THE DOWN RECORDER
Saturday January 20th 1883
(Original and transcription provided by Ray Dobson)

WRECK OF AN EMIGRANT VESSEL NEAR PORTAFERRY
The Down Recorder, Saturday, January 20th 1883

On Friday night, at eleven o'clock, the emigrant ship, Wild Deer, having on board 209 passengers and a crew of 40, was wrecked on the North Rock, within three and a half miles of Cluughey, near Portaferry. The Wild Deer, which belongs to messrs P Henderson & Co., of Glasgow, left the Clyde at 11:30 on Friday morning, Commanded by Captain Kerr, and bound for Otago, New Zealand. It appears that owing to circumstances which have not been made known, the vessel got out of her course completely, and while efforts were being made to regain the course she went aground on the North Rock, leaving no other duty for the captain and crew than, that of saving their own lives and the lives of those on board. Although the vessel was within a very short distance of the land, it was quite evident that unless the signals of distress were promptly answered and relief provided from shore the result would have been amongst the most disastrous and melancholy that have ever occurred on the Irish coast. It will, therefore, afford no ordinary amount of relief not only to the relatives of the persons whose lives were in such imminent danger, but also to the public generally, and we have no doubt particularly to the owners of the vessel, that not so much as one life has been lost, and that all on board have been safely brought on shore. The appended narrative will fully explain what took place both before and after the casualty.

One of the crew, who was interviewed by our representative, gives the following version of the disaster.

The Wild Deer left the Clyde about 8 o'clock on Friday morning. She had on board 209 passengers, a crew of 40 all told, and a general cargo. The crew consisted of the captain and officers, seven able seamen, three ordinary seamen, besides the steward, cook, carpenter, sailmaker and engineer. There were also on board a doctor and a female medical assistant. When we left the Clyde the weather was fine and clear, a nice breeze blowing from the SSE. The weather continued fair until we got well out into the Channel. Soon after the steam tug left us, and before we came to Ailsa Craig, the wind veered around to the south. By this time the ship had set full sail. Sometimes she lay in her course, and at other times was compelled to go out of it.This state of things continued up to dark, when a thick haze or fog set in and the wind increased. We were then, I think, about mid-channel. Between six and seven o'clock we shortened sails, and continued in the same tack until half-past ten.

At that hour all hands were called above to put the ship round on another tack. In attempting to do this the ship "missed stays" and drifted landwards before the wind. At this time the lightship was visible. After the ship "missed stays" we tried to "wear" her, and while doing so she struck on a reef. She grounded without any violent shock, and began to rock to and fro. Captain Kerr and all hands were on deck at the time, and had been for some hours before. The night was so dark that we could not see the outline of the rock even after the vessel struck. All we saw was the breakers right ahead of us, but we could not form any idea of how far off the mainland we were. The first order issued was to take in the sails, and get all the boats in readiness. When the ship struck the passengers were nearly all in bed. Those who had not retired rushed up on deck, and on learning what had happened, ran back and awakened their fellow passengers. The greatest alarm prevailed, especially among the female passengers, and it required all our efforts to keep them from rushing headlong up the companionways and crowding the deck. Even as it was many of them came above, and implored us to tell them if the vessel was in immediate danger. We did what we could to allay the panic, assuring them that they would all be got off safely at daybreak. In a short time order was restored, and the best of discipline observed. Immediately on the vessel grounding, two rocket signals were sent up.

After a brief interval the signals were answered from the lightship, which is stationed about two miles from the mainland. Torches were then lighted and kept burning during the night as a signal of distress. Soundings were taken as soon as the passengers were got below, and it was found that the vessel grounded amidships, there being plenty of water fore and aft. The vessel was drawing seventeen feet of water. There was soft ground on the port quarter and hard ground on the starboard quarter, smooth water on the port side and rocks on the starboard side. Just after she struck we set the headsails to see if she would back off, but she was firmly berthed on the rock. From eleven o'clock on Friday night until seven on Saturday morning our position remained unchanged. The night seemed very long, and all eyes on deck were directed towards the shore, in the expectation that our signals would attract attention and secure assistance. It was not until seven o'clock that we discovered that help was at hand. At that hour we observed a boat, manned by coastguards, rowing towards us. The information was immediately communicated to the passengers, and it was needless to say was received with the greatest satisfaction. When the coastguards came alongside we learned for the first time how far we were from the mainland. The order was then given to lower the ship's boats, seven in number. The tide had by this time receded, and the vessel was lying on her port side on the rocks. The female passengers were first removed. They were lowered from the port side into the boats by means of ropes placed round their waists. There was little or no confusion. Everything was done in good order andd, as the sea was calm, the boats had no difficulty in coming close to the vessel. By the time all the famales had been got into the boats a number of fishing yawls had come alongside, and these were immediately employed to take the male passengers ashore. At half-past one o'clock the last batch left the vessel, Captain Kerr remaining on board until the last passenger had been lowered into the boats.

I should have mentioned before that at about five o'clock the mainmast fell over the side, and shortly afterwards the vessels keel gave way. The breaking of the keel was caused by the tide receding, the weight of the cargo fore and aft producing such a stress amidships that the vessel almost parted in two. The mast when failing stove in one of the ship's boats but caused no further damage. On arrival of the boats at Cloughey we had in many instances to wade up to our shoulders to land the women and children owing to the condition of the shore. The people treated us with great kindness. The Presbyterian minister of the place threw open his church to accommodate us as the houses were no sufficient to hold our number. Food and drink were served out to us, and we were provided with sleeping accommodation in a large barn. I may say that I have been sixteen years at sea, and I never saw a crew display greater courage or work with greater energy under such trying circumstances.

The work of removing the cargo and the passengers' luggage and stores, which remained in the Wild Deer on Sunday, is being proceeded with as rapidly as possible. Captain Kerr and some ten passengers still remain at Cloughy, the former assisting in the lightening operations, and the latter staying in the hope that some of the property will be recovered. A quantity of luggage, and stores has been placed on board the tug Conqueror, and shipped to Glasgow on Thursday. The Wild Deer still remains on the North Rock. She is a complete wreck. Her back is broken and set up several feet amidships. The decks are all started. It is believed, however, that should fair weather continue the entire cargo will be saved. Late on Tuesday evening, while Captain Chevalier and a crew were alongside the ship, the boat capsized, owing to the rough seas and the crew wer ethrown into the water. They were rescued by a number of boats.

END