| Ref Title: | MDHB/MS/4/2/1 | Ref Note: | EXTRACTS FROM THE SLIPS ISSUED BY THE LIVEEPOOL SALVAGE ASSOCIATION\r\nSUP, Dated 13th January, 1881.\r\nCaptain Flood was despatched to the assistance of this vessel. The bulk of the cattle were recovered and landed, and the work of discharging the remaining cargo is progressing as rapidly as possible. The hall of the vessel is badly broken and strained, and is a total wreck. The work of saving cargo is being carried on under an understanding with the Mersey Decks and Harbour Board, that the proceeds of all property saved shall be held subject in the first instance to the Boards lien under their Act of Parliament. The following is a memo, of cargo saved to date:77 Oxen, 193 Pigs, about 7 tons and 101 bags Indian Corn (sound), about 238 tons and 784 bags Indian Com (damaged), 628 bags Flour (damaged), 267 bags Wheat (damaged), 10 bales Cotton Waste (damaged), 196 bales Cotton (damaged), and a quantity of loose Cotton (damaged).\r\n
\r\nSLIP, Dated 25th January.\r\n
\r\nThe work at this vessel has been much delayed by the fogs and snow storms. The discharge, however, continues as opportunity offers. The following has been recovered since the last report:About 36 tons and 3,808 bags Indian Com, 772 bags Wheat, 16 bales Cotton, and 1 bale Waste.\r\nSLIP, Dated 2nd February.\r\nThis vessel is further broken and sunk in the sand since the last report. The following farther salvage has been made since the last Slip: 108 bags Wheat, 1,464 bags Indian Com and 187 bags Wheat and Com (mixed).\r\nSUP, Dated 28rd February.\r\nThe fore end of this vessel has been broken up by the recent gales. The after end still holds together, but is much sunken in the sand. The following has been recovered since the last report, and some further small salvage of Com, Pig Iron, and Materials may be expected :8,609 bags Indian Cora, about 60 tons Pig Iron, and a quantity of Copper and Lead Piping and Ironwork.\r\nSUP, Dated 14th March.\r\nThe following have been recovered since the last report 41 bags Indian Com, 1 Iron Mast, 9 Iron Stancheons, 1 Iron Shackle, a quantity of Pig Iron, a quantity of Ironwork, and a quantity of Copper Fipiag.\r\nMANIFEST AND OUT TURN\r\nSLIP, Dated 22nd April.\r\nThe work of destroying this vessel has been commenced by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board.\r\nThe following has been recovered since the last report: quantity of Pig Iron, Ship Iron and Material.\r\nI have examined Captain Flood, who superintended the salvage operations. He informs me that he arrived at the wreck at about 10 a.m. on the 4th January, and found the vessel lying on the edge of the Burbo Bank, close to No. 5 red buoy; she was almost on an even keel, at low water was high and dry, and at high water had about four feet of dry side below the main deck. The hull had broken in two, about six feet forward of the engine-room bulkhead, all the holds were full of water, and it was evident that the vessel could not be saved. As soon as possible tugs and labourers were obtained, and the discharge of the cattle was commenced, and continued with all possible despatch until the evening of the 6th, by which time all the cattle were landed. During this time no cargo was got out except some com which came through the broken side of the vessel, and was recovered by independent salvors. On the 6th the fracture had opened out to about four feet, and as the engine-room bulkhead appeared to be tight, an attempt was made to separate the two parts of the vessel, with a view to towing the after part, with the cargo it contained, to New Brighton; this, however, failed, as the part was deeply embedded in the sand, and the steam pump, which had been got on board, did not reduce the water in the holds; this plan was, therefore, abandoned, and the steam pump was sent on shore again. On the 7th the discharge of the more valuable portions of the cargo (cotton and dry portions of the wheat) was commenced, and from this time the salvage of cargo and materials was carried on with as little delay as possible. The work of salving the property was subsequently carried on, under contracts, by independent salvors, who discharged it from the wreck and delivered it on the quays at Liverpool. On the 22nd April all materials and cargo worth salving, having been got out, the Dock Board authorities proceeded to destroy the wreck, in order to clear the Channel.\r\nWhen landed, the cattle were delivered to the consignee. All the other cargo saved from the vessel was sold, and the proceeds are divided below.\r\nThe cost of destroying the wreck of the vessel far exceeded the proceeds of the materials and other portions of the wreck saved. The deficit is, therefore, charged, under the Mersey Docks Act, 1874, to the other property saved. |