RIFLEMAN
Shipbuildervessel built by
DUTHIE
(Footdee, Aberdeen)
Shipownervessel built for
DUTHIE
(Footdee, Aberdeen)
DateFebruary 1860
Object NameCLIPPER
MediumWOOD
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 176' x breadth 30.7' x depth 19.5'
gross tonnage 724 tons
gross tonnage 724 tons
Object numberABDSHIP000536
Keywords
Official Number: 27574
Fate: marked condemned in Lloyd's 1879 (R329)
Propulsion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged clipper, 1 deck, a poop deck and a top gallant, 3 masts, round stern, carvel built, no galleries, a shield figurehead.
(Source: Aberdeen Shipping Register (Aberdeen City Archives))
Owners:
30/04/1860: Registered at Aberdeen for owners;
William Duthie jr., shipbuilder, 22 shares; John Duthie snr, shipbuilder, 4 shares; Alexander Duthie, master mariner, 4 shares; James Duthie, shipmaster, 4 shares; George Thompson, shipowner, 4 shares; James Monro, shipowner, 4 shares; David Monro, shipowner, 4 shares; James Leask, advocate, 4 shares; Robert Mitchell, shipowner, 2 shares; Alexander Eddie, baker, 2 shares (All Aberdeen); John Brodie, shipowner, 8 shares; Richard Searle, 2 shares (both City of London).
14/06/1860: James Leask 4 shares - David Wyllie, Aberdeen, cashier of Union Bank of Scotland for £700 mortgage.
26/02/1861: George Thomson 2 shares - George Milne, banker, Aberdeen.
19/10/1861: James Leask 4 shares - John Duthie jr, shipbuilder.
03/11/1861: William Duthie jr, 4 shares - John Cargill, shipowner, Aberdeen.
13/06/1862: Robert Mitchell's executors 2 shares - Thomas Ritchie, shipowner, Aberdeen.
24/01/1863: David Wyllie, 4 shares - James Sutherland, shipowner, Aberdeen.
09/02/1863: William Duthie jr. 2 shares - Mary Mitchell, spinster, Aberdeen.
17/03/1863: Mary Mitchell 1 share - Alexander Hector, salmon fisher, Montrose.
11/12/1863: George Thompson 2 shares - George Milne.
06/01/1864: George Milne 2 shares - Rev. Thomas Henry Dawson, Monymusk.
23/06/1864: William Duthie sr. 8 shares - John Brodie.
(Aberdeen Register of Ships (Aberdeen City Archives))
1874-79: A. MacLean, registered at Sydney (Lloyd's)
Masters:
1861: Master J. Duthie
1864-65: Master T. Bruce
1866-67: Master T. Norrie
1868-73: Master J. Longmuir
1876-79: Master J. Bishop
Voyages (Lloyd's):
1862-65: London - Australia
1866-67: London
1868-74: Aberdeen - Australia
General History:
25/02/1860:
LAUNCH. - A launch attended with more than usual interest, and witnessed by a larger crowd of spectators than generally assembles on such occasions, took place from the building yard of Mr. William Duthie. Jun., Inches, on Wednesday. The additional excitement arose from the circumstance that the new vessel had received the well-timed name of "The RIFLEMAN," in honour of the volunteer movement, [the establishment of the First Aberdeensire Rifle Volunteers is reported on the same page] a compliment which a considerable number of the members of various of the local Rifle companies very properly recognized by being present in their uniform. The RIFLEMAN" is built in the handsome clipper model, ship-rigged, and measures, in extreme length. 189 feet; extreme length of cut keel, 164 feet; breadth, 31 feet; depth, 19 feet 9 inches. The fastenings having been cut by two of the builders' apprentices dressed their rifle uniform. "The RIFLEMAN" received, - shall we say "his" or "her" - name in graceful style from the good lady of the Rev. Mr. Fraser, St. Clement's, and glided gently and safely into the water amidst the cheers of the multitude - the vessel's fine proportions and outline winning general approbation. After the launch a large party of ladies and gentlemen were entertained to wine and cake by Mr. Duthie. In the course of the proceedings, Captain Jopp of the 6th Company of Rifles, proposed success to "The RIFLEMAN," and Dr. Keith. Captain Commandant of the Artizan Companies, followed up by giving "The Health of the Builder." Both toasts were very heartily drunk to by the company. "The RIFLEMAN" is, we believe, to be commanded by Captain James Duthie.
