Melancholy loss of the whale-fishing ship Oscar, of Aberdeen, on Thursday, April 1, 1813

by Anonymous

Melancholy Loss

OF THE

WHALE-FISHING SHIP

OSCAR,

OF

ABERDEEN,

 

On THURSDAY, April 1, 1813.

 

 

ABERDEEN:
PRINTED BY J. DANIEL & COMPANY.

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1853.

LOSS OF THE OSCAR

 

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On Thursday last, after a tract of the mildest weather known for many years, one of the most sudden and violent storms, for its short duration, was experienced here, which is recollected by the oldest inhabitant, and attended with one of the most melancholy and distressing events that ever happened at this place.

In the morning, the wind, which had been westerly during the night, veered round to the south-eastward, with snow, blowing strong, but shifted soon after to the north-eastward. At this time five of the Whale-fishing Ships belonging to this port, and among them the Oscar, Captain John Innes, which had sailed early in the morning, were riding at anchor in the bay; and the weather being still unsettled and having the appearance of an impending storm, about five o'clock the Oscar weighed and stood out to sea. A boat having gone ashore for some of the crew who were absent, the vessel put about stood into the bay, and succeeded in geting the last of her hands on board. By this time she was far in-shore; and a fatal calm, with a heavy rolling sea and strong flood-tide coming on, rendered it impracticable to clear the Girdleness. _ The vessel continuing to fall to the leeward, was again nnder the necessity of bringing up in the face of the rocky shore, within the Ness. Soon after which, the great violence of the gale which commenced from N.E. with thick snow, rendered her situation perilous in the extreme, and filled the minds of the people on shore with the most painful apprehensions.

About half-past eleven o’clock, A.M., the Oscar, after dragging her anchor, was seen to go ashore in the Grey Hope, near the Short Ness. A considerable number of people succeeded in getting across by the Ferry, and hastened to the spot, in order to render such assistance as might be found in their power. The heart-rending scene which, however, now presented itself, made it too apparent that all human efforts for preservation of the unfortunate ship and crew must be unavailing. The vessel lay among large rocks, and from the tremendous sea which went over her, was already breaking up. At this time an attempt was made by the crew to form a sort of bridge to the nearest rocks, by cutting away the main-mast, which unfortunately fell alongside the ship instead of towards the shore as they had fondly expected. Many of the men who had clung to the rigging were now plunged into the sea, by the falling of the fore and mizen masts and disappeared in the merciless ocean; and most of the remainder, having nothing to hold by, were swept off the wreck, and sunk in sight of those on shore, who could render them no assistance, although the distance between them and the unfortunate seamen was such, as to admit of a communication of sentiment even by the countenance. The fate of several others seemed no less hard, for after having nearly gained the shore, they were swept off by the heavy surf, or borne down by the casks and other wreck with which they were surrounded. The forecastle of the Oscar still remaining above water, five men were observed, and among them Captain Innes was distinctly seen making signals for that assistance which coud not possibly be afforded; and, after clinging long to the wreck, and struggling hard for life, they shared the fate of their unfortunate companions, the vessel having soon gone to pieces. About this time, Mr. John Jamson, first mate, and James Venus, a seaman belonging to Shields, were with difficulty saved—being the only survivors of this sad catastrophe out of a crew of forty-four persons!

Thus perished the Oscar, which, but a few hours before, had sailed with the fairest prospect, and very complete in all her equipments; and thus was lost one of the finest and best disciplined crews which could go to sea—men who so lately set out full of hope and expectation, and was in one fatal hour cut off. A Subscription has been set on foot for the relief (illegible text) the Widows, Orphans, and other Relatives, who were dependent on the unfortunate sufferers, the most of whom were married, and many of whom have left very large families. The sums subscribed are intended to be disposed of for their relief by a Committee to be appointed for that purpose by the principal Subscribers

 

Aberdeen, 3d April, 1813.

LATE CREW OF THE OSCAR.

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John Innes, master, drowned ; John Jamson. first mate and harpooner, (illegible text)d, Jonathan Rogers, spectioneer and harpooneer, drowned; Mathew (illegible text)on, harpooneer, ditto; George Buchan, ditto, ditto; Alexander Buchan, harpooner, ditto; James Sinclair, boatsteerer, saved; Robert Richmond, steerer, drowned; James Sinclair, boatsteerer, drowned; Thomas Smith, steerer, drowned; John Goldie, cooper and boatsteerer, drowned; (illegible text)rt Morgan, line manager, drowned; William Roberts, line manager, (illegible text)ed; John Henderson, line manager, drowned; John Coutts, ine ma(illegible text), drowned; Alexander Marshall, surgeon, drowned; William Livie, (illegible text)n, drowned; James Short, seaman, drowned; James Sangster, seaman, drowned; Thomas Sangster, seaman, drowned; William Ogstown, (illegible text)n drowned; James Christie, seaman, drowned; John Buchan, seaman drowned; Andrew Peddie, seaman, drowned; James Catto, seaman (illegible text)ed; Alexander Gordon, seaman, drowned; John Bruce, seaman, (illegible text)ed; William Davidson, seaman, drowned; Alexander Buchan, [2d] (illegible text)n, drowned; William Dunn, seaman, drowned; Daniel Alcock, sea(illegible text) drowned; Thomas Greig, seaman, drowned; John Tait Sim, cook, (illegible text)ed; George Lawrence, carpenter, drowned: John Stewart, landsman, (illegible text); John Anderson, landsman, drowned; William Anderson, lands(illegible text), drowned; William Walker, landsman, drowned; George M^cDonald, (illegible text)an, drowned; Alexander Riddel, apprentice, drowned; Robert Rid(illegible text), apprentice, drowned; John Palmer, apprentice, drowned; Forbes (illegible text), apprentice, drowned; Charles Sim, apprentice, drowned, making in (illegible text)rty four,