CAIRNBULG
Shipbuildervessel built by
DUTHIE
(Footdee, Aberdeen)
DateMarch 1874
Object NameCLIPPER
MediumIRON
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 267.3' x breadth 39' x depth 23'
tonnage 1599 tons
tonnage 1599 tons
Object numberABDSHIP000570
Keywords
Yard number: 156
Official Number: 65107
Subsequent names: HELLAS (1897); ALEXANDRA (1902)
Fate: abandoned and wrecked on Isabela Island, Galápagos, 8 May 1907.
Propulsion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged clipper, 2 decks, 3 masts, round stern, clencher built, no galleries or figurehead, iron frame.
Owners:
1874: Registered at Aberdeen for subscribing owners;
William Duthie jnr., 12 shares; Alexander Duthie, 4 shares; Alexander Eddie, 4 shares; Isaac Jolly, 4 shares; James Sutherland, 4 shares; John Webster, 4 shares; James Munro, 2 shares; David Munro, 2 shares; Helen Johnstone, 2 shares; John Cook, 2 shares; George Walker, 2 shares; George Washington Wilson, 2 shares; John Strath, 2 shares; James Duthie, 2 shares; Thomas Melville, 1 share; James Hunter, 1 share; James Haddon Bower, 1 share; Thomas Richie, 1 share; Hugh Ross, 1 share; Charles Gordon jnr., 1 share; Alexander Birnie, 3 shares; Charles Cook, 2 shares; Richard Searle, 4 shares; James Donald, 1 share. 64 shares total.
(Source: Aberdeen Shipping Registers (Aberdeen City Archives))
24/08/1874: Alexander Burnie sells 1 share to James Donald, master mariner, Maida Hill.
09/10/1874: Alexander Duthie sells 4 shares to Charles Smith, merchant, Sydney.
09/01/1875: Helen Johnston sells 2 shares to Robert Johnston, master mariner, Aberdeen.
10/01/1875: Isaac Jolly dies. Executors appointed: William Scott, bank agent, Aberdeen & Herman Ganson, ship broker, Aberdeen.
(Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))
(in Lloyd's register as J. Duthie & Co until 1897)
1897-1902: Finska Angfartygs Aktiebolaget, registered at Helsingfors, Russia (i.e. Helsinki, Finland)
1902-08: Akties Alexandra (J. Johanson & Co.), registered at Christiania (Oslo), Norway.
Masters:
1874-81: Master A. Birnie
1882-85: Master Murray
1887-92: Master C. Waltham
1892-94: Master J. D. S. Phillips
1895-97: Master R. Sibley
1897-1900: Master E. W. Sucksdorff
1902-07: Master E. Pettersen
25/03/1874:
Launch - On Thursday, there was launched from the building yards to Messrs. Duthie & Sons an iron sailing vessel of the following dimensions: Length, 273 feet; width, 39 feet; depth, 25 feet 3 inches; registered tonnage, 1600. The vessel is to be full-rigged, and will sail in the Australian trade, under the command of Captain Birnie. She has been built for Mr William Duthie of Cairnbulg, and co-owners. On entering the water she was named the CAIRNBULG by Mr Robert Duthie, Mrs Birnie, who was to have performed the ceremony, having, along with the other ladies, left the scene on account on the intended postponement of the launch.
(Aberdeen Press and Journal)
08/04/1874:
The new iron shear poles, at the Dock Gates, were successfully raised on Tuesday last week. The poles are warranted to carry eighty tons, about thirty tons more than the old wooden ones. The winch is wrought by steam power. The cost of the whole will be a little over £5000. The first ship to be masted by the new shear poles will be the CAIRNBULG, a large iron vessel, just launched from the Messrs Duthie's yard.
(Aberdeen Press and Journal)
01/11/1878:
En route London - Sydney, heavy westerly gale set in 29 July 42S, 56E [Southern Ocean]. On 31 July a hurricane struck the ship, blowing the mizzen lower topsail out of the hands of the men stowing it and breaking the iron fore and main yards. New topsails and foresails disappeared in shreds. The ship broached to, heaving her almost on her beam ends. Though there was not a vestige of sail set, everything on the foremast above the cap went over the side. Main topmast was then blown away. After further loss of gear the ship was righted, but was surrounded by wreckage. Master was unconscious for 6 hours after being struck by something. Wreckage threatened to pierce hull, but it was some time till it was safe to clear it. Amsterdam Island was passed on 8 August, by which time temporary repairs were almost completed. On arrival Sydney passengers presented address to Capt. Birnie stating his self-possession, bravery and seamanship were, under the blessing of God, the means of saving the ship and the lives of all aboard.
