Aikshaw

Official Number 72922

The Aikshaw was an iron barque built at Sunderland by W.Doxford & Sons, launched in October, 1875. She was one of fifteen sailing vessels owned by the Holme Line (Hine Brothers) of Maryport. In her early years her commander was Capt.E.W.Tyson (until 1880),  and he was followed by Capt.George Tait, who died on board the vessel whilst on passage from London to New Zealand in 1887. Her final commanders were Capt.H.Humphreys (1889 and 1890) and Capt.Dawson (1891).

The Aikshaw, Capt.William Cobb, sailed from Antofagasta at 6.45 am on the 24th December 1891. She had a part-cargo of coal, and was bound for Tocopilla. In light winds and with a heavy swell, the vessel got too close inshore and, unable to find an anchorage, was wrecked on a sunken rock at 1pm the same day, between Jorges Point and Roca Blanca. Five men drowned when their boat was smashed (Alfred Vincent, William Wieg, Peter Nielsen, Hazlett Irvine Lewers, William Tarbuck). The subsequent Court of Inquiry commended the conduct of Daniel L.Turney, the second mate, for having saved the lives of James Allen, the mate, Julian R.Bulmer, an apprentice, and Samuel Nimmo, the cook. The master was admonished for not having tacked soon enough, but his certificate was not cancelled.

Sources :

1. Mystic Seaport Library Ship Register Search has shipping register details for most years from 1877 to 1891.
2. American Lloyd's Register of American and Foreign Shipping, 1880 - names master as E.W.Tyson, owners ar Hine Brothers, registered at Maryport.
3. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1885 - names master as G.Tate.
4. British BDMs and Burials at Sea (citing the Timaru Herald newspaper, Tuesday, 15th February 1887) - reports the Aikshaw arriving at Gisborne, NZ on 14th February 1887, after a 114 day passage from London, and that her master, Capt. George Tait, had been buried at sea on the 1st January.
5. Wreck information from the report of the Naval Court of Inquiry, held at Valparaiso on the 5th and 6th January 1892 (from Port Cities website).