Drumcraig

Official Number 91178

The Drumcraig was a full-rigged four-masted iron-hulled ship built by the Barrow Shipbuilding Company. She was launched on the 19th January 1885 (Yard No. 128) for Gillison & Chadwick (the Drum Line) of Liverpool. In October 1890 Drumcraig made a passage from Lyttleton, New Zealand to Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland, in 76 days.

On the 2nd January 1895 the Drumcraig arrived at Newcastle, NSW,  with one passenger recovering from smallpox and another dead from the disease- she (the ship) was put into quarantine at Sydney (see Source 2).

The Drumcraig was eventually sold to Capt. Barneson of California. In 1905 she disappeared without trace, lost with all hands whilst on passage from Astoria to Manila with a timber cargo.

From the “San Francisco Call” newspaper,  23rd January 1906, page 11 :

" BRITISH SAILING VESSEL OWNED AT THIS PORT IS LONG OVERDUE: Although Barneson & Hibberd, the owners, still express belief in the safety of their vessel, the Drumcraig, the underwriting world has made up its mind that the long overdue bark has been wrecked. The Drumcraig left Astoria 123 days ago for Manila and since then has not been heard of. The barkentine Koko Head, which left the Columbia River about the same time as the Drumcraig, was only fifty-five days in reaching Manila and is now on her way back to this coast. In spite of the strong belief that the Drumcraig has been lost, reinsurance on the missing vessel has advanced slowly and to-day she is quoted at only 50 per cent.

The Drumcraig, although under the British flag, is owned by the Barneson & Hibberd Company of this city. She is registered from Victoria, B. C, where the local firm maintains a branch office. The Drumcraig is commanded by Captain McCallum who for a while was in charge of the Sailors' Home at this port. Captain McCallum is accompanied by his wife. The Drumcraig was built at Barrow in 1885. She is a four-masted iron bark of 1979 tons register.

The other vessels of the overdue fleet are quoted for re-insurance as follows: Ednyfed. 20 per cent: St. Mary's Bay. 10 per cent; Cumberland, 5 per cent; Mobile Bay. 10 per cent, and Pass of Balmaho, 20 per cent."

NB. The article starts with a report of a message in a bottle, found at Half Moon Bay, supposedly written by A.B. W.W.Bales, reporting that the Drumcraig had foundered at 43N, 127W. The message must have been a hoax. The article then continues with some interesting accounts of the state of the vessel, her master and crew before she was lost.

" The barkentine Koko Head, which left Tacoma October 1 for Manila and reached her destination in safety, reported having missed a terrific storm on October 5, after having been out five days. It occurred in latitude 46 north, longitude 126.56 west. The wind was moderate at first and then increased in velocity. The Koko Head encountered the tail end of the blow, and as she had a slight start on the Drumcraig, it is believed the latter vessel encountered the storm in its fury and that it sent her to the bottom.

It is well known that when the Drumcraig left the northern port she was not in the best seaworthy condition. She was burdened down with an exceptionally heavy cargo, which threatened to turn her turtle as she was crossing the bar at Astoria.

When Captain George Wood (the pilot) took the bark to sea he had grave fears for her safety. He reported that the Drumcraig was top heavy and was likely to capsize. The ship, after being released from the tug, keeled from side to side until the water touched her beam ends. The pilot advised Captain McCallum to throw part of his cargo overboard. It is also reported that the captain did not have a very active crew with him.

Captain McCallum had been sailing the high seas for more than a score of years and had the reputation of being a very able seaman. Several years ago he lost one of his legs, which disabled him for a time, and he gave up the sea to be manager of the Sailors' Home. He held this position for a long time. This was his first trip on the Drumcraig for some time, though he had navigated the ship for years earlier in his career.

His home was in San Francisco with his family. His wife was with him on the fatal trip. His two sons, Neal and Charles, both young men, are in this city, and they have given up all hope of ever seeing their parents. They are of the belief that the vessel went down in the northern waters in the storm which the commander of the Koko Head reported.

The Drumcraig was owned by Hind, Rolph & Co., and was a vessel of 1851 tons. She had been in this port several times. "

Sources :

1. "Portrait of a Shipbuilder: Barrow-Built Vessels since 1873", ed. Nigel Harris ISBN 0 947971 32 7 (published 1989).
2. Evening Post (New Zealand), 4th January 1895, Page 2.
3. There are four photos (1, 2, 3, 4) of this ship at the Picture Australia website.
4. Mystic Seaport Library Ship Register Search has shipping register details from 1886 to 1900.
5. " Record of American and Foreign Shipping 1885 " names owners as Gillison & Chadwick of Liverpool, master as Capt.Sparring.
6. Photo of Drumcraig available at the San Francisco Public Library.
7. The San Francisco Call newspaper of 23rd Sept., 1905 reported the departure of the Drumcraig on her final voyage on the previous day. The same newspaper on the 6th March 1906, page 7, reported the vessel as being listed as "Missing", indicating that all hope of her survival had been lost. The message found in a bottle, referred to above, was of doubtful authenticity - see the same newspaper, 12th March, page 13.