Disembarkation-
Page 8
Jimmy Mahoney
Jimmy Mahoney of Bishopswater, worked on the docks of Wexford. In fact he was the last stevedore of the Port of Wexford.
Jimmy's family had worked on Wexford docks for many years; his grandfather, father and brother had been stevedores before him. He started on the quay himself at the age of 22, after some years in Pierces foundry. To start with he was a casual and operated the winch during unloading. At that time the port was busy with Harry Wilson, George Stafford, two Kinsellas and J.J. Stafford bringing in cargo, mostly coal.
The workers were paid by tonnage, the stevedore getting the payment from the merchant and dividing it among the dockers. The work, he said, was hard but he enjoyed it. There was no such thing as 'wet time', if it rained you worked on. Likewise there was no 'sick benefit,' when a worker was off due to illness his friends 'clubbed' together to provide a few pounds for him.
The hours for a docker could be long, Jimmy remembers working straight 40 hours without so much as a
'lie down.' He also recalls the 'Friso' docking with 48 tons of coal and the skipper seeing the men with buckets and shovels thinking he would be in port for a month. But the dockers set to work and cleared her by 5 o'clock that evening.
Jimmy Mahoney was sad to see the port close in the sixties, not because he lost a job but he could visualise the benefit to Wexford of the Common Market, if the harbour had been improved to take bigger ships. He believes that industrialists would have been beating a path to our door with jobs and factories if we had a port handling large ships in which goods could have been imported and exported.
John Clare
John Michael Clare was another of the Wexford sailors. He served as an ordinary seaman on board the
'Tuskar' at the age of 18 years in 1897. On that vessel he travelled to the British channel ports. As with many of the mariners of Wexford in that era, he was also studying at the time and eventually secured his Masters ticket.
During the 1914-18 war he was torpedoed off Cyprus, but lived to tell the tale. He later captained a ship, based in Hong Kong, sailing the coast of China. He later retired to his homeport where he had a boat built and became engaged in the fishing industry. During the early 30s he felt compelled to put pen to paper and protest to the Free State Government about plans to fill in The Cresent in Wexford. In his letters he pointed out the value of the Crescent as a public waterway and a water station for arrivals and departures.
He, and many other Wexford sailors used the Crescent to moor small boats in which they gained access to their larger vessel at anchor in the bay. In his opinion, the closure would have destroyed a right of way and a 'right of succession.'
The Crescent was saved, but a combination of foreign poaching and the Depression caused Captain Clare to leave Wexford once again and return to the China Sea.
Captain John Michael Clare died suddenly on board his ship in 1936 and was buried in Hong Kong, one of many Wexford seafarers at 'final moorings' in distant lands.
A Newspaper Report
In a Lloyds register dated 1843, Wexford appeared as one of the busiest ports of the United Kingdom. A writer in 'The People' of August 1945 visited a local sailor armed with the list and was rewarded with the following information.
The Lloyds representative or surveyor at Wexford in 1843 was Mark Devereux.
ALICIA a schooner was a vessel of 73 tons captained by Mr. Quirke. A story was told that she was involved in the rescue of the passengers and crew of a Glasgow ship which was lost off the Barrells Rock.
Some time later apparently, the ALICIA was recognised on a trip to Glasgow and the incident recalled.
Local ship merchants raised funds by public subscription and presented a schooner called PANDORA to the Wexford skipper.
The DENIS CARTY was last skippered by Captain Tom Walsh and she later served as a coal hulk in Newport.
The smack, HENRY, owned by Devereuxes, captained by Ambrose Butler sank off the Barrels Rock . .
The schooner, MARIA, sank off Hook Head.
MARIA, MARQUIS OF ELY, MARY (a smack) and the MICHAEL WICKHAM were all laid up off Ferrybank at the end of their useful lives and were broken up by storms and tides.
The schooner, STAR, ended her days in the Cresent. RAMBLER ran ashore in Rosslare Bay and was wrecked. Another schooner, ROVER sank in Llanelly Bay, while Sea Flower was sold on to Dun Laoghaire. SWIFT, another schooner sank in Dundrum Bay while bound from Wexford to Glasgow with a cargo of beans. The TIGER broke her back on the Blackwater Bank and COMMERCE was lost on the Wexford bar.
In 1830 the schooner AUSPICIOUS was built at Bannow. She was owned by J. Morris of Wexford and traded between Waterford and Dublin. NATIVE, of 119 tons was built at Wexford in 1834, she was owned by C. Archer and skippered by Captain Codd.
One Wexford shipyard stood at the present Church Lane car park and another at Kaat's Strand at the bottom of the lane almost opposite Westgate.
