King Arthur Voyage History

Official No. 29783: Code Letters QHCM: laid down as King Canute.

Owners: 1861 Higgins & Co, London: 1871 Thomas & J Harrison & Co, Liverpool

Masters: 1865 G Griggs (C.N.13629 Plymouth 1855): 1866-75 John Shiell (C.N.543 Newcastle-on-Tyne 1848): 1878 Rickwood: 1878 William Nelson (C.N.15188 Belfast 1856)

King Arthur left Charleston on 26 November 1878 bound for Liverpool with a cargo of 4,266 bales of cotton (about 850 tons) 100 tons of kentledge (pig-iron) & a crew of 20. On losing her upper & lower fore sail in a strong wind the vessel drifted & struck ground in the upper part of Bannow Bay, County Wexford on 31 December 1878. Tugs saved 1,700 of the bales of cotton. The Court decided that the master had navigated improperly & in an unreasonable manner. His certificate was suspended for six months but he was recommended for a mate’s certificate in the interim. The 2nd mate was also reprimanded. No lives lost. Full Wreck Report can be found at PortCities Southampton.

Crew December 1878:

Almond, Robert

Gartland, John

Gelly, William

McGinnis

 left Charleston on 26 November 1878 bound for Liverpool with a cargo of 4,266 bales of cotton (about 850 tons) 100 tons of kentledge (pig-iron) & a crew of 20. On losing her upper & lower fore sail in a strong wind the vessel drifted & struck ground in the upper part of Bannow Bay, County Wexford on 31 December 1878. Tugs saved 1,700 of the bales of cotton. The Court decided that the master had navigated improperly & in an unreasonable manner. His certificate was suspended for six months but he was recommended for a mate’s certificate in the interim. The 2nd mate was also reprimanded. No lives lost. The full Wreck Report can be found on PortCities Southampton.

Crew December 1878:

Almond, Robert

Gartland, John

Gelly, William

McGinnis