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TELEPHONE

Shipbuildervessel built by DUTHIE (Footdee, Aberdeen)

Shipownervessel built for James Aiken Jr.

DateNovember 1878

Object NameSCREW STEAMER

MediumIRON

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 242' 2" x breadth 31' x depth 17' 3"
tonnage 810 tons
1249 GRT

Object numberABDSHIP000575

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: John Duthie, Sons & Co.
Yard Number: 161
Official number: 77450
Subsequent Name: MARTHA (1899)

Fate: burnt and sank at Sidon, Lebanon, 25 October 1909.

Propulsion: Steam
Description: Iron screw steamer, poop deck 126', forecastle 29', 1 deck, 2 tiers.

Owners:
1878: Registered at Aberdeen for owners;
J. Aitken jnr., shipowner, 32 shares; J. Duthie, 10 shares, A. & R. Duthie, 11 shares each, Aberdeen.
08/1879: J. Duthie, 6 shares, A. & R. Duthie, 5 shares each. (in Lloyd's as Duthie Bros & Co. until 1894)
(Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))
1895-99: John Cook & Son, registered at Aberdeen
1899-1909: C. N. Castriottis, registered at Piraeus

Masters:
1880-85: Master Thomson
1885-94: Master N. Ninnes
1896-99: Master A. Gordon
1899-1900: Master N. Goudis
1901-09: Master J. Castriotti

General History:
10/07/1880:
Dundee Harbour - TELEPHONE of Aberdeen from Oran, with a cargo of Esparto glass.
(Dundee Advertiser)

19/10/1880:
The steamer TELEPHONE, of Aberdeen, whilst on a voyage from New York to the Mediterranean, and in lat. 38 24 N., long. 16 45 W., sighted a barque under signals of distress. She proved to be the ABBOTSFORD of Glasgow, guano laden, and bound to the United Kingdom. Her Captain reported his ship leaking badly. The Crew were unable to leave the pumps, and wished her to be towed to Lisbon by our steamer. We took her in tow, and, after the lapse of four days succeeded in anchoring her safely in the quarantine ground at Lisbon. During the time we bad her in tow the ropes parted three times, thus incurring considerable extra work and risk to all concerned as communication was on each occasion had by means of the steamer's boats, which were ultimately stave in and wrecked. There was no agreement as to the amount for towage, but I believe a handsome sum was paid. Are the Officers and Crew of the steamer entitled to any remuneration for the service rendered. The Owners have refused to give the ship's company say extra remuneration, and are told that the English law in such cases are not applicable to Scotch-owned vessels, and that any action to procure. compensation would have to be taken in Scotland.
Oct. 12,1880. Yours, &c., SEAMEN.
[reponse to the letter by the Gazette's experts follows]; As a flag of distress was hoisted, and the Crew were about to abandon the ship whose Master applied for assistance, the service would be one of Salvage, and not mere towage. The Crew would be entitled to a share in the sum paid, and proceedings would have to be instituted in Scotland against the Owner of the sailing ship. There is no difference in the principles of the English and Scotch law as to Salvage.
(Shipping and Mercantile Gazette)

27/08/1884:
Collision off Folkstone between screw steamer TELEPHONE, of Aberdeen with barley for Leith and schooner CARRINGTON. Steamer sustained little damage, but schooner shipping water and had to be towed immediately into Dover harbour.
(Morning Post)

08/02/1889:
Another collision in English Channel - screw steamer TELEPHONE, of Aberdeen, ran into Finnish barque CARL in English Channel. CARL was cut down to water's edge and towed into Plymouth.
(Exeter Flying Post)

04/11/1909
MARTHA (s).—Beyrout, Oct. 26.—The steamer MARTHA (741 tons register), Lyras, left Beyrout Oct. 23 for Sidon and the coast, with 9,000 cases of petroleum. When 15 or 20 miles out fire was discovered in one of the holds and the vessel with great difficulty arrived at Sidon and anchored. By that time the flames had a good hold of the ship and she sank the next day, the tops of her masts only being visible. Crew saved.
(Lloyd's List)

Note:
Engines by Blaikie Bros. Aberdeen, compound, 2 cylinders of 28" and 54" diameter, length of stroke 36", boiler pressure 80lb., 124 NHP.