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The Luna - Shipwreck Research Information
By Kevin Heath on 24 September 2008
Ships Name: Luna
Royal Cornwall Gazette
The fearful gale which raged