Maju: Aird Bharabais, Lewis, Atlantic

NB35SE 8001 c. 35 53

N58 23 W6 32

NLO: Aird Bharabhais [name: NB 354 532]

Butt of Lewis [name: NB 519 665].

Formerly entered as NB56NW 8006 (unlocated).

Possibly on map sheet NB35SW.

21 October 1874, MAJU, 2 mths old, of London, Lloyds 100 A1, 10.74, iron ship, 917 tons, 24 crew, Master J. Smith, Owner Kellick, Martin & Co., departed Dundee for Rangoon, carrying coal, foundered, total loss, 24 lives lost, wind NW11, about a mile from the parish manse of Bacoas, west coast of the Island of Lewis.

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

Stornoway, 23rd Oct., 9.35 a.m., a large vessel is reported ashore on the West side of this island, supposed to be the MAJU (barq.), of London. A brass plate has come ashore marked 'John Wilson & Co., Liverpool': a mate's certificate (?belonging to) C. W. Aitken, Poplar, London, has been found, and a dead body come ashore. Lloyd's agen is just starting for the place. [The MAJU, Smith, sailed from Dundee, 16th Oct., for Rangoon].

Source: Shipping Intelligence, LL, No. 18,879, London, Saturday October 24 1874.

Stornoway, 23rd Oct., 2.20 p.m., the MAJU is in pieces near the Butt of Lewis, 16 miles from here: all hands supposed lost: one corpse washed ashore.

Source: Shipping Intelligence, LL, No. 18,879, London, Saturday October 24 1874.

Stornoway, 23rd Oct., 8.15 p.m., Lloyd's agent has just returned from the MAJU, which is a total wreck: nothing has come ashore but part of the cabin and light work on deck, and six corpses: the Receiver of Wreck has taken charge of what remains, which will not pay for saving.

Source: Shipping Intelligence, LL, No. 18,879, London, Saturday October 24 1874.

Glasgow, 26th Oct., the whole deck of a large steamer, with paddle wings attached, no marks, was found, 22nd Oct., at Pabbay island, near Bernera, on the W side of Lewis: the whole coast in that direction is strewn with logs of timber and other wreckage.

Source: Shipping Intelligence, LL, No. 18,882, London, Wednesday October 28 1874.

Stornoway, 30th Oct., 10.26 a.m., there is no truth in the report that part of a steamer had washed ashore on this island: all the wreckage washed ashore is from the MAJU.

Source: Shipping Intelligence, LL, No. 18,886, London, Monday November 2 1874.

Stornoway, 2nd Nov., portions of the MAJU, of London, wrecked at Aird Bharabais, consisting of deck planks, three masts, sails, etc., very much damaged, have been saved: the hull of the vessel is not visible, but is supposed to be a short distance from the shore.

Source: Shipping Intelligence, LL, No. 18,891, London, Saturday November 7 [1874].

Stornoway, 15th Dec., it is stated that the tops of the lower masts of the MAJU are now above water.

Source: Shipping Intelligence, LL, No. 18,927, London, Saturday December 19 [1874].

NMRS, MS/829/69 (no. 2549).

(Classified as iron clipper ship: no cargo specified, but date of loss cited as 20 October 1874). Maju (Magic?): this vessel was wrecked at Aird Bharabais (possibly Aird Barvas), near the Butt of Lewis. Capt. Smith.

Registration: London. Built 1874. 953 tons [unspecified].

(Location of loss cited as N58 23.5 W6 32.0).

I G Whittaker 1998.

The location assigned to this record is essentially tentative.

The parish manse of Bacoas (possibly Barvas parish manse) cannot be identified from the available map evidence.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 25 June 2002 and 6 April 2004.