Brunswick

Official No. 84092: Code Letters VLQD.

Owners: 1881 John Bacon, Liverpool; 1887 J Wright, Liverpool; 1888 Julius E Guthe, Murdoch & Co, West Hartlepool;   1890 J Wood & Co, West Hartlepool; 1892 North of England SS Co (John William Crosby, John Magee & Co) West Hartlepool.

Masters: 1881-82 J Barnes; 1885-87 Edward Leatherland Rutherford; 1890 Protheros; 1891-92 A Simmonds; 1892 David Lothian (b. 1847 Robin Hood’s Bay C.N. 89180 Newcastle 1872); 1893 J Crofts; 1894-95 John Garrick.

Brunswick was in a collision with the cutter Medina off the coast of Ayrshire on 2 February 1885. The latter vessel sank.

Crew October 1895:

Edwards, George, chief mate

Garrick, John, master

Lindmann, Carl, carpenter

Mackenzie, Roderick, able seaman

Wilkes, John James, 2nd mate

Young, William, 2nd engineer

Wreck Report 30 September 1885:

‘The Medina was a sailing ship, cutter-rigged, of fifty-one tons registered tonnage. She was a wooden ship, built at Cork in the year 1836. Her official number was 12,267. The Brunswick is a screw steamer, with engines of 130 horse power, her registered tonnage being 903 tons. She was built at Sunderland in 1881, and is registered at Liverpool, her official number being 84,092.
The Medina left Ayr on the 2nd of February last, between twelve and one o'clock in the afternoon, for the purpose of fishing. Her crew consisted of the master and three men, and she appears to have been in good condition, sufficiently manned, and well found. She proceeded without anything material happening until about four o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, when the master, who was at the tiller, saw a steamer on the starboard side about three miles off. The Medina was then on the port tack and heading about S.W. by W., and Ailsa Craig bearing W. about three miles. The weather was fine and clear, with a fresh and increasing breeze, and it was broad daylight. The wind was about south. The captain of the Medina at this time gave orders to take in two reefs of the mainsail. Whilst this was being done, the ship then heading about W.S.W., one of the crew of the Medina called out, "The steamer will be into us," and in about two minutes a steamer, which proved to be the Brunswick, came into collision with the Medina. The Brunswick had left Troon about half-past one o'clock in the afternoon of the same day with a crew of twenty-one all told, her master being Edward Leatherland Rutherford, who holds a certificate of competency, No. 90,93l. She had a cargo of about 1,600 tons of iron and coal, and was bound for Savona, in Italy. All went well with her until about half-past four o'clock, when, with a fresh breeze, but smooth sea, in clear weather and in broad daylight, she came into collision with the Medina, the steamer being struck by the Medina on the port side about midships. The collision carried away the bowsprit of the Medina and stove in her stern. The water began to rush into her and the crew took to their boat. In the meantime the Brunswick had continued her course for a distance, variously estimated by the witnesses at from a quarter to close on a mile. She then laid to, and the Medina’s boat went towards her, when she turned and took the crew on board. The master of the Medina and one of his crew, with one of the crew of the Brunswick, went in one of the Brunswick’s boats to see if any effects could be saved from the Medina but she was filling with water and soon after sank. The crew of the Medina were afterwards transferred from the Brunswick to the "Telephone," a passing steamer, and landed at Greenock. At the time of the collision it was the mate of the Brunswick’s watch on deck, and he was on the bridge. He saw the Medina when three miles off, but took no steps to avert a collision till the Medina was within two ships' length of the Brunswick, when he ported the helm. The mate holds a master's certificate of competency, No. 07,419. There was no one on the forecastle, as the master states it was not his practice to keep a look-out on the forecastle in daylight. The master of the Brunswick was in the chart house at the time of the collision, and did not see it, as he had been there for eight or ten minutes before it happened. The master of the Medina, Alexander Jenkins, was sole owner of the Medina. He bought her about a month before the collision, and paid 300l. for her. He had in addition expended about 110l. upon her, and she was not insured. The master and some of the crew of the Brunswick allege that the master of the Medina was drunk at the time of the collision. The Court is, however, of opinion that he was not, as he and the crew had only had one glass of whiskey each that day, and that was at eleven o'clock in the forenoon. The master of the Medina may have been affected by the loss of his ship, and it is possible that this may have been mistaken for intoxication. The owner and also the master and mate of the Brunswick were in Court, and were represented by their solicitor. The master of the Medina and his crew were also in Court, but not represented by a solicitor.
After the completion of the evidence, the solicitor acting for the Board of Trade submitted the following questions to the Court, and to these questions the Court gives the answers subjoined;
1. Did both vessels comply with the regulations for preventing collisions at sea?
2. Was a good and proper look-out kept on board both vessels?
3. Were both vessels navigated with proper and seamanlike care?
4. Did the master of the Medina after the collision do his utmost to save his vessel?
5. Did the master and officers of the Brunswick do all they reasonably could to assist the Medina immediately after the collision?
6. Are the master of the Medina or the master and officers of the Brunswick, or any or either of them, in default for the loss of the Medina?

