Dunmail

Official Number
69287

The Dunmail was an iron full-rigged ship built by the Whitehaven Shipbuilding Co. in 1873 (Yard No.10). She was owned by her commander, Capt.James Fisher, and Joseph Sprott, both natives of Harrington. The ship was wrecked after barely starting her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Melbourne.

Some reports state that the Dunmail had been chartered by Ismay, Imrie & Co., commonly known as the White Star Line. This was denied by that company in letters to the local newspaper, though there are White Star advertisements in Dublin and other newspapers naming the Dunmail (and also the Belted Will and the Naworth). The ship had loaded a general cargo and passengers (mostly working class Irish, and mainly women and children) at Canning Dock and was towed from the dock by a steam tug on the 9th August. She dropped anchor in the Sloyne, where she took in some more cargo, then put to sea at 6pm, Capt.James Fisher ceding charge of the ship to a Liverpool pilot. After passing the Formby Light and the Red Perch Buoy during the night, the wind and sea increasing, the Dunmail grounded on the Mersey bar at about 3am and became a wreck. The master, pilot, 31 crew and 29 passengers were taken off the wreck by tugs and lifeboats that arrived in daylight from Liverpool and New Brighton. At the subsequent Board of Trade Inquiry the loss of the vessel was blamed on the negligence of the pilot, but Captain Fisher was also found to be at fault and his master's certificate was suspended for three months. Since there was a system of compulsory pilotage in the Mersey, this was considered by the local marine community to be an undeserved punishment.

Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
Dunmail
1873
 1337
  242.5  36.7
22.1 
 3
 
 
100 years A1, Special Survey

Sources :

  1. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1873-4 (Supplement): Dunmail, iron ship, 1336 tons, built by the Whitehaven Shipbuilding Co., in July 1873, owned by Fisher & Sprott, registered at Liverpool, master Capt.J.Fisher, voyage Whitehaven-Australia, annotated "Wrecked".
  2. White Star Line advertisements in the Liverpool Mercury, 24th June 1873, and in the Freeman's Journal, 7th July 1873.
  3. For newspaper reports of the wreck of the Dunmail, and the subsequent Board of Trade Inquiry, see Old Mersey Times website (citing from the Liverpool Mercury, 11th, 14th & 19th August 1873).
  4. Wreck details also in 'The Shipwreck Index of the British Isles' Vol.5 (West Coast of England and Wales) by Bridget & Richard Larn, published by Lloyd's Register (2000), ISBN1 900839 61 X.