Alfred & Emma

Official Number 27691

The schooner Alfred & Emma was built by Allen at Pembroke Dock in 1860. She was part of the fleet of Barrow's James Fisher from 1863 until 1871, when she was sold, her registry subsequently being transferred from Lancaster to Castletown, Isle of Man.

The Alfred & Emma was wrecked at Deerness (in the E mainland of Orkney) on the 17th November 1877. She was sailing from Scrabster to Fleetwood with a cargo of paving stones (see Source 2). Source 3 gives more detail, stating that the schooner had loaded the paving stones at Thurso, but broke her cable whilst anchored and hit the rocks below Dunnet Head Lighthouse. The master saved himself by swinging to the shore on a brace, and three of the crew took to the small boat and saved themselves. The schooner drifted away from land with the mate still aboard, and he managed to rig some sail and head before the wind, finally running aground at Dingieshowe, Deerness. The mate was rescued by four locals who rowed out to the schooner. Reportedly the schooner was refloated and towed to Kirkwall for repairs.
 

Name	Year Built	Gross Tons	Length (feet)	Breadth (feet)	Depth (feet)	Masts	Figurehead	Stern	Lloyd's Classn.
Alfred & Emma	1860	72				2

Sources :

1. Research by Derek Blackhurst
2. Report of loss in "The Shipwreck Index of the British Isles Vol.4" by  Richard and Bridget Larn - states that she was still registered at Lancaster.
3. "Shipwrecks of Orkney, Shetland and Pentland Firth" by David M.Ferguson - also reports the vessel as Lancaster registered.