Schooner "Maria" - 18 Jan 1868

On January 18th the lifeboat went to the aid of the schooner "Maria" of Newport, Monmouthshire which had been dismasted and was dragging her anchors at Derbyhaven during a severe southwesterly gale. The schooner was some 72 tons register and bound for Barrow from Cork with a cargo of prop wood for use in the mines; in charge was Capt. James Jones. They had put in for shelter on the 17th, but the SW gale did not abate and the following day she started to drag anchors. The crew was forced to cut away the masts in an attempt to stop her dragging further. However this failed and at 5 o'clock on the 18th a messenger was sent from Derbyhaven to Castletown to summon the Lifeboat. The lifeboat was quickly hauled to Derbyhaven by strong horses at ' a swift gallop' and launched. She took off the master, a crewman and 3 boys, who were by now much exhausted. The wind afterwards considerably moderated and the schooner was brought into Derbyhaven the following day for repairs.

The journal of the RNLI at the time, 'The Lifeboat' noted ' this was the first service of this lifeboat, which had shortly before superseded an older one, and it was most satisfactorily performed.'

Schooner "Vision" - 4 Dec 1868

On Friday, 4th December, during a heavy gale from the southwest, the schooner "Vision" went aground on the rocks at Strand Hall, Carrick Bay. At noon she had been observed by two officers of the Castletown Volunteer Life Brigade trying to beat out of the Carrick Bay, at that time she was nearly ashore at Scarlett but managed to stand westward and cleared the shore. But she bore down on the unbeaconed Carrick Rock and they were forced to wear the vessel and run for the beach under Kentraugh millstream where she came to anchor just outside the surf braking on the shore. By this time one of the volunteers had gone for the assistance of the Rocket Brigade and the Castletown Lifeboat and ropes were obtained from Kentraugh lest the crew should attempt landing in their small boat.

After half an hour the Rocket Brigade were seen coming over Fishers Hill and soon after the lifeboat arrived at Poolvaish. The first rocket fell short of the breakers. The vessel continued to drag her anchors towards the leeshore. The second attempt was fifty yards nearer. At 12.45 the lifeboat was launched with a full crew of 13 to the cheers of hundreds of spectators and pulled slowly but steadily through the heavy breaking surf. A third rocket fell short and a fourth fell fifteen feet short of her stern. The lifeboat had now quickly reached the vessel and began to veer down on her anchor hawser. As the Lifeboat came alongside the crew of five leapt into her and then the lifeboat rowed for Port St Mary to land those they rescued rather than risk beaching in the raging surf. This was no easy matter has she shipped several large waves on the way. The lifeboat finally arrived at 3.15 p.m. and was received by a large number of spectators who rapidly hauled the lifeboat out.

The lifeboat was recovered on to her carriage at Port St Mary and was hauled back to Castletown. On passing Kentraugh, E M Gawne invited the lifeboat crew in to a sumptuous dinner and also awarded the crew £ 2 and a seat home in carriages as a small acknowledgement of their services.

The "Vision" turned out to be from Drogheda bound form her homeport to Garston on the Mersey with a cargo of prop wood. She was some 65 tons registered and under the command of Joseph Leech.

However, the inadequacies of communications were to mar the success of that afternoon. That evening another schooner was driven ashore at Langness with the loss of all hands.

The vessel was the "J T A " of Britonferry, Neath crewed by six or seven hands with a cargo of timber and went ashore on Langness at Dreswick Point. This was the same place at which the iron clipper "James Crossfield" was lost with 33 lives and the "Colonist" with the loss of 10 lives; all three losses occurring within a period of only two years.

The newspapers voiced the common concern that it was a necessity that a lighthouse should be built at this point to warn shipping off and signalling to communicate distress to Castletown and danger to passing shipping.

The Mona's Herald voiced the concern with 'Pity it is that while the said Board [ of Trade ] furnish rocket apparatus and philanthropic private individuals make magnificent gifts of lifeboats, and men are ready and anxious to work them, both when necessary lie idle while those they intend to save are drowning in despair, because £50 per annum to pay a signalman at Langness, and the same at Castletown ( for there is no Coast Guard ) cannot be raised. Will no private individuals contribute to provide these, & make the abundant means of saving shipwrecked sailors lives available ?'

Smack "Amelia" - 16 Oct 1868

On the 16th October during a NNW gale the smack "Amelia" was observed lying to anchor in a dangerous position under Langness Point with her jib blown away whilst trying to make harbour. It was considered that she would strike rocks and be broken up at low water so the Lifeboat was launched to take off her crew of two, who were safely landed. The gale later moderated and the wind shifted to the north taking the vessel out of danger. The smack was brought safely into harbour the following day.

