John Ewing

Official Number 56790

The John Ewing was a two-masted schooner built to Special Survey by Hugh Williamson & Son at Whitehaven. She was launched in April 1867. Other vessels built by this company included the Lady Lilford, Eugenie and the Christiana Davies. In Lloyds Register for 1870-71 she was owned by Paterson & Co. and registered at London, master Capt. J.Price. In the Mercantile Navy List for 1880 she was registered in Aberystwyth and was owned by Evan Philips of Swansea. In the 1880's the John Ewing was commanded by Evan Evans of New Quay (Ceinewydd), West Wales. Evan Evans was apprenticed to a Master Morgan, and as there were five Evan Evanses in New Quay he was known as "One of the Morgans!" The John Ewing worked in the home trade, but also travelled to Spain for salt. Capt. Evans was a certificated master for fore-and aft rigged vessels - click here to see his Master's Certificate.

According to the Board of Trade Wreck Returns, the John Ewing stranded and was lost on Cardigan Bar in a NW Force 9 (gale) on the 25th March 1902. She was on passage from London to Cardigan with manure. At the time of her loss she was owned by G. Parry and her captain's name was J.H. Hughes. A local paper in Cardigan confirmed the event with the following report (see Source 5) :

Shipping Disaster In Cardigan Bay . Plucky Lifeboat Rescues.

On Monday night last was added another disaster near Cardigan Bar, so many of which are already dotted on the map of the Lifeboat Institution; and in most of which the Cardigan lifeboat has been instrumental in saving life. The facts of the case may be gleaned from the following narrative:-

" On Sunday morning the schooner 'John Ewin' of Carnarvon, Capt. Hughes, arrived in the bay from London with a cargo of manure for the Cardigan Mercantile Co. and Mr Thomas Thomas Plas, Aberporth. Being unable to obtain a pilot, the Capt. endeavoured to bring the vessel up the river himself, but she went aground on the banks close to the bar on the Pembrokeshire side. On Monday morning she floated, and passing over the bar into the bay she dropped her anchor between Gwbert and the Lifeboat House, the Capt. going up to Cardigan on business. The weather was threatening all day, the wind blowing in the morning from the South, which, in the afternoon, veered to the North-West, the wind rising at the same time to almost a hurricane. Hearing of the danger to the vessel, Mr William Joseph Hon. Sec. of the local lifeboat telephoned to the coxswain to be on the watch, and it is no doubt to his forethought that the crew were enabled to be gathered as quickly as they did.

The vessel was closely watched and observing the vessel dragging her anchors, the sea having by this time become terrific in its violence, the alarm rocket was fired from Penrhyn Castle at 7.50 p.m., the lifeboat being so promptly launched as to be afloat at 8.25, only 35 minutes having elapsed. The vicinity of the vessel was reached at about 9 o'clock when it was found she was dragging toward the bar, her anchors being unable to hold her. Finding, owing to the heavy seas and wind , that it was impossible to board the vessel and save the crew of four,  Capt. Hughes being then in the lifeboat returning to the ship, the coxswain resolved if possible, to throw a line on board; this, fortunately he succeeded in doing and a rope and lifebelts having been passed to the vessel , the crew were saved as one by one they threw themselves into the sea and were dragged into the lifeboat, which, having effected her purpose, returned to the station at 10.15 p.m. where the shipwrecked crew were landed in an exhausted state, and kindly treated.

The vessel was then blown over the bar and stranded between the Perch and Glan-y-mor Farm, near the same spot as the 'Mouse' some time since.  This is the maiden attempt of the new coxswain of the lifeboat Mr Thomas Bowen to save life from shipwreck, and he is to be heartily congratulated on his success, the rescue being carried out most pluckily in the face of the heavy sea running. The 'John Ewin' belongs to two sisters, The Misses Parry and is not insured. On Tuesday morning the ship was under water, the mast only being visible, but the tide left her high and dry. The cargo was insured. On Thursday morning she lay in the same position and it is anticipated that she will become a total wreck."

It appears that the schooner was finally lost off Moelfre, Anglesey, on the 19th October 1925.
 

Name	Year Built	Gross Tons	Length (feet)	Breadth (feet)	Depth (feet)	Masts	Figurehead	Stern	Lloyd's Classn.
John Ewing	1867	118	80.8	21.5	10.3	2			8A1

Sources :

1. Lloyds Register of Shipping 1870-71 (length given as 79.6 ft.) & 1922-23  (length given as 80.8 ft.)
2. Information on loss (1902) from the "Shipwreck Index of the British Isles", Vol.5 by Richard and Bridget Larn (1999).
3. Info on salvage and loss (1925) from Eddy Bayton, g-grandson of Capt. Evan Evans.
4. "The History of the Barmouth Lifeboats" by Jeff Morris, The Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society.
5. Teifiside (a local newspaper) 28th March.1902, information provided by Eddy Bayton.