MYSTERY OF ABERDEEN STEAMER

FREDERICK SNOWDON’S FATE
FEARED LOSS WITH ALL HANDS
WRECKAGE FOUND AT PETERHEAD

The finding in Peterhead Harbour yesterday afternoon of a board bearing the name “Frederick Snowden” went to confirm the worst fears which had been raised for the safety of that steamer, and there is now little room for doubt, in spite of minor discrepancies in the description, that the unknown steamer which was seen to founder off Whinnyfold, on Wednesday, is the Aberdeen collier steamer of that name.

Up to the time of writing no trace had been got of the crew of fourteen hands, and if the sunken be the Frederick Snowden, everything points to her human complement having accompanied her to her doom.

The Frederick Snowden, which was owned by the Aberdeen Coal Company, of which Mr John Brown of Redhall is chairman, was a regular coal carrier from Shields to Aberdeen, and made trips twice weekly. She was commanded by Captain Auld, one of the best known of local captains.

When Last Sighted

The vessel left Shields on Monday, and was last seen off Newburgh on Wednesday morning by Captain Horace Nutten, of the local trawler Strathspey. At that time nothing amiss was seen with the vessel, although the trawler passed outside speaking range.

When intimation of the Whinnyfold disaster reached Aberdeen there was nothing in the circumstances to connect the Aberdeen coal steamer with the disaster. Yesterday, however, when the Aberdeen channel became navigable, and several local vessels which had been lying in the bay put into port, there was still no sign of the Frederick Snowden.

Gradually uneasiness grew, and the name of the vessel was freely associated with the sinking of the unknown steamer off Whinnyfold. Throughout the day anxious eyes watched from the pier and other points of vantage for the appearance of the missing steamer. Inquiries were made of every fresh arrival at the port, but none of the crews of these vessels had seen any trace of the collier.

The offices of the Coal Company were inundated with inquiries by anxious relatives of the crew, who were all local men. There were those who optimistically hoped that the steamer had gone well out to sea to avoid the dangers of the inshore, but when night arrived and the ominous tidings came from Peterhead that a board bearing the steamer’s name had been picked up, even these feared the worst had happened.

The last occasion the collier was seen was, as stated, by the crew of the trawler Strathspey, and what strengthens the theory that the worst has overtaken the vessel is the fact that none of the vessels which have put into port and which have hovered about in the offing for days have seen any trace of the steamer since.

Description of the Vessel

The Frederick Snowden was an old vessel, built at Middlesbrough, and became the property of the Aberdeen Coal Company some five years ago. Carrying a crew of 14 hands, she had a tonnage of 740 and 431 tons net, and was of 1040 tons deadweight. She usually made two trips weekly between Aberdeen and the Tyne.

The Last Voyage

On this occasion the Frederick Snowden left Aberdeen for the Tyne on Saturday morning, and left Shields on the return voyage at 2 on morning, with a cargo of 950 tons of coal. The vessel was timed to arrive at Aberdeen by the evening tide, and as she was seen in the bay early Wednesday morning, it is generally supposed that the voyage north had been accomplished in the usual time.

It happens that Wednesday morning the navigation channel was impassable, which necessitated the steamer remaining in the offing.

Disappearance at Whinnyfold

What actually occurred will probably never be known, but after the Strathspey had sighted the vessel off Newburgh the next occurrence with which the Frederick Snowden may be associated was off Whinnyfold in the early forenoon.

At that time a steamer answering to the description of the missing collier was seen some distance off, apparently in a helpless condition, with mountainous seas sweeping over her. Distress signals were seen, but on account of the state of the sea nothing in the way of assistance could be rendered by the waiting coastguardsmen, and about one o’clock in the afternoon, when about a mile and a half off the shore, the vessel was seen to turn turtle and sink.

When first observed the steamer had a heavy list to port, and it is surmised that this was caused by the crew, seeing the dangerous rocks in the vicinity, putting down the anchor at that side in an endeavour to steady the vessel and keep her afloat. The heavy list and the sudden dropping of the anchor, it is supposed, were responsible for the calamity, as the sudden upsetting of the vessel could not have been caused, even in the worst weather conditions, in so short a period.

Had the captain allowed the vessel to come nearer the shore there might have been a possibility of striking the sands and saving the crew, but, as it is, not a survivor has been left to tell the tale.

