tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7664161328950208999.post5288514200560321461..comments2024-03-23T06:08:31.299-07:00Comments on ... except the Kyles and Western Isles: Stromeferry - Part 3Neil Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15567487892239196569noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7664161328950208999.post-36447267503242896962010-05-20T15:51:19.356-07:002010-05-20T15:51:19.356-07:00Ive been looking at History of SS Ferret, Because ...Ive been looking at History of SS Ferret, Because my Great Great Grandad was at one time the Captain of SS Ferret. Its very frustrating because me and my family have been trying to find out what happened to him. In his Death Certificate, The Death was left completely blank! If anyone knows more information or all the list of Captains of the SS Ferret that will be very helpful. My Great Great Grandads name was Malcolm Carmichael.<br /><br />You can reach me at goth.angel.8@hotmail.com<br /><br />Thankyou,<br /><br />Rebecca.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7664161328950208999.post-3764292269830373812010-02-01T09:48:42.949-08:002010-02-01T09:48:42.949-08:00A very interesting read, Neil! I'm looking fo...A very interesting read, Neil! I'm looking forward to the continuation! By the way, I have now moved the setting of Port na Cailleach (note change of spelling) to South West Syke (opposite side of the headland to Armadale) and will be modelling it as part of the line that was proposed to be built on the Isle of Skye. There's a few bits of history about surrounding that proposal that will make for fun integrating real life with the model.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03840524223867789525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7664161328950208999.post-74579811913479475652010-01-29T05:01:19.023-08:002010-01-29T05:01:19.023-08:00Thanks for the feedback Rob. I had it in the back ...Thanks for the feedback Rob. I had it in the back of my mind there was some story about one of the Stromeferry steamers so thanks for supplying it. Don't think I can ID the steamers in the pics, though!Neil Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15567487892239196569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7664161328950208999.post-12646918809225963632010-01-28T15:05:31.484-08:002010-01-28T15:05:31.484-08:00Well worth the wait Neil.
In the 1st B&W pic...Well worth the wait Neil. <br /><br />In the 1st B&W picture is a steamer. Do you reckon you can date the image from it? In all probability it will be the paddler, CARHAM of 1864 as the funnel and masts seem to correlate with other images I have.<br /><br />The 2nd B&W picture also has a steamer in it, although it looks like a screw steamer, unlike the CARHAM. It could be the D&SR's illfated FERRET which serves at Strome between 1874 and 1880.<br /><br />Do you know the interesting story of the FERRET?<br /><br />Originally owned by G&J Burns, FERRET was sold to the HR for £15000 in 1874. She served Portree, from Strome, with a Stornoway call added once a week, a Gailroch call every two weeks and a Poolewe call once a month. <br /><br />When MacBraynes took over the steamer services, they didn't want to use the D&SR steamers so they chartered the CARHAM to various operators before scrapping her in 1886.<br /><br />FERRET on the other hand had an interesting 'retirement'. She was chartered to Mr George Smith of London who apparantly had an invalid wife. A doctor had prescribed her a cruise and her husband had chosen the FERRET. The rate was £270 a month for 6 months. FERRET was loaded at Glasgow for the cruise with over 1000 bottles of wine, paid with an old form of credit note, and she sailed from Glasgow bound for the sun! This was late October.<br /><br />When the first installment of the charter agreement did not come through, the railway company wrote to Mr Smith at his London adress. The letter was returned as 'adressee unknown'. The credit note for the wine had been repudiated and Mr Smith had emptied his bank account days before leaving on the steamer.<br />The railway company enlisted the help of Lloyds to find the boat. She was reported, on the 11th November, as passing East through the straits of Gibraltar, than at Malta on the 24th January 1881. The railway company at once contacted the authorities of Malta to sieze the ship until 4 months charter was paid (£1080). The reply came back that no ship of the name FERRET had been seen near Malta!<br />In April reports came of wreckage near Gibraltar which was positively identified as that of the FERRET, and just as the claim for total loss was being processed a message came from Melbourne, Australia. FERRET was being detained there and Mr Smith and associates were under arrest and being held.<br /><br />In the trial it eerged that Mr Smith sailed FERRET from the Clyde to South Wales where the crew was chaged. He then set sail fro Gibraltar and made sure he was seen passing East, then in the night he reversed his course and blacked the navigation lights. After passing Gibraltar for the West he jettisoned 2 lifeboats and apparatus bearing the name of the ship.<br />By the time the sun was up the funnel had chaged colour and the name was changed to BENTAN.<br />Next stop was Santos in Brazil where he stated the ship was bound for londona nd could take a cargo. He recieved 3092 bags of coffee for Marseilles. Once out of sight of land off the Brazillian coast, BENTAN had a facelift to become INDIA. He sailed for Cape Town and sold the coffee for £11000. He planned to sell the ship too, but as no buyer was forthcoming he left for Mauritius, Western Australia and Melbourne. He was discovered because whilst ashore they left the ships fires burning to enable a quick getaway. A quick inspection discoverd a sheet of Highland Railway paper in the log book and the game was up!<br /><br />FERRET was sold to an Australian concern and sailed for many more years in the Australian coastal trade!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16065674202528981889noreply@blogger.com