Wexford port had 3 vessels named PROVIDENCE, 2 HOPES, 2 MARY and 2 UNION.
The ship WEXFORD was of 254 tons and with a local crew under Captain Patrick Kelly of North Main St., she traded between Wexford, London and Bermuda.
The following were listed in the Lloyds register of 1843:
Active (78 tons), T. Hawse, master; Aimwell (90), J. English, master; Albion (101), brig, T. O'Connor; Alicia (73), T. Walsh; Ann, (313), barque, R. Key; Arctic (52), J. Murphy; Auspicious (55), P. Meyler; Blucher (108), J. Roche; Craysfort (54), R. Kearon; Dart (55), E. Cullen; Denis Carty (89), J. Connors; Favourite, (59), P. Hughes; George (52), J. Doyle; Ponsomby, brig (86), P. Quirke; Gnat (91), G. Morgan; Henry, smack (61), J. Williams; Hope (53), P. Hull; Hope, schooner (66), J. Sheil; Huldah (84), P. King; Intrepid, schooner (74), H. Rowe; Lady Douglas, brig (120), J. Cullen; Lark (96), Hammond; Liberty (65), D. Roach; Liverpool (99), M. Scallan; Marchioness of Wellesley (118), T. Whitty; Maria, schooner (96), J. Roche; Marquis of Ely (71), J. Roche; Mary (63), Devereux, master; Mary Ann (66), T. Barry; Mermaid (68), Doolittle; Michael Wickham (46), Wickham; Native, schooner (119), P. Codd; Norris Castle (53), J. Hall; Peace (75), J. Murphy; Perserverence, schooner (77), Lambert; Providence (82), L.
Butler; Rambler, (60), Campbell; Rover (91), S. Neill; Sarah (112) J. French; Sea Flower (68), N. Codd; Shannon (57), D. Doyle; Sisters, E. English; Providence (59), P. Rossiter; Prude (51), N. Noily; Star (91), J. Connor; Success (67), J. Spencer; Swift (83), W.Neville; Thistle, (62), J. Carr; Tiger (84), M. Brennan; Trio (174), J. Carr; Union, sloop (78), S. Connolly; Union (100), P. Howlin; Wexford (254), J. Quinn; William Whitty (93), L. Sheal; Armada, smack (34), Rossiter; Commerce, schooner (79), Hammond; Ellen, brig (95), J. Sheil; Tottenham, barque (303), T. Thomas.
A Voyage from Wexfordto Sulinah in 1866
The material which follows consists of verbatim extracts from the Logs of the Brig 'ALERT' of Wexford sailing from the Port of Wexford to Cardiff, Malta and up to the Black Sea.The original spelling and abbreviations are retained.
Commanded by Captain Patrick Cogley.
Commencing June 12th 1866
Ending this 14th Day of November 1866
Log kept by Laurence Murphy, Mate.
June 5th 1866 preparing from 5 a.m. for sailing at 7.00. The Steamboat came alongside and towed us up to the ballast ground.
Saturday June 16th, got in a berth to discharge the ballast. Strong breeze from NW, squally and rane.
Monday June 18th, finished discharging ballast. Light breeze from South. Brady, Greene and Clancy off duty, onshore without liberty.
Thursday 21st, Light breeze from NW. People imployed learning new gear such as braces, haulyards & c.
Friday July 6th 1866, Towed out of dock and came in the Roads (?). P.M. Squally with rane, thunder and lightning, got the gibboom out and studding sail booms on the yards.
Saturday 7th, Clear weather. People imployed quoiling the Hawser and wraps away. This log is in civil time. The Sea Log is Nautical Time.
Sunday July 8th, Winds n.w. A refreshing breeze f
rom n.w. At 9 a.m. weighed anchor and made sail 6
p.m. abreast of the Nash. Stowed the fore topsail and flying gib. Thick and hazy, tacking when required.
Monday 9th, At 4 p.m. bore n.n.e. dist. 7 miles and tacked to the south at 12 tacked to the north.
Wednesday llth. Variable port wind, more easterly, set the port studding sails. Pumps duly attended to.
Thursday 12th, Course S.W. Weather in latter part of day clear. Got the anchors on the Forecastle.
Latitude 48 . 33 N Longitude 8 . 45 West From Cardiff towards Malta.
Friday 13th, Course N.W. People imployed scrubbing the paint work. 47.55 N 9.25 W.
Monday 16th, SW by S. Two sails in sight stearing to the south. People imployed in sundry jobs.
Tuesday 17th, W SW. People imployed picking the bread, the small from the large.
Monday July 23rd, S.SW. People imployed overhauling the spare canvas or sails that were below.