Answers;
1. The Medina did, but the Brunswick did not. The Brunswick having seen the Medina about three miles off, ought to have altered her course in time to have prevented the possibility of a collision.
2. A proper look-out was kept on board both vessels.
3. The Medina was, but the Brunswick was not navigated with proper and seamanlike care.
4. Yes. The Court thinks that as the vessel was sinking nothing more could have been done.
5. Yes, although the master and crew of the Medina make some complaints as to this, but the Court thinks there is no reasonable ground for them.
6. The Court is of opinion that William Edward Stacey, the chief mate of the Brunswick, was in default for the loss of the Medina in not having altered his course in time to prevent the collision.
The Court finds that none of the other persons referred to in the question were in default.
The Court therefore finds that the Medina was lost in consequence of the collision with the Brunswick, and that William Edward Stacey, the chief mate of the Brunswick, was in default for not altering the course of the Brunswick in time to prevent a collision, and the Court suspends his certificate, No. 07,419, for nine calendar months.
The Court acquits the master of the Medina and the master and the officers of the Brunswick, except the chief mate, of the charges made against them, and makes no order as to costs.

Bound from Middlesbrough with a cargo of iron ore Brunswick was grounded & wrecked on New Breakwater, Bilbao on 23 October 1895. The master’s certificate was suspended for three months for allowing the pilot to leave too early.

The following appeared in an issue of the Tees Packet, Journal of the Teesside Branch of the World Ship Society:

Julius Ernst Guthe was born at Leipzig, Saxony, in 1856. He came to West Hartlepool in 1875 and joined the local shipping and coal exporting firm of Cory, Lohden & Co., where he gained invaluable experience.

In 1889 he formed, with Mr. Murdoch, Guthe, Murdoch & Co., shipowners, agents and coal exporters. They purchased the steamships Brunswick, 1389 gross tons, built by W. Pickersgill in 1881, from C. Furness, and the Sara, 1642 gross tons, built by E. Withy in 1883, from W. Hamilton of Glasgow. However, this venture did not last very long, for the company was disbanded and the ships sold the following year.

At this time Mr. Guthe left the country, rumour has it to South America, but he returned in 1892 and formed J.E. Guthe & Co., purchasing the steamship Belair from Cardiff owners. In 1894 he acquired the May, also from Cardiff owners, the Croesus and Cyrus from owners in Sunderland. Christopher Furness sold him the Inchulva in the same year and also held shares in Mr. Guthe’s ships. By the end of 1895 Mr. Guthe had acquired the Agenoria from local owners Rickinsons, and the Harlyn, from London owners. In 1896 he acquired the Heighington, Ashlands and Kirkstall, all from local owners, and had also acquired shares in the Killingworth, owned by J. Sinclair of Church Street, West Hartlepool. 

From 1897 until the Guthe fleet was amalgamated with the West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Co. to form the West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., a succession of newbuildings were added to the fleet. Miss Barbara Guthe launched the Barbara from Furness Withy’s yard and later Miss Annie Guthe launched the Annie from the same shipyard, both girls being daughters of Mr. Guthe. The Edenhall was built by Irvines Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. in 1898, the first ship to be launched after the yard had been extended and modernised. At this time there were two ships building on the Tyne for owners in Spain. Through the intervention and brokerage of of Christopher Furness they were acquired by Mr. Guthe and named Guildhall and Haddonhall. Again, C. Furness took a number of shares in each ship. The Whitehall had been delivered in 1897 by Craig Taylor as a further unit of the fleet.

In 1899 Mr. Guthe’s fleet was amalgamated with that of the West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Co. Ltd., with Christopher Furness as Chairman of the new company and Mr. Guthe as Managing Director.

