Loss

Date 21 October 1874

Event ID 588342

Category Documentary Reference

Type Loss

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/588342

21 October 1874, CHUSAN, 1 month old, of Glasgow, SS, 957 tons, 49 crew, Master G. C. Johnson, Owners Shanghae Steam Navigation Company, departed Waterford for Glasgow, carrying coal & 4 passengers, foundered, total loss, 9 crew lives lost, wind NW9, entrance to Ardrossan Harbour.

Source: PP Abstracts Returns of Wrecks and Casualties on Coasts of the UK 1874 - 75 (1875 [C.1341] LXX.501).

21 October 1874, CHUSAN, iron, Official No.71,670. From her peculiar model and dimensions, the vessel was not considered safe and seaworthy for a passage to China at the season of the year she sailed. Her loss attiributed to an error of judgement on the part of the Master, who perished in the wreck. Inquiry held at Ardrossan.

Table 46: Statement of Official Inquiries in the United Kingdom into the causes of Wrecks, Casualties, and Collisions, ordered by the Board of Trade during the Year 1874-5.

Source: PP Abstracts Returns of Wrecks and Casualties on Coasts of the UK 1874 - 75 (1875 [C.1341] LXX.501).

21 October 1874, John Templeton, ship carpenter, Gavin Keen, ship carpenter, Archibald Boyd, ship carpenter, Patrick Mackay, pig iron labourer, all of Ardrossan, awarded £3 each out of the Mercantile Marine Fund, for having put out in a small boat at considerable risk, to aid some of the crew of the SS CHUSAN, of Glasgow, who were struggling in the water when that vessel was wrecked at Ardrossan. They afterwards pulled to the wreck, and made several gallant but ineffectual attempts to rescue a man who was in a dangerous position at the taffrail, and did not desist in their efforts until their boat was half full of water and nearly swamped.

Table 57. List of persons, subjects of Great Britain and its Dependencies, to whom rewards have been granted by the British Government, during the Year 1874-5, for Gallant Services in Saving Life from Shipwreck.

Source: PP Abstracts Returns of Wrecks and Casualties on Coasts of the UK 1874 - 75 (1875 [C.1341] LXX.501).

Ardrossan, 21st Oct., 8.35 a.m., the CHUSAN (s) has been totally lost here: master (Johnson) and many of crew drowned: lifeboat now doing service.

Source: Shipping Intelligence, LL, No. 18,877, London, Thursday October 22 1874.

Ardrossan, 21st Oct., 12.35 p.m., [another telegram], the CHUSAN (s), of Glasgow, from Glasgow to Shanghai, in coming into harbour, at 5 this morning, whilst putting back from Waterford to Glasgow, struck on Crinan rock, and parted amidships: the forward part floated into harbour, and the after part sunk outside the pier: part of crew saved.

Source: Shipping Intelligence, LL, No. 18,877, London, Thursday October 22 1874.

Ardrossan, 21st Oct., 8 p.m., the CHUSAN (s), sunk in four fathoms at high water between both piers, at the entrance to the harbour: fore part from after bulkhead, forehold inside harbour safe: harbour authorities must have her removed.

Source: Shipping Intelligence, LL, No. 18,878, London, Friday October 23 1874.

NMRS, MS/829/69 (no. 2548).

(Classified as iron paddle steamship: no cargo specified but date of loss cited as 21 October 1874). Chusan: this vessel stranded [on] Crinan Rock and broke in two. Capt. Johnstone. All gone by 5 May 1875: sold in August.

Registration: Glasgow. Built 1874. 1381grt. Length: 90m. Beam: 15m.

(Location of loss cited as N55 38.53 W4 49.57).

I G Whittaker 1998.