Schooner "Ellen Ann"

On the 28th March 1872, a schooner the " Ellen Ann", of Caermarthen was en route to Irvine, Scotland when she was driven ashore at the quarries at Poyllvaash, Scarlett before a SSW gale. The Rocket Brigade and Lifeboat were both called out. The vessel was lying some 20 to 30 yards from the shore. The Lifeboat was unable to approach. The Rocket Brigade fired a rocket with a line that fell across the decks of the stricken vessel. The crew of four was safely brought ashore by breeches buoy.

Later that same week, the Lifeboat was prepared for launching when a vessel, the "Hebe" struck rocks at the tip of Langness. A small shore boat put out to render assistance and the services of the Lifeboat were stood down.

Schooner "Annie Geldert"

On the 29th November 1872 she was on hand along with the Rocket Brigade when the schooner "Annie Geldert" went aground in the dark at the Fort Island end of Langness. The schooner foundered close to the rocks after striking them in the dark. Due to calm weather the crew were able to reach the shore without the assistance of the Lifeboat.

Schooner "Gleaner" of Preston

Castletown Lifeboats' next effective service was on Sunday, 12th November 1876 to the schooner "Gleaner" of Preston, 61 tons registered, John Rimmer, master. She had left Chester at seven o'clock the previous day with a cargo of bricks bound for Douglas. She had proceeded happily until the Saturday evening when she was off the Bahama lightship when the master found he was unable to reach for Douglas due to the NE gale which had blown up. During the night her sails were blown away and she became unmanageable and was driven southwesterly and ran ashore on the rocks at Knockrushen.

At noon on the Sunday when the gale was at its height, an alarm was spread through Castletown that a vessel was in distress and the Coxswain at once mustered his crew and proceeded, along with the Rocket Brigade under the command of the Rev. E Farrier. The Rocket Brigade arrived and fired two rockets that fell short. The lifeboat was launched into the heavy seas and succeeded in reaching the vessel and taking off the crew of three. One of the crew was found to be badly injured after being struck by a spar when the sails were blown away.

Later that evening a number of Castletown men set to work and managed to refloat the schooner and moor it in the comparative safety of Brown's harbour, Scarlett. During this gale several vessels were damaged whilst lying in Douglas harbour and one schooner was sunk when a smack broke free and drifted at speed into it.

Barque "Junak" and Schooners "Jilt", "Dart" and "Hart" - 28 May 1877

On Monday 28 May , during a strong southwesterly gale the Austrian barque "Junak" was driven ashore on the sandy beach in Castletown Bay between Hango Hill and the Big Celler. Her crew of fourteen was rescued at 1 am by the lifeboat but only after some difficulty in launching as she had been off her carriage for painting. The coxswain was absent due to severe illness so the Hon Sec., Mr Quayle took command of the lifeboat and crew.

The 525 tons register, "Junak" was from Sparletto bound from Alexandria to Glasgow with a cargo of barley under the command of a Capt. Scrivanelli and in the charge of a pilot who had boarded the vessel at Falmouth.

Later the same day, at 9 am , the lifeboat was called out yet again to go to the assistance of vessels in distress off Port St Mary. The weather had moderated to squally but was misty and three schooners were observed in difficulties on leeshores. The Rocket Brigade was dispatched as well as the lifeboat but both were subsequently recalled when it was apparent that the vessels were in no immediate danger. The schooners were the "Jilt", whose anchors managed to hold in Port St Mary Bay; the "Dart" of Peel, and the "Hart" of Douglas, who weathered of the Stack at Scarlett and finally got safely into Castletown Harbour with the assistance of people on the quay there.

The lack of Coastguard observers once again had fatal consequence as at about the same time the "Junak" went ashore, another vessel was driven ashore at Scarlett with the loss of all hands. Wreckage and two bodies were found from the "Lorena" of Belfast during that Monday.

Brigantine "Blanche et Louis" and Schooner "Maggie Kelso" - 13 Sept 1877

On Thursday, 13 th September a severe gale raged around the coast. At about eleven o'clock at night, the rocket bell was sounded and the mortar fired together with several rockets to signal a vessel in distress. The "Commercial Traveller No 2" was quickly launched and manned. They made quickly for the scene of the vessel in distress, which was a Frenchman, the "Blanche et Louis" of Nantes. She was en route from Bilbao to Ardrossan with a cargo of iron ore. They had been forced to seek some shelter but had been forced too far on to the shore and was in imminent danger of going aground. When the lifeboat arrived, the master of the brigantine, a Captain Farineau refused to leave his vessel saying he would remain till she went to pieces; the mate also decided to remain on board whilst the lifeboat took of 4 crewmen and landed them safely ashore.