Tuesday 24th, People imployed scraping the mast.
Thursday 26th, At 10.30 observed to the north of Cape St. Vincents 10 sails in company. People imployed in painting the boat. At noon the Cape a point on the P.Bow.
Friday 27th, At noon abreast of Cape Uaries (?) about 30 miles off.
Sunday 29th, At noon abreast of Tarofa (?)
Tuesday 31st, At 11.30 Cape Digat bore NE Vi N. about 12 miles distant. People imployed scraping the old paint of inside. Lat. 37 N. Long 57 W.
Thursday August 2nd, Passed the Thomas English with her fore topmast gon.
Friday 3rd. People imployed painting the ship inside. Pumps carefully attended too.
Sunday 5th. Tacked to the south. Six sails in sight bound to the Eastward. 38.23 N 4.6 E.
Monday 6th. Lighting out of the N.W. Quarter. People imployed making mats.
Tuesday 7th. Observed the Seven Capes under our lee. Imployed enlarging the Lower Studding and making a flying gib out of an old gib. 38.11 N.6.51 E.
Thursday 9th. Galetta Island bore south distance 15 miles.
Friday 10th, At midnight Ambara (?) Island bore S by W distance 12 miles. Pantemaria Island SW by S at noon.
Saturday llth. At noon Gazar bore SE by E distance 20 miles. At 6 p.m. in Malta Harbour and the pilot came alongside and ordered us into the Quarenteen harbour to put up the quarenteed at 8 p.m. finished mooring and stowed the sails. This contain 36th log.
Monday 13th. Unmoored ship in quarenteed harbour and moved around the grain harbour and moored ship in the Ropewalk Street at 95 Store. At 9 a.m. got orders to hawl to 33 Store, did so and moored her there. Peopled cleared the decks and quarter the hawser and wraps.
Thursday August 16th 1866. Moderate breeze from the westward and sultry weather. Commenced to discharge to-day 80 tons weighed out. Two hands in Clancy and Duggans places. Clancy went to the hospitall to-day from the effect of a cut he got in the side ashore the evening before and Duggan of duty with a cut in the arm received a Shore at the same time from the same foreigners. This coals have been weighed by a distillars against the captains wishes as the were no English weights to be had.
Friday 17th. Discharged 91 tons to-day and 3 ways of the coal.
Saturday 18th. Discharged 47 tons to-day and Duggan and Clancy not able for duty yet.
Sunday 19th. At 8 p.m. Brady and Green came aft drunk and gave abusive language after being ashore without liberty.
Monday 30th. Laurence Duggan at work to-day. Michael Brady of Duty to- day from the effects of some beaten received on shore from some American Sailors. Discharged 30 tons of coal.
Wednesday 22nd. Finished discharging coal with a total of 360 tons, that is two tons of an increase.
Edward Clancy his clothes went on shore to-day a man shipped in his room but not come on bord.
Thursday 23rd. People imployed got the long boat in spars lashed, water filled and ballast trimmed. At 7
p.m. finished the ballast 10 feet aft and 9Vi fored. Brady returned to his duty to-day. The strange man left his clothes aboard to Night.
Friday 24th. Calm. At 4 a.m. unmoored ship and got her down to take on a few tons of ballast. The pilot left the ship at noon about 6 miles of harbour. This contains 12 hour log and commences the Sea Log Saturday 25th. At 4 p.m. a slight breeze from the north about 4 miles from MaltaHarbour. 35.53 N 14.8 E.
Wednesday 29th. At 8 p.m. observed a light on the north end of the island of Cerigo. At 4 passed the South end of the Island as we could not get through the Sound. At noon Cape Angelo bore NW by N.
Thursday 30th. At noon tacked to the Westward. Close under the Island of Milo.
Friday 31st. At Anchor. People imployed cleaning bulwark outside for painting.
Monday September 2nd. People up working ship through the Sound. At noon dodging in the Gulf if latalia (?) close to the Dora Passage. Towards Constantinople.
Wednesday 5th. AM at 8 Tenados bore NE by N, distance 25 miles. PM at 7. Came into Bay and stowed sail. This contains 36th log.
Thursday 6th. At 9 made sail to get up to White Cliffs. People imployed working ship.
Saturday 8th. At 9 a.m. Steamboat came alongside to tow us in round Point Niagra. At 2 p.m. let us go made sail to bate up at 7 p.m. came abreast of Fishermans Point on the Europe Side.
Sunday 9th. At noon close up with Galopoley. At 8 p.m. about 12 miles to the westward of Marmoria Island.
Monday 10th. People working ship the first part of the night all hands.
