Chamois Technical Specification

Completed October 1878; Official No. 78416: Code Letters SDJR.

Owners: 1878 Ebenezer Cory, Lohden & Co. Hartlepool: 1882 Jackson Bros. & Cory (Walter Jackson, 6 Crosby Square, London) Hartlepool.

Masters: 1880-83 J Hodgson: 1884 Witherspoon: 1884-85 Thomas Bunn Metcalf.

On a voyage from Cardiff to Savona with a cargo of coal Chamois was wrecked off Carmelle near Corme on 23 May 1885.

Chamois left Newport, Wales on 19 May 1885 with a cargo of coal & a crew of 20 bound for Savona. After passing the Scilly Isles she came into heavy weather. On the 22 May the master went below leaving instructions with the chief officer to call him if the weather worsened. At 2.30am on 23 May the look-out reported breakers ahead on the port bow. The helm was ordered hard to port & the engines full speed astern but she struck on rocks near Cape Villano, Spain. The crew were landed by means of a ladder. The subsequent inquiry found that the master had not taken the proper observations, had not been aware of the currents, which was unacceptable because they were in the sailing directions for the NW coast of Spain, & had not taken a safe & proper course. The 2^nd mate should have informed the master of the heavy state of the weather. Both had their certificates suspended for three months. No lives lost.

Crew May 1885:

Burdon, John Henry, 2^nd mate

Cory, Lohden & Co., was formed in 1869 by Ebenezer Cory and Jacob Lohden. They went into partnership with George and Walter Jackson of London as ship agents and ship insurance brokers. In December 1881 Jacob Lohden left the partnership and started up as J. Lohden & Co. Ebenezer started up as E. Cory & Co. By 1885 the company had become Jackson Bros. & Cory. Ebenezer was also part of the firm of Cory, Wilcocks & Co., colliery agents of Fenchurch Street, London. Jackson Bros. & Cory was broken up in 1923 and became Jackson Bros.

Cory, Lohden & Co., had nine ships between 1869 and 1881. E. Cory & Co., had three ships between 1881 and 1886.

Family History:

Ebenezer Cory was born in April 1841 at Cardiff to parents Richard and Sarah. He married Jane Pyman, daughter of George Pyman, in 1865 and they had three children. Jane died in 1870 and Ebenezer remarried in 1871 to Janet Gow Irvine, daughter of Robert Irvine, shipbuilder. The couple had five children. The family lived at Stranton, West Hartlepool before moving to Surrey.

Ebenezer shot himself on 7 October 1886 at Claremont Villa, Trewsbury Road, Penge at the age of just 45. Those close to him stated that he had been unwell for a time. The subsequent inquest found that he had committed suicide whilst of unsound mind. Ebenezer left a personal estate of £7,235.