. Smith, Omeath (fireman) and W. Bannon, Omeath (fireman).

The three men who died were D. Garvey, Sligo; J. Costello, Sligo and J. P. Gillen, Rosses Point, the latter being the sole passenger on board. It was the opinion of Captain Devaney that Costello was killed by the force of the explosion, while Garvey and Gillen were drowned, being unable to get through the wreckage. The survivors were landed by the Ruby at Clydebank.

I would be delighted to hear from any reader who has further information on the Liverpool. In particular, I am seeking photographs of her, and plans if they still exist. Also I would welcome correspondence from descendents of the crew of the Liverpool when she was lost. In particular I would like to hear from descendents of Mr. J. Moffatt as a brass steering stand recovered has his name scratched into its surface in several places.