A wreck at Tiree

By on Nov 3, 2019 in Clyde River and Firth | 0 comments

On the night of Friday, February 13, 1931, the Finnish steamship Malve lost her bearings between Coll and Tiree. There was poor visibility with gale-force winds and driving snow she, at low tide, she went aground on rocks at Balephetrish Bay on the north coast of Tiree. Initial reports were confused with indications that four men stranded on board were lost, but this report turned out to be incorrect and all were saved.

“Finnish ship aground.—S.O.S. Calls from Tiree. On Saturday the Finnish steamer Malve, 2412 tons register, stranded on Tiree, two miles southwest of Gunna Sound. Being fitted with wireless she sent out messages for assistance which were picked up by the Malin Head station and relayed to Ballycastle life saving station and Tobermory. The Portrush and Campbeltown lifeboat stations were informed to hold themselves in readiness if required. A later message said the ship would probably float at high water. This is a further instance of the urgent necessity for installing a lifeboat station at Tobermory, and it is the fourth time shipping has been in difficulties since Christmas in this district. The nearest lifeboats are at Campbeltown and Stornoway, 200 miles apart. The Malve is loaded with timber from the Baltic for Manchester via Garston. She is a steel steamer, built at Port Arthur, Ontario, in 1917, and is owned by L.G.W. Boxberg, Helsingfors.

“A Lloyd’s message yesterday stated that four men were still on board the Malve. The captain of the British trawler River Clyde, standing by, said he thought it was impossible for them to leave by boat, and that a lifeboat from the shore failed to reach them. The River Clyde had shifted anchor for her own safely.

“The German salvage steamer Seefalke reported at 3.30 p.m. yesterday that she had passed Conigsbeg on her way to assist the Finnish steamer Malve (Says Lloyds.)”—Scotsman, February 16, 1931

More detail and confusion comes from the Dundee papers.

“Shipwreck off Scottish coast feared loss of four lives.—Four men are feared to have been lost in a shipwreck off the island of Tiree, on the West Coast of Scotland. A trawler is standing by trying to discover what has happened to them. The remainder of the crew escaped in two lifeboats, and are staying at farmhouse.

“First SOS.—The 4000 ton Finnish steamer Malve, bound for Manchester with a cargo of wood pulp and timber, ran on the rocks at Tiree in the early hours of the morning. The wireless operator of the Fleetwood trawler Dhoon first received an SOS from the Malve. The trawler was then fishing 10 miles away. For four hours wireless communication was maintained, but until he had instructions from the owners and underwriters the Finnish captain refused to accept the offer of towage to Tobermory. Skipper A.U. Grant, of the Dhoon, however, decided to haul in his nets and steam to the scene, meanwhile informing the trawler Caldew, of Fleetwood, of the situation. The Caldew was to the north of Tiree, and from opposite direction these trawlers steamed to the rescue.

“Refused Help.—They reached the stranded vessel and anchored a short distance away. For two hours, however, it is stated, the Finnish captain would accept no assistance, as he thought he could refloat at high water. The Dhoon and Caldew left for Fleetwood, and on their way back they learned by wireless that the Malve had refloated but when she got into deep water she rapidly filled, and her engines and dynamos were put out of action.

“At this point the trawler, River Clyde, also of Fleetwood, arrived in response to further S.0.S., but all except four of the steamer’s crew had reached shore. The trawler attempted to hold the bigger steamer from drifting on the rocks, but she was powerless and the Malve now lies stranded, with heavy seas breaking over her. In spite of all efforts at signalling the River Clyde found no signs of life on board.

“Captain Saved.—Then came Lloyds message—“Malve abandoned; captain and two men safely ashore in their own lifeboat.” Later, Lloyds’ agent at Malin Head (North Ireland) said the River Clyde had sent a wireless message that it was steaming at full speed for Tiree to pick up lifesaving apparatus and live-saving company in order to save the remainder of the crew of the stricken ship. The same agent added that the Portrush lifeboat was also on its way to the scene of the accident. Apparently the wireless operator is still on board the Malve, to account for the River Clyde’s action.”—Dundee Evening Telegraph, February 17, 1931

“Steamer wrecked in Hebrides.—Fears for crew unfounded.—The fear that four lives were lost with the sinking in the Inner Hebrides of the Finnish steamer Malve was proved to be unfounded by the arrival at Oban of Capt. Guimer and his crew of 22 men on the Western Isles mail boat Lochearn. The Malve crashed on the rocks on the western shore of the island of Tiree last Friday, and during the week-end became a total wreck. Most of the crew scrambled ashore when the vessel first struck ground, and the captain and three men were understood to have remained aboard. Three trawlers came to the rescue, but they reported that offers of assistance were refused, although wireless communication was maintained. The captain apparently abandoned the boat unknown to the trawlers which were in the vicinity, and when the Malve was next seen to be under water it was concluded that the four men had been thrown into the mountainous seas and drowned.