Names of Crew

As stated, the Frederick Snowden carried a crew of 14 hands, but it is doubtful on this occasion if she had her full complement. The second mate of the vessel, whose name is Robert Mutch, did not accompany the vessel owing to indisposition, and for the trip his place was taken by another member of the crew.

It is not definitely known if, at the last minute, another hand was shipped, but Mr Riddell, the manager of the company, supplies the following list of those who were known to be on the vessel when she left Aberdeen:

John Auld, captain, 22 Hammerfield Avenue, married, family of 5

George Kennedy, mate, 85 Holburn Street, married, family of 1

James Ross, acting second officer, 168 Crown Street, married, family grown up

George Ross, chief engineer, 24 Great Western Place, married

Robert Boyce, second engineer, 52 Seaforth Road, married

William Russell, donkeyman, residing Huntly Street, unmarried

Charles Forbes, A.B., 6 Schoolhill, married

James Gray, A.B., 4 Stephen Place (564 George Street), married, family of 4

J. Geddes, A.B., 61 Broad Street, married, family

C. Davidson, A.B., 65 Hutcheon Street, unmarried

J. Donald, steward, Aberdeen

Henry Mitchell, fireman, Catherine Street, married and family

William McGregor, fireman, 61 Urquhart Road, married

Fate of Ex-Rescue

Henry Mitchell, who is one of the missing firemen, was for a number of years the popular rescue at Aberdeen Beach, and, if on this occasion the worst is realised, it is an irony of fate that he should meet his end in this manner, seeing that so often he had been instrumental in saving people from a watery grave at Aberdeen.

Mitchell was a powerful swimmer, and, if the Frederick Snowden should prove to be the vessel which sank off Whinnyfold, it is surprising that he had made no attempt by swimming to reach the shore with the aid of a life-belt, as the distance—a mile and a half—was by no means beyond his power. It is thought, however, that the captain of the ill-fated vessel had meant to run his ship ashore to allow the crew having a chance of their lives, and the steamer having sunk unexpectedly, none of those on board had the opportunity to quit the doomed craft.

Mitchell was well known in Aberdeen, and was highly popular in swimming circles, and his many estimable qualities and gallant acts at the beach made him a favourite with all.

George Ross, the chief engineer of the vessel, was the son of Captain Ross, of the local steamer Silver City, and, like Mitchell, was well known in swimming circles. He was a prominent member of the Dee Swimming Club, and was on the team which has won the polo championship for several years in succession.

Grief of Relatives

When it became known that the wreckage supposed to belong to the missing vessel had been found at Peterhead, the news quickly spread to the relatives and friends of the crew. Throughout the evening there were many telephone calls to the manager’s house, and later when the office was opened in the evening anxious friends put in an appearance soliciting the latest particulars about their absent ones.

At the usual berth occupied by the steamer in the Upper Dock a large crowd congregated, and their husky tones betokened the suspense with which they viewed the circumstances which had left at least 13 sorrowing homes. One woman, who had her husband on board, collapsed on being told that there was no further news of the missing vessel.

There are still those who are optimistic enough to hope that the vessel may yet turn up safely, but the feeling generally is that the worst has occurred. The very fact that the steamer had not again been sighted in the offing since Wednesday morning, and that the navigation channel had been quite passable in the interval, which would have allowed her to make for the port, clearly points to the darker interpretation of the situation.

Company Directors’ Views

Seen last night by a “Journal” reporter, Mr John Brown of Redhall, chairman of the directors of the Aberdeen Coal Company, Limited, the owners of the Frederick Snowden, said the vessel was on a passage from Shields to Aberdeen with a cargo of coal, and had 850 tons on board. She left on Tuesday morning, and in the ordinary course should have reached Aberdeen on Wednesday morning.

The steamer was seen in the bay that morning, seven or eight miles off, heading on to the wind, and lying easy waiting for the weather to moderate. One of Brown’s trawlers “tooted” to her and got a response, indicating that all was well.

The Frederick Snowden carried a crew of 14, including Captain Auld, an Aberdeen man, who was mate of the Redhall before he took command of the Snowden, which was purchased by the firm five years ago. The vessel had newly gone through the Board of Trade survey, and she had never before experienced the slightest mishap. There were three boats on board.

The only way in which the Snowden could have been lost, in Mr Brown’s opinion, was her having shipped a heavy sea and her steering-gear being dislocated. In the distressing eventuality of the steamer being lost, Mr Brown expressed profound sympathy with the relatives of those on board.