Ardendee

Official Number 76385

The Ardendee was an iron barque built by the Whitehaven Ship Building Company in November 1876 (see Source 3). She was registered at Liverpool.

The Ardendee arrived in Queensland on the 11th December 1886 (see Source 2).

From Lloyds List,, Tuesday 13th April, 1897 (col.21) :

" LONDON, April 13.- A Dalziel's telegram from Toulon, April 12, states that the French steamer Ville de Marseille, arrived here to-day, having on board the crew of the British three-masted ship Ardendee, which was in collision with the Ville de Marseille. The accident happened on the night of the 10th inst. off Cape Cata (? Cape Gata), on the Spanish coast, during a gale. Seeing that the British ship was in danger of sinking, the French captain lowered his boats, and in spite of the heavy sea running the French sailors succeeded, after great difficulty, in saving everyone on board the Ardendee."

" A telegram received at Dover yesterday gives the narrative of Captain Anderson, of Liverpool, who, with his wife and child and crew of 15, was landed at Toulon on Tuesday, his ship, the Ardendee, 629 tons, of Liverpool, having been sunk in collision with the French steamer Ville de Marseille. Captain Anderson states that his ship was bound from Marseilles to Reunion and the collision took place off Cape Palos at night. They had lights burning and a bell going. The look-out saw nothing of the steamer until she was right on them, when it was impossible to clear her. The Ardendee was struck on the port side, the force being so great that she immediately began to sink The French captain at once put out boats to the assistance of the crew, and it was owing to his prompt action and humanity that they were all saved. The vessel sank so quickly that many of the crew had to leave her partly dressed, and all their effects were lost. They were received at Toulon by the English Vice-Consul, who arranged for outfits and their passage home. An inquiry into the collision took place at Toulon yesterday."

Sources :

1. "Shipbuilding in Whitehaven - A Checklist" by Harry Fancy, Whitehaven Museum (1984) - gives launch date as March 1877.
2. Australian Shipping 1788-1968: Vessel A index 26
3. " Record of American and Foreign Shipping, 1895 " names master as Capt.Dunbar and owner as J.Rae.
4. Lloyds List, 13th and 17th April, 1897.