(Liverpool Mercury)
14/03/1881:
Deaths - at Sydney, NSW, 11th March, Alexander Birnie, late Captain of ship CAIRNBULG, of Aberdeen, aged 61 years, deeply regretted.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
29/09/1881:
4 x 64th shares of iron ship CAIRNBULG, of Aberdeen, built 1874 for the Australian trade... with right to existing policy of insurance and to dividends for present voyage (at present outward London - Sydney), to be sold by public roup 15 October at 120 Union St., Aberdeen.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
06/10/1887:
CAIRNBULG, ship, Murray, arrived Sydney previous to 3rd October.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
02/11/1887:
Deaths - at Sydney, NSW, 1st November, Captain Murray of ship CAIRNBULG, of Aberdeen.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
30/04/1888:
Famous Aberdeen clipper ship CAIRNBULG, which has earned such a high reputation in the wool trade between Sydney and London for many years, is one of large fleet to have arrived recently from San Francisco. She has only once before visited Newcastle (some 4 years ago). She has a yacht like appearance and her pretty appearance was favourably commented on by those who claim to be nautical experts. Like majority of Aberdeen liners, she was built for speed and her last voyage London-Sydney was of 74 days. Capt. Charles Waltham has sailed in every capacity from apprentice to Captain with the firm and although still young is highly esteemed in Anglo-Australian service. CAIRNBULG has come to Newcastle to load 2230 tons coal for 'Frisco. She left the Golden Gates 19 March and following 10 days had rough weather and adverse winds, moderate weather then to equator, crossed 2 April. Then variable weather till 200 miles off Lord Howe Island, after which fine weather to port.
(Newcastle [New South Wales] Morning Herald)
20/07/1889:
CAIRNBULG arrived Sydney 12 July after passage from London of 86 days, but with more than average bad weather. She left on 16 April and had pretty fair passage down channel, passed Lizard 18 April and did well to the line in 21 days, crossed 7 may in 20 degrees west. S.E. trades poor. Cape of Good Hope passed 4 June under 2 lower topsails and foresail. 12 June Hove to on Port Tack in 45 degrees South, 50 degrees East [just north of Southern ocean] in gale from NNE which lasted 3 full days. The sea rose to a fearful height and deluged the decks, volumes of water found their way aft into the saloon. A heavy body of water struck the forward house and stove in the sides. Raging torrents rushed about ships decks and it had feared some water got below [into cargo], a lad was knocked down and badly hurt and is still off duty. Weather was almost as bad all the way across Southern Ocean. Meridian of Cape Leowan passed 24 June and Tasmania rounded 6 days later. Master is again Capt. Waltham. Chief Officer is Mr. George Murray. Ship is in excellent order.
(Sydney Mail)
20/01/1891:
CAIRNBULG, ship, Waltham Master, left Sydney for London 18 January.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
22/02/1894:
London Shipping Auction Co. sale 13th Feb. - 4 x 64th shares of sailing ship CAIRNBULG at £55 per share. Prices realised are considered satisfactory.
(Belfast Newsletter)
10/03/1896:
CAIRNBULG, ship, London - Sydney, passed the Lizard [Cornwall] 6th March.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
01/12/1896:
Well known wool clipper ship CAIRNBULG sailed yesterday for London and carries under hatches 7098 bales greasy and scoured wool, 24 bales sheepskins, 89 cases talon and 3079 bags ore. Being in excellent trim, she should make an excellent passage. She is of the old type of clipper vessels now fast disappearing and has had a long and interesting career in the Australian trade.
(Newcastle Morning Herald)
17/05/1907:
AN ABERDEEN-BUILT SHIP MISSING. Grave anxiety is being felt in shipping circles for the safety of the Aberdeen-built iron barque ALEXANDRA, which left Newcastle, Now South Wales, for Panama, on November 26, with cargo coal, and which has not been heard of since. She was duo at her destination early March, and it was reported that she arrived March. but this report proved incorrect, and now all hope practically been abandoned for her safety. She was commanded by Captain Pettersen, and would carry a crew about 25 men all told. owned Christiania, Norway, was formerly the British ship CAIRNBULG, and was built in Messrs J. Duthie and Company, Aberdeen.
(Aberdeen Daily Journal)
17/12/1907:
NORWEGIAN BARQUE ABANDONED CREW'S SUFFERINGS ON DESERT ISLAND A thrilling story of shipwreck was told by the survivors of the ill-fated Norwegian barque ALEXANDRA , who arrived Southampton, yesterday, in the Royal Mail steamer ORINOCO, from the West Indies. Becoming becalmed whilst a voyage from New South Wales to Panama, the ALEXANDRA made little progress for six months. Ultimately she got within 550 miles of Panama with Albemarle Island [now Isabela Island, Galápagos] in sight, but failed to make it owing to strong current and light wind. Provisions and water became exhausted, and suffering terribly from hunger and thirst the crew left the ship on May 8th in two boats eventually landing on Indefatigable Island. Here they quenched their thirst by means of the juice of the cactus trees, and ravenously devoured some turtles which they captured. The food supply, however, was very precarious, and a result their privations several members of the crew were scarcely able to continue their wanderings, and one of their number lost his life. Months passed before an ample supply of fresh water was discovered inland. Another member of the crew having become too exhausted to continue the search had to be left behind. The more able-bodied found signs an old camp, on which they hoisted a distress signal. The crew were finally rescued on October 29, after months of suffering.
(Dublin Daily Express)
Notes:
1890: re-rigged as a barque