At about two o'clock a.m. another light was observed in the bay, and the lifeboat was once more manned and put out again. The vessel was the "Maggie Kelso", a schooner bound from Glendore, Ireland to Inverness with a cargo of slates. Her master and owner was Mr Alex Kelso and her crew consisted of three men.

The vessel had been making a good course for the harbour when a short distance from the pierhead, altered direction so that she was going behind the pier and to almost certain destruction. A number of people on the pier observing this at risk to themselves as waves swept over the pier, started shouting for the vessel to get clear but it was too late. As the crew realised their mistake it was too late to alter course. They were forced to let go their anchor in a desperate attempt to prevent them from running aground. However as the anchor came fast the vessel violently turned round, struck the pier several times and was soon driven ashore under Bay View House. At this point the lifeboat arrived and took off the crew.

Master Kelso said that after making the Tuskar light, a N E course was steered and then altered to N E by N in order to make the County Down coast. He could give no explanation for the error in his course other than compass deviation. To his protest he had said if there had been a light on Langness they could have saved themselves by standing out to sea again. He was also borne out by the French Captain who strongly maintained the need for a light at that point.

During the year the necessity of a light was borne out by the number of vessel and lives lost on or close to Langness; six vessels had been wrecked and at least fifteen lives lost.

In November that year at an Admiralty Court versus the Master of the "Maggie Kelso" 'very lengthy evidence was given at the Inquiry as to the results of a light on Langness, by two witnesses from Castletown which would be forwarded to the Board of Trade.' However it was found that Mr. Kelso was not a certified master and was fined £5 as a result of stranding the vessel as a result of negligent conduct.

Schooner "Gleaner" - 23 Oct 1881

Another four years elapsed before the next effective service. On the Saturday 22nd October 1881 during the afternoon the schooner "Gleaner" of Preston came into Castletown Bay seeking shelter at the height of a storm. During the night her rudder gave way and at day light on the Sunday morning the crew hoisted a flag of distress. The lifeboat crew was at once mustered and the boat was launched amidst the cheers of the crowds who had congregated on the piers. The lifeboat safely reached the schooner, and taking her crew of three on board landed them in the harbour. The vessel, however, rode to her anchors during the night and on the Monday night was safely brought into port without any damage except for her lost rudder.

It is not known whether this is the same schooner that had been in difficulties five years earlier.

Only a week before tragedy struck a little further up the coast at Douglas. On Wednesday 19th October 1881 a barque the "Lebu" had been abandoned by the tug towing her due to the stormy conditions. The No.2 Lifeboat, the "John Turner-Turner" was launched and beat off for three hours but was forced to turn back when one of her masts was sprung. The No 1 Lifeboat the "Manchester & Salford Sunday Schools" was then launched and managed to beat out to the barque which was being driven closer and closer to the coast. The lifeboat managed to put about the barque three times before being hit a very large wave and capsized. The self-righting capability worked and four hours after launching returned to the Red Pier with sad news. During the lifeboats capsize four of the lifeboat crew and seven of the barques crew whom they had rescued were washed away and drowned.

Brigantine "Eugenie Auguste" - 1 Oct 1882

On 1st October a brigantine was observed in difficulties off Derbyhaven during a heavy gale of wind from the S.W. At about noon signals of distress were seen and the Rocket Brigade and the Lifeboat were summoned from Castletown. The Rocket Brigade arrived first to find the vessel had succeeded in making an anchorage within a short distance of the breakwater. Shortly after the Lifeboat on her carriage arrived and it was launched in the face of a heavy surf. The "Commercial Traveller" succeeded in reaching the vessel which proved to be the local brigantine "Eugenie Auguste" which belonged to Mr R Kewley. Her master and crew of 4 all hailed from the town and had been bound for Castletown from Runcorn with a cargo of coal. Before leaving the vessel the master at the recommendation of the Lifeboat coxswain, ran out more chain and secured it around the mast. The lifeboat then took off all the crew and landed them safely ashore amidst the cheers of the crowd who had now assembled there. The brigantine safely rode out the gale and was later brought round to Castletown.

Copyright J B Kelly 1999- 2008