John William Crosby & John Magee formed their shipping company in 1891 with the purchase of the Larch. In 1904 they took over the ships & company of Stainthorp, Kitching & Co, Stockton. The company then traded to Gulf ports, US Eastern Seaboard & St. Lawrence.  John Magee retired in 1927 & the company was re-named Crosby, Son & Co. Ltd.

In 1937 the directors were William Noel Crosby, Walter Cooper, John Middleton and William John Davies.

In total they owned 16 ships throughout the company's history. They sold their last ship in 1954 & the company was wound up in 1958.

Family History:

John William Crosby was born in 1858 at Woodbridge, Suffolk to parents William and Sarah who were both born at North Shields. John became a shipbroker and auctioneer before branching out to owning ships. He married Elizabeth Metcalfe at York in November 1886. From 1891 to 1901 they were living at Brougham Terrace and by 1911 at 'Norville' in Hutton Avenue. John and Elizabeth had a daughter and two sons. Their eldest son, John Metcalfe Crosby, was killed in action in France in 1917.

John died on 24 December 1933 at Lightwoods, Egglescliffe aged 75. He left effects of £55,641.

John Augustine Magee was born at Hutton Henry in c1857 to parents Edward and Mary Ann. He married Elizabeth Stephenson at Easington in 1887 and they had three sons and a daughter. By 1891 the family were living at Castle Eden.

John died on 9 January 1928 at Burnside, Castle Eden leaving effects of £98,779. 

Fleet List

Larch 1878-1900

Brunswick 1881-1895

Glen Dochart 1882-1914

Paola 1882-1914

Edinburgh 1883-1913

Nettleton 1891-1916

Hannah M. Bell 1893-1911

Bainbridge 1894-1916

Teesbridge 1905-1929

Wearbridge 1911-1937

Eskbridge 1912-1940

Tynebridge 1925-1940

Hartbridge 1927-1960

Levenbridge 1928-1958

Forthbridge 1928-1936

Ousebridge 1929-1940

The company of J. Wood & Co. began with the purchase of the steamship Dewdrop in 1882. In 1904 the company relocated their offices from West Hartlepool to London. Their last two ships were sold in 1909.

At different periods the company owned three ships one named Twilight and two named Sunshine.

Family History:

John Wood was born in July 1849 at Swansea to John (a dealer in marine stores and then became a licensed victualler) and Harriet Wood. He married Jane Parcell at Swansea on 10th March 1873.  The couple had one daughter in 1885 and the family had moved to Sutton, Surrey by 1901.

John was an apprentice able seaman then a junior officer before obtaining his master's certificate no. 15518 in 1874. He moved to West Hartlepool in 1877 and became marine superintendent for Cory, Lohden & Co., before becoming a shipowner himself.

John died aged 72 at Monksdene, Benhilton on 27th July 1921 leaving an estate of £101,477.

Obituary in the Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail – Friday 29 July 1909.

The funeral took place to-day at All Saints, Benhilton of Mr. John Wood of Monksdene, Benhilton. Deceased, who formerly carried on business in West Hartlepool and resided here for many years, was well known and esteemed in both boroughs. Whilst a resident at Sutton he had interested himself in the affairs of the place and became very popular. About four years ago Mr. Wood slipped and fell whilst in his billiard room, breaking his thigh. Since then had been confined to the house, and on Wednesday, after an illness of about three weeks, he passed peacefully away at the age of 72, death being attributed to syncope. In his early days the late Mr. Wood commanded many steamers, and settled in West Hartlepool in 1877, where he remained until went to Sutton. His first duties onshore were those of superintendent for several large shipbuilding firms. He was, at one time, Chairman of the Deptford Dry Dock, Chairman of the Tyne Dock Engineering Co., Ltd., South Shields, Chairman of the Ocean Dry Dock Co., Ltd., Swansea, and director of sundry insurance companies. As a Freemason, he was a Master of the Clarence Lodge, West Hartlepool,

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John’s brother James Ambrose Wood was born in 1860 at Swansea. He married Edith Mary Cook at Swansea in 1880 and the couple had three children. James worked as a clerk in the office of a shipowner at Swansea. Between 1891 and 1896 he moved to Hartlepool and by 1911 the family were living at  15 Hutton Ave Hartlepool.

James set up the company of J.A. Wood & Co., owning two ships between 1896 and 1908. One was the steamer Teesdale built in 1904 by Ropner, Stockton-on-Tees. She was sold to Ropner & Co., in 1908 and sank in August 1917.

James died aged 75 on 25 September 1935 at 50 Belmont Gardens Hartlepool leaving effects of £1,382.