DON

Shipbuildervessel built by George Milne & Co (Aberdeen, Scotland)

Shipownervessel built for Aberdeen Lime Company

Date1 January 1858

Object NameSCHOONER

MediumWOOD

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 88' x breadth 20.3' x depth 10.6'
gross tonnage 112 tons (new measurement); 163 tons (old measurement)

Object numberABDSHIP002892

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: George Milne & Co.

Fate: burnt at Montrose, 31 July 1870, survived but likely then condemned.

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Schooner rigged, 1 deck, 2 masts, square stern, carvel built, figurehead female bust.

Owners:
1858: Registered at Aberdeen for joint owners;
Henry Adamson, Alexander Nicol, both merchants of Aberdeen; Robert Williamson, farmer of Bendauch, Aberdeenshire, 64 shares. [as trustees of the Aberdeen Lime Co.?]
(Source: Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))

Masters:
1858-62: Master T. Kerr
1862-70: Master W. Diack.

Voyages (from Lloyd's Register):
1858-61: Aberdeen coaster
1862: London coaster
1862-70: Aberdeen coaster

General History:
06/01/1858:
Launch - Messrs G. Milne and Son launched over Provost Blaikie's Quay, very early on Friday morning, a schooner of 112 tons new and 163 tons old measurement. She is a neat vessel, name the "DON", and is owned by Aberdeen Lime Co.
(Aberdeen Journal)

03/09/1859:
Raising the Schooner DON. — This clipper vessel, belonging to the Aberdeen Lime Company, while being towed through Half-way Reach on Tuesday afternoon, in order to take in her ballast at Erith, was sunk on the north shore, immediately opposite the Half-way House, owing; to a sudden squall catching her quarter and capsizing her. The crew were rescued by the tug, and the captain having applied ineffectually at Woolwich Dockyard for assistance to raise the vessel, the services of the small floating derrick were procured. The necessary chains for hoisting the schooner were bent on to her during Thursday night, and yesterday the derrick brought the vessel up to the London Dock moorings suspended in the chains to the boom of the machine.
(Morning Post)

15/06/1869:
Ship Aground on Sunderland Bar.—Yesterday morning the schooner DON, ballast, from Aberdeen, whilst being towed into the harbour at Sunderland by the steam-tug MARCO POLO, stuck fast upon the bar, where she remained till flood-tide, when aho was floated off with the assistance of the MARCO POLO
(Newcastle Daily Chronicle)

05/08/1870:
ARRIVAL A SHIP ON FIRE—On Sunday, the schooner DON, of Aberdeen, Captain Crombie, from Sunderland for Aberdeen, with a cargo of lime, put in here, being on tire. It appears that, about one o'clock on Sunday morning, the crew discovered smoke issuing from the hold. The Captain at once made for the nearest port for assistance. On nearing this harbour, the Captain spoke the steam-tug and wanted it to tow him to Aberdeen, but the tug could not leave at that time. The Captain then came on shore to telegraph to his owners to send a tug to meet him from Aberdeen. On his return to the vessel, he found that it would not be safe to proceed, as the deck around the mainmast had started owing to the swelling of the lime. He then brought the vessel into harbour, and had the decks covered with sand to keep the air from the hold. It was supposed that water had got access to the hold at the coating of the mainmast, as the most of the heat appeared to be there. On Monday morning the mainmast sunk about three feet - it having been quite burned through. It was then cut above the deck and the piece hauled up. The hatches were taken off in the afternoon, when it was found that the fire was extinguished, no doubt by the precaution of covering the deck with sand. The vessel, which belongs to the Aberdeen Lime Company, is to be towed to Aberdeen. A lad on board the DON had a very narrow escape of being suffocated. Preparatory to getting the sand on board, he went into the forecastle for the purpose of getting some ballast shovels. The flames from the burning matter mastered him before he could reach the deck, and only by the prompt assistance of the rest of the crew was he saved.
(Montrose Standard)