(Aberdeen Herald)
17/04/1861:
Deaths - at Weymouth 24 March Alexander Alexander, Chief Officer of ship RIFLEMAN of Aberdeen, aged 45.
(Aberdeen Journal)
11/04/1871:
RIFLEMAN, ship, from London for Adelaide, Feb. 27 Lat. 7N, Long. 27W [mid Atlantic between Brazil and W. Africa].
(Glasgow Herald)
RIFLEMAN left London 28 December 1872.
In March 1873, en route to Sydney, Australia, Captain Longmuir, a native of Stonehaven was beaten to death while he slept by the steward, a German named Wilhelm Kraus, aka William Cross. The first mate, George Morgan, another Stonehaven man, was lured into the Captain’s cabin by the killer and attacked, but managed to overpower the steward and grappled him to the ground as he produced a pistol and tried to shoot him. The killer was kept tied up in the wheelhouse as Morgan proceeded to master the ship successfully to Sydney. The captain’s body was kept in a barrel of spirits and buried at Sydney. Kraus was tried and convicted and hung the same year. It seems he had also tried to poison the entire crew and there was speculation that he had intended to take over the ship. He pleaded insanity at the trial and claimed not to remember the incident; however, he was found guilty and hanged.
George Morgan, who had so successfully taken control of the ship, went on to marry Ann Duthie, the sister of ship’s owner, William Duthie. Captain Longmuir had been due to take charge of the new Duthie ship, also named ANN DUTHIE, on his return to Britain, however, this then went to George Morgan.
05/04/1873:
RIFLEMAN, ship, from London for Sydney, Feb. 24 Lat 4N, Long. 21W [off West Africa].
(Glasgow Herald)
06/06/1873:
At Central Criminal Court, Sydney, William Cross (otherwise Wilhelm Krauss) found guilty of murder of Capt. James Longmuir on board British ship RIFLEMAN whilst ship was a few hundred miles off the South American coast on 16 March. Plea of insanity rejected and Cross sentenced to death.
Judge said "you availed yourself of your position of Steward of the ship to mingle narcotic poison in the cabin food and grog served out that night to the crew. Capt. Longmuir appears never to have stirred in his bed nor resisted either the savage blow by which you fractured his skull or the fatal cord with which you strangled his dying breath. The seven other cords found on the same night ready to your hand in your own pantry, the revolvers and dagger found upon you, the long iron bolt with which you attacked the Chief Officer and the General stupefaction of the ship's crew who had drunk the grog all prove beyond the slightest that yours was a cunningly devised plan to obtain possession of the ship. No evidence to implicate a single individual on board that ship".
(Melbourne Argus)
09/07/1873:
Well attended meeting of shipmasters and others connected with the trade of the port of Sydney was held aboard the ship ANN DUTHIE. Mr Williams stated meeting had been called to convey the family of the late Captain Longmuir sympathy in their great bereavement [poisoned by ship's steward]. Chairman spoke at some length on high character of deceased and hoped those who knew him would lighten the heavy blow fallen on widow and orphan children. Captain Moodie proposed and Captain Benzie (ANN DUTHIE) seconded resolution that subscription be raised - £300 already received.
(Aberdeen Journal)
10/09/1873:
No clue as to motive for killing of Captain and attempted murder of rest of crew. Theory has been advanced that Krauss [the murderer] had some hope of obtaining sole possession of the vessel, running in upon the coast of Brazil, in order to secure everything valuable in the ship and then abandoning her.
(Aberdeen Journal)
16/12/1878:
THE barque RIFLEMAN, of Sydney, has put in to Singapore leaky, and will discharge previous to being surveyed.
(London and China Telegraph)
Notes:
Re-rigged as a barque 1873.
For further information on the RIFLEMAN and Captain Longmuir, please see the journal of the Aberdeen & NE Scotland Family History Society, issue February 2010.
