Morna - a general history

Completed May 1862; Official No. 44951: Code Letters VBHQ.

Owners: 1862 London, Edinburgh & Leith Shipping Co, Leith: 1886 London & Edinburgh Shipping Co, Leith: 1894 Perez y Hermano, Valencia, Spain-renamed Perez.

Masters: 1862-66 T Raison: 1867-69 Howling: 1870-71 J Main: 1872-74 J Robertson: 1874 A Howling: 1875-77 J Raison: 1878-86 Clark: 1887-88 Thompson: 1890-91 J Main: 1891-93 W Dawson: 1894 A Learmouth: 1895-1900 T Ors.

Voyages: Morna saved the crew of five of the sinking vessel Julia off Whitby in November 1864: She made two voyages a week from Leith for London: 13 December 1864 took shelter in the Tyne after she took on water during a heavy storm, she had on board soldiers of the 14th & 26th Regiments of the Scots Greys: 25 June 1878 arrived Falmouth from Taganrog10 November 1878 from the Baltic for London with a cargo of wood & iron Farnley Hall took on a pilot, Edward James Denton, at Gravesend & proceeded to steam up the Thames. Morna was behind her & when the lead vessel slackened her speed for Cuckold’s Point Morna ran into her striking her on the port quarter cutting her down to the bilge. The pilot of Morna, Henry Whittingham Allen, was found to blame for approaching Cuckold’s Point at too great a speed.

October 1880 Morna went ashore on the SW arm of Green Bay, Newfoundland: On 5 September 1881 she arrived at Hermitage Wharf, London & began to discharge her cargo of which part consisted of crates of whisky. As the crates were being lifted by the steam crane the chain slipped & the whisky fell & ignited at the lamps the men were using which started a fire. George Saite, between 20 & 30 & married, & Joseph Turner were seriously burnt. Not much hope was held out for their recovery.

November 1894 Perez was bound for Valencia in ballast & had to put in at Corunna with damage due to stress of weather.

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