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Bewick - a general history

Official No. 67317: Code Letters KWRP.

Owners: 1872 Joseph Heald, Newcastle-on-Tyne; 1880 William Swanston, Newcastle-on-Tyne; 1882 Mrs A. Swanston, Newcastle-on-Tyne; 1885 Henry Eeles & Dryden, Newcastle-on-Tyne; 1893 H. Genestal & Delzons, Havre, France–renamed Chesme; 1897 E. Hulin, Rouen, France; 1899 William H. Wise, West Hartlepool–renamed Bewick.

Masters: 1873 G Ward; 1880-83 J Corrigall; 1887-93 Christian Juius Klitgaaard (b. 1835 Denmark C.N. 34834 Cork 1865); 1893 J Fowler; 1893-96 Griffon; 1898-99 Le Paumier; 1900-02 George Walton.

Bewick left Burntisland on 11 September 1902 bound for Stockholm with a cargo of coal & a crew of 19. A gale sprang up & the cargo shifted, the bulwarks were washed away & other damage was done causing the vessel to keel over almost onto her beam ends. The crew tried to launch the boats but three of them were dashed against the ship’s side. Eight of the crew managed to launch & leave in the fourth boat. At one time their small boat capsized & they were all thrown into the sea. It was with great difficulty they managed to right her. They were eventually picked up by the steam trawler Shark which went back to where Bewick had last been seen on 13 September but there was no sign of her or the remaining crew & it was believed she had foundered 130 miles E by S of May Island, Firth of Forth in 56.16N/1.29E. The 1st & 2nd mates, five seamen & one fireman were landed at Boston, Lincolnshire. 11 lives were lost.

Survivors 1902;

Holut, William, able seaman, Denmark

Kelly, Patrick, able seaman, Drogheda, Ireland

Lour, Andreas, able seaman, Denmark

Manson, Thomas, seaman, Lerwick

Nilson, Albert, able seaman, Norway

Ohman, Carl, fireman, Sweden

Siversten, Einar, 2nd mate, Norway

Walker, Albert, 1st mate, Newcastle

Crew lost 1902:

Acton, WH, chief engineer, 7 Eamont Gardens, West Hartlepool

Cook, J, 2nd engineer, 45 Roker Avenue, Sunderland

Gough, Henry, 60, fireman, Stockton

Heavisides, George W, 19, mess room steward, Millbank St. Stockton

Hewitt, John, cook, Manchester

Hollyfield, William, fireman, William St. Stockton

Olsen, seaman, Sweden

Sgostod, Bernard, fireman, Sweden

Shepherd, Henry, donkeyman, 10 Woodbine St. Sunderland

Walton, George, master, 162 Durham St. Hartlepool

? steward, (Chinese) resided Ipswich

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