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Archiver > Mariners > 2004-06 > 1086445076


From: Ron Mapplebeck <>
Subject: Re: [Mar] S.S.'ETHEL' 1888
Date: Sat, 05 Jun 2004 15:19:51 +0100
References: <011101c44ae5$5a327940$34a17ad5@Haskins>
In-Reply-To: <011101c44ae5$5a327940$34a17ad5@Haskins>


Jenny,

First, while trying to find something about this disaster I Googled and
came across a cached webpage (which no longer seems to be active) at:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=cache:zs52MlzE3KMJ:jleblanc.freeyellow.com/SGM001.doc+lifeboat+staithes+1888&hl=en
which listed the M.Verrill and the ELISE (or ELISO on this page) you
made enquiries about on a previous occasion.

It also lists an award in 1896 to a T. Verrill.
In case the link won't work I was Googling for lifeboat+staithes+1888.
It was the last of the entries to show.

From that Google search the lifeboat disaster is briefly mentioned
at:http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/staithes.htm
along with various other people with the Verrill surname.

Sorry, but none of this helps find anything about the S/S ETHEL sailing
from Middlesbrough (only one'o'!) on 27 November 1888! If S/S is an
accurate record this indicates she was a steam ship. Looking at my 1897
Register by then there were four steamships of this name, all of which
were probably also in service as such back in 1888. Of these, one
registered at Stockton (-on-Tees) and another at South Shields (River
Tyne - 40 miles up coast) might be the prime candidates, but the others,
registered Glasgow (she had a previous name, date of change not known)
and Newport (Wales) could also have been trading to/from Middlesbrough
on the River Tees.

However, hope this may still be of some interest?

Ron Mapplebeck
Middlesbrough, UK
****
BILL HASKINS wrote:

> S.S.ETHEL Nov 1888
> Dear friends
> Would anyone know anything about the steamship 'ETHEL' which was southward bound out of Middlesborough in
> a south easterly gale. on 27th November 1888.?
> That night evidently, nearly all the local Staithes lifeboatmen and both coxwains were out with the cobbles ,fishing, so a scratch lifeboat crew under Joseph Verrill went to escort 40 of the cobbles back into harbour, only to discover that one cobble was missing. So, once again,'The WINIFRIDE MARY HOPPS' now with the regular crew, went out again at 6.0 in the pitch dark, which ended in tragedy as it was overturned, with one member losing his life on the rocks, the others managing to scramble ashore.
> Meanwhile the lifeboat itself, had drifted out to sea, where most of her gear was either broken or lost. She dropped anchor and was eventually rescued by the 'ETHEL' who took her into tow back to Middlesborough.
>
> Out of curiosity, could someone tell me whether the owners of the Ethel would have been compensated for their 'diversion' ? The R.N.L.I gave a 'Thanks on Vellum' to the Captain of the S.S.Ethel... Captain Henry Whittington.
> What kind of ship was she?
> Many thanks for all your help Jenny H
>
>
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