Hartlepool History Then & Now

Pioneer - a general history

Official No. 54917.

Owners: 1866 A Scott, Sunderland: 1867 African Merchants Co Ltd, Freetown, Sierra Leone: 1872-76 The Dynevor, Duffryn & Neath Abbey United Colleries Co Ltd (Old Broad Street, London) Sunderland: by 1878 Swansea.

Masters: 1878 EJ Nicholas.

Pioneer sailed from Briton Ferry on 21 January 1878 bound for Hayle with a cargo of 215 tons of ‘Thro’ Main Colliery coal & a crew of 11 & disappeared. The schooner New Parliament had seen a sinking steamer on 25 January but was unable to assist because of a heavy gale & high seas. A boat containing five or seven men was seen from Padstow to be swamped by the mountainous seas. The Padstow lifeboat made repeated attempts to reach the men but was unsuccessful. On 28 January a boat from Pioneer washed ashore at Padstow Harbour which was thought to be the same one that had been swamped.

A pocket case was also picked up which belonged to David Davies, engineer of the Pioneer.

Lives lost:

Davies, David, engineer

Nicolas, E. J. master

Truscott, John, mate, Penzance