Hartlepool History Then & Now

West Indian - a general history

Completed 7 November 1865; Official No. 29965: Code Letters HRCG.

Owners: 1865 West India & Pacific SS Co Ltd (GC Dobell & Co) Liverpool

Masters: 1865 William Walter Riddle (C.N. 74685 Girvan): 1887-90 James L Beertie/Bertie: 1891-92 SF Scott.

Other Masters: Robert Watson: Jonathan Peper: Samuel R Foch: Arthur W Bremner: John David: John Coward.

Voyages: March 1869 Singapore for Hong Kong: 21 July 1891 San Francisco for Iquiqui.

She sailed from San Francisco for Acajutla, Salvador in 1892 with a general cargo, a crew of 30 & one passenger. At Acajutla difficulty was being experienced loading her cargo of coffee as she was lying too far out. On 19 March 1892 the master was asked to bring her closer to the iron pier but as she was being manoeuvred she struck on rocks. The sea was calm & the crew reached shore easily. They then returned to the vessel & managed to save about 2,000 bags of coffee but most of this was ruined with the salt water. The West Indian then slid off the rocks into deep water. No lives lost.

British Register closed 24 November 1892.

Crew 1892:

Locke, LP. 1^st officer

Mooney, George, fireman