“Reached Island.—There appeared to be no sign of life, and the trawler River Clyde, of Fleetwood, stood by in an endeavour to render assistance if necessary. The whole of the crew of the Malve, however, were apparently able safely to reach the island of Tiree, and there were attended by the local agent of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Association. On their arrival at Oban it was reported that three of the crew were slightly injured, but all were safe and sound. They spoke well of the hospitality of the Tiree islanders. The shipwrecked men later left for Leith, from which port they will proceed home.”—Dundee Evening Telegraph, February 19, 1931

The salvage operations proved to be difficult. The spot is very exposed to storms and coast is rocky. No les than three vessels involved in the salvage also perished. Again, fortunately without loss of life.

“While engaged taking part of large cargo of wood off the Finnish steamer Malve, which foundered on the rocky coast of Tyree, Argyllshire, the Belfast salvage steamer Glenlyon went ashore alongside her and was wrecked. The crew were taken off by a small boat.”—Western Times, April 24, 1931

On May 10, the Belfast tug Milewater, owned by Macausland of Belfast and making her way to the wreck, went ashore on the Mull of Oa. At the end of the summer, the third vessel involved in salvage, the Saint Anthony, also owned by Macausland of Belfast, sprang a leak at the site and was lost. The Saint Anthony was a steel steamer of 115 tons gross register, and was built in Greenock in 1899. I think the ship pictured next to the wreck is the Saint Anthony.

“Salvage ship founders—Sprang a Leak at a Wreck—While engaged salving the cargo consisting of wood pulp, timber, and machinery, from the Russian steamer Malve , wrecked at Ballyphetrish Bay, Tiree, early in February, the steam lighter Saint Anthony, of Belfast, sprang a leak. Despite the efforts of the crew, the pumps failed to keep her afloat, and she sank into deep water, and is entirely submerged. She is lying between two reefs, which make it impossible to raise her. The skipper, Captain Watson, and the chief engineer are remaining in Tiree waiting the arrival of the owner, Mr Patrick Macausland, Queen’s Road , Belfast. The remainder of the crew, five in number, arrived per the inner island mail steamer Lochearn, and are proceeding from Oban to their homes in Belfast.

“Reached shore as she foundered.—The mate, Mr Sam Brown, recounting his experiences, said it was miraculous no injury or loss of life took place when they were forced to take to the small boat, reaching the shore just before she foundered. The crew were loud in their praise of the hospitality and kindness shown them in their plight, by the Tiree people, mentioning specially Mr Kenneth Mackenzie, local representative for the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society. Comment is being made on the fact that the loss of the Saint Anthony makes the third shipwreck in connection with salvage operations of the cargo of the Malve.

“In the early spring, the Glenlyon, while proceeding to the wreck, was lost at the Island of Coll; later on, the Milewater, another Irish steamer on the same errand, was wrecked at Mull of Oa, Islay. Since the beginning of the summer the Saint Anthony took several cargoes of pulp and timber from the Malve, and they were hopeful of clearing her before the winter set in.

Ballyphetrish Bay lies exposed to the fury of the Atlantic, and salvage work can only be done in fine weather.”—Scotsman, September 7, 1931

“Salvage ship sinks.—Springs Leak While Working at Tiree.—The salvage steamer Saint Anthony, of Belfast, which has been working at the Finnish steamer Malve, which was wrecked in Balephetrish Bay, Tiree, last winter, has herself been sunk close to the wrecked vessel. The Saint Anthony had taken several cargoes of timber and wood pulp off the Malve, and last Wedneday, while taking off a considerable quantity of machinery, she sprang a leak alongside. Loading operations were immediately suspended and every effort made to cope with the inrush of water, but the vessel sank and the entire crew took to the lifeboat. The Saint Anthony now lies completely submerged between dangerous reefs. The crew proceeded home by the mail steamer Lochearn, Captain Watson and the chief engineer only staying behind in Tiree. The Saint Anthony is a steel vessel of 115 tons, built at Greenock in 1899, and owned by Mr P. Macausland, Belfast.”—Dundee Evening Telegraph, September 7, 1931

Peter Moir and Ian Crawford, “Argyll Shipwrecks,” Moir Crawford, Wemyss bay, 1994

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