Wastdale Voyage History

York Herald 19 January 1889:

BOARD OF TRADE INQUIRIES. Yesterday afternoon a Board of Trade inquiry was held at Middlesbrough respecting the strand ing and subsequent abandonment of the steamer Wastdale, of Middlesbrough, at or near Bjerre-huse, on the West Coast of Jutland, on the 24th ult. Mr. Coleman, stipendiary, sat as judge, assisted by Captains Baker and Castle as nautical assessors. Mr. Barnley appeared for the master (Capt. Simmons), and Mr. Dendey appeared for the Board of Trade. Mr. Dendey, in opening the ! case, said the Wastdale was built of iron at West Hartlepool in 1872. Her length was 209 ft 4in., breadth 28ft. Sin., and depth 16ft. 3in. She was schooner rigged, and fitted with two engines of 99 horse power. Her net registered tonnage was 56024. She was owned by Mr. Henry Thompson and others, and Mr. Edward Harris, of Middlesbrough, was her manager. She left Middlesbrough on the 22nd December with a crew of 15 hands and a cargo of 950 tons of pig iron, bound for Libau. After leaving the Middlesbrough Bar Buoy a course was set E. J N. magnetic, and this course was continued up to 1.45 p.m. on the 24th, there being a strong wind and sea from the 3.3. fc.. The course was then altered to E. 1/4 S. magnetic, and at 4 p.m. the log showed the vessel had run 319 miles from the Bar Buoy. At 5.15 p.m., without any warning and nothing having been seen on the voyage after leaving the Middlesbro' Fairway Buoy, the vessel suddenly took the ground. It was found necessary to hoist signals of distress, and about 10 p.m. tne men in charge of tbe rocket apparatus on shore endeavoured to land the crew, but their efforts failed, and at 11 p.m. one of tbe ship's lifeboats was lowered, and the crew landed in safety. The ship after- wards became a total wreck. The principal ques- tions for the court to consider were whether the total neglect of the lead was justifiable, whether a good and proper look-out was kept, and whether the vessel was navigated with seaman- like care— George Thomas Simmons, the captain, was then examined, and after the evidence of other witnesses the inquiry was adjourned until to-day for judgment.

The Court found there had been an error of judgement by the Master but they declined to deal with his certificate.