Thursday 13th. At 1 a.m. came to at the back of Suragly Point and stowed sails.
Friday 14th. At 4 a.m. hove up and the steam boat went on ahead to tow us out into the Black Sea with a moderate breeze from the NE at 11 a.m. let us go on the bospherous at noon about 10 miles of. This day ends with a fresh breeze and clear weather. People imployed matting the holds between decks.
Thursday 20th. At 8.30 p.m. observed Soulinah Light bearing NW. At 8 a.m. tacked in for the pier and received the pilot on board. Moored in Soulinah at 11 a.m. all ready to commence at the ballast at 12
commenced discharging the latter.
Friday 21st. At 8 a.m. got a spar against the ships quarter to keep her of the ground. At 4.30 finished the ballast and commenced to get hold ready for cargo. At midnight mats all laid ready to take in cargo.
Monday 24th. At 8 p.m. finished loadin ship. People imployed trimming.
Tuesday 25th. The aspar against her quarter broke. Replaced it immediately. Some hands bringing water in the boat as it is salty where we are lying. Securing the fore hold.
Wednesday 26th. Blowing strong from the NE and a heavy Sea on the Bar. No chance of attemptig out over it.
Friday 28th. Heavy sea on the bar and pilot would not take us out.
Saturday 29th. The steamboat towed us out into the Black Sea. Made all sail and set the Port Topmast Studding sail.
Monday October 1st., 1866. Dark and hazy with light showers. Observed the lights of the Bosphorus bearing SSW. Close in with the light houses at 10 a.m.
Thursday 4th. From Soulina towards Wexford Bay. At 9 p.m. down with Marmuria Island. At midnight dodging close to Galiopley. At 10 a.m. passed the Castles of Asia. At noon down at Cape Hellas.
Saturday 6th. At 2 a.m. down with the Island of St. Georgia. At midnight abreast of Bella Pola Island.
AM at 6 hawled the ship up to pass to the south of Cerigo Island as it is squally in the Sound. At noon Cape Matapan bore N. distance 15 miles.
Wednesday 10th. At noon Pontellaria bore W NW 20 miles. People imployed scraping the mast.
Friday 12th. At 10 a.m. abreast of Zembria Island.
Monday 15th. People imployed tarring the Rigging. 37.52N 4.53 E.
Friday 19th. People imployed painting the long boat and repairing the Mainsail. At noon down with Adra.
Sunday 26th. At 8 p.m. wind increasing. Observed the light on Europa Point.
Monday 22nd. A great flleet of ships in company. People imployed painting the ship outside and got the starboard anchor on the Fore Castle. At noon Cape St. Vincent bore N by W 25 miles d
istant.
Thursday 25th. People imployed got the long main Topgallantmast down and got the short one up.
Friday November 2nd. At 4.45 p.m. passed a Brig dismasted and waterlogged called The Fred. H. Parket of Hartlepoole.
Tuesday 6th. All people imployed in cleaning the ship aloft. Three schooners in company.
Monday 12th. At 2 p.m. observed the Mettle Man bearing N NE distance 12 miles. At 6 p.m. spoke (?) the Conning-beg ship. At 2 squared away from the Tuskar. At 7.30 in the South Sheer the wind fell calm went around to the north. PM at 2 let go in the south bay squally with rane. This contains 36th Log and ends the Sea Log.
Tuesday 13th. At 5 a.m. finished the loading of the Topaz about 165 tons which lightened the ship to a 11
ft. 1 inch aft and 10 ft. 7 inch fored. At 9 a.m. Taylor Nailor came alongside and commenced immediately to work. At 3 p.m. finsihed her.
Wednesday 14th. At 8 the steamboat went ahead to tow us in at 9 on the bar, just stopped for a few minutes at 10 up at the quay and left her by to a single anchor until night to moor her at 6 p.m. finished the mooring of the ship abreast of the office and pumped ship when finished the Log.
Ships Accounts for Voyage
At Wexford:
Corn Allowance 5/ =
Eggs8/=
Cardiff a/cl3/=
Trimming Ballast and Hatchway 5/ =
Carving Knife and Fork 3/6
Sail Needles 3/=
Fish Hooks 1/=
Trimming Coal 2/ =
Allowance to Trimmers 2/ =
Allowance to Weigher and Tipper 3/ =
Berthing and Dock Gate M. Allowance 5/ =
Man Washing down Deck 2/ =
Total Wexford onto Cardiff £1 -19 - 6.
At lbrail:
Ships Chandlers Bill including sundry expenses 433 qts 25 prs Harbourage and Coals 108 qts
Expenses on Shore for two dinners 10 qts