Schooner Emma Grace of Fleetwood, built Peter Barclay and Son,
Ardrossan 1872
ON 67133; wooden; 118 grt; 100 nrt; 86.0 x 20.5 x 10.7 ft.
Owned Fisher Brothers, Fleetwood
Voyage Connah's Quay to Rochester with bricks.
Driven ashore on Salisbury Bank in Dee Estuary, 28 November 1897.
Captain John Manifold.
From Flint Observer, Thursday 2 Dec 1897:
A crew in a
perilous position. The gale on Sunday raged with exceptional violence,
and the tide driven by the wind rose to a great height. In Mostyn Deeps
a large number of ships were lying at anchor. Each of the ships safely
rode out the gale with the exception of the schooner Emma Grace, which
dragged her anchor during Sunday night [28 November 1897], and was
driven on Salisbury bank. The waves made a clear breach over her, and
the crew were taken off by the Hoylake lifeboat, and landed on the
Cheshire beach, near Heswall, after a most perilous adventure. The Emma
Grace left Connah's Quay a few days ago, bound to Rochester, laden with
a cargo of bricks, by C. Davison and Co., Buckley. She is a fine
coasting schooner of 200 tons burthen, and is owned by Messrs Fisher,
Fleetwood, shipbrokers, and is commanded by Capt. John Manifold, of the
Quay [Connah's Quay]. The opinion is expressed that to refloat the ship
the cargo will have to be discharged, and the extent of the damage is so
serious that she will be practically worthless.
From Cheshire Observer - Saturday 11 December 1897:
THE
GALE. SHIP ASHORE IN THE DEE. The weather continues of a tempestuous
character, and there was a slight snowfall in Chester on Wednesday
morning. Strong winds (says our Connah's Quay correspondent) have
prevailed in the Dee estuary throughout the week. Many ships outward
bound have been detained for a long period, unable to proceed on their
respective voyages owing to stress of weather, and the unfortunate
detention is being keenly felt by the masters and owners of the ships.
Efforts have been made to raise the schooner Emma Grace, which was
driven ashore during the severe gale on Sunday week on Salisbury bank,
near Mostyn. The ship lies deeply embedded in the sand, and although a
large portion of the cargo has been discharged, all efforts to re-float
the ship have proved un-availing. A number of pumps have been set to
work during tide, but the water has flowed into the hold so rapidly that
this method is practically useless. Another attempt is to be made to
raise the ship by means of placing barrels in the hold, which will
assist in floating her, but the severe weather, up to the present,
prevents anything from being done in this direction. Hopes are,
however, expressed that the ship will ultimately be brought up to
Connah's Quay to undergo the necessary repairs, and not be entirely
lost.
From Liverpool Mercury Thursday 16 December 1897
THE WRECK
IN THE DEE. The fine schooner Emma Grace, which was blown ashore on the
Salisbury Bank, in the Dee estuary, during the recent severe gale, has
now been abandoned as a total wreck. The vessel was on a voyage from
Connah's Quay to Rochester with a cargo of bricks when the mishap befell
her. During last week efforts were made to refloat her but it was found
the vessel was so seriously damaged that the cost of repairs would be
prohibitive, and so she has been abandoned. She is a vessel of 200
tons, and is owned by Messrs Fisher Bros, Fleetwood, and insured in the
Dee Mutual Insurance Society. The captain and crew have lost all their
belongings.