PETER DENNY
Shipbuildervessel built by
DUTHIE
(Footdee, Aberdeen)
DateMarch 1865
Object NameCLIPPER
MediumWOOD
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 197' x breadth 34.2' x depth 20'
gross tonnage 997 tons
gross tonnage 997 tons
Object numberABDSHIP000553
Keywords
Official Number: 52594
Subsequent Names: INGA (1884)
Fate: wrecked on Grand Cayman, 7 September 1888.
Propultion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged clipper, 3 masts, poop deck 52', forecastle 39'.
Owners:
1865-79: Albion Shipping Co., Glasgow (Patrick Henderson)
1879-81: J. W. Turner, registered at Glasgow
1882-83: J. H. Farmer and Co. registered at Glasgow
1884-88: L. G. S. Larsen, registered at Sandefjord, Norway.
Masters:
1865-73: Master G. Adam
1874-79: Master R. W. Pycroft.
1880-81: Master J. Barr
1882-83: Master H. McWhirter.
1884-85: Master H. Corneluisen
1887-88: Master Jakobsen
Voyages (Lloyd's Register):
1865-66: Aberdeen - New Zealand
1867: London
1868-70: London - China
1871-73: London - New Zealand
"Not a very fast ship, her best run in the westerlies being 285 miles, but she was an easy working ship and still better a very comfortable ship. She was also well run and beautifully kept under Capt. Adam".
(Basil Lubbock (1948) "The Colonial Clippers" (Brown, Son & Ferguson, Glasgow) p. 306)
Took emigrants out to Dunedin from Glasgow on maiden voyage in 92 days 1865 and in next 3 voyages was in China trade. Was in close race China-Thames 1868 with WILD DEER and DOUGLAS CASTLE. Wrecked 1888.
David R. Macgregor (1983) "The Tea Clippers: Their History and Development 1833-1870" (Conway Maritime, London), p. 163)
27/03/1865:
The splendid new Aberdeen built clipper ship PETER DENNY, 1000 tons register, classed 14 years A1 at Lloyd's, one of Messrs Patrick Henderson and Co.'s packets, will sail from Glasgow for Otago [New Zealand] direct on 1st June.
(Caledonian Mercury (Edinburgh))
15/09/1865:
Emigrant ship PETER DENNY - friends of the passengers and others interested in this ship will be glad to learn that letter has been received from the Captain dated 17 July, Lat. 27.30S, Long 36.40W [off east coast, Argentina] stating that all on board were in good health and that so far had had a pleasant voyage.
(Glasgow Herald)
14/11/1865:
PETER DENNY arrived Otago 1 Sept and discharged all her passengers in good health. Passage out has been made in 90 days, sailed from the Clyde on 2 June with 154 cabin and steerage passengers; crossed the line 6 July in 200W and subsequently had strong SSE winds as far as 24°S, making it necessary to tack to keep off the Brazilian coast. In running down her easting she went to the southward of Gough Island and Tristan D'Acunha, experiencing most variable winds, seldom steady more than 12 hours. On approaching New Zealand she met with NE gales and was driven to within 50 miles of Auckland Islands, only sighting Stewart's Island on Thursday 31 August. There were 4 births aboard.
(Glasgow Herald)
15/02/1880:
At Greenock Police Court 5 seamen were sentenced to 6 weeks imprisonment with hard labour for having refused to proceed to sea in the ship PETER DENNY of Glasgow on a voyage from the Clyde to Brisbane. The men alleged that the rigging of the ship was defective, but on examination this was found to be untrue.
(Reynold's Newspaper)
19/02/1884:
Liverpool Assizes: Defendents (J. H. Farmer and Co.) were managing owners of ship PETER DENNY and in July 1882 vessel was on voyage San Francisco - Liverpool with cargo of grain. Vessel had put into Callao [Peru] in leaky condition. On defendents undertaking to reimburse all expenses, Captain Semple was sent to Callao on behalf of Liverpool Salvage Association to examine the vessel, he found that vessel was leaking somewhere about the forefoot and considerable part of the cargo had to be discharged to repair the damage. Jury granted Salvage Assoc.'s claim for £595.4.1 in expenses and charge.
(Liverpool Mercury)
09/10/1888:
Wreck. The Norwegian barque INGA, from Monte Video, in ballast, bound to Ship Island, was totally wrecked on the Grand Cayman, on 7th ult. [September] The Crew were saved and arrived at Montego Bay on the schooner "BODDEN". The wreck was sold for £48
(Colonial Standard and Jamaica Despatch)
14/11/1888:
SHIPWRECKED CREW ATTACKED BY SAVAGES. The Cunard steamer PAVONIA, from Boston, which arrived Queenstown Monday evening, brings intelligence of the arrival of the steamship KONG ALF at Philadelphia on November 2nd, from Jamaica, having aboard Captain Jacobsen and one sailor of the barque INGA, which was wrecked on the island of Cayman on September 17th, while on voyage from Monte Video to Ship Island. Captain Jacobsen says that soon after the vessel struck on the island she was boarded by two hundred native savages, who made bold and daring attempt to take possession of and rob the vessel. They made an attempt to gain entrance to the aftercabin, and were only prevented from doing at the point of the pistol. When the savages were driven from the vessel's deck, the crew landed in their lifeboats on the island of Cayman. They were the only civilised people there, and subsisted two weeks on cocoa nuts and a little gin they had saved, the natives continually harassing them. the expiration of this time Captain Jacobsen got possession of a small sloop, in which he and the crew made sail for Jamaica. They had only small quantity of provisions, and expected to reach Jamaica in two days, but their journey lasted week, and their sufferings from exposure and want of sufficient food are beyond description. For three days the ten men had to live on one biscuit each, and several of them became crazed for want of water, and with difficulty were restrained from jumping into the sea. Most the crew had to go to hospital.
(Greenock Telegraph and Clyde Shipping Gazette)
The contrast between this sensational account (repeated in several British papers) and the dry notice in the Colonial Standard quoted above it brings the suspicion that the latter is perhaps somewhat embellished, if not an outright fabrication.
Note: re-rigged as a Barque 1880.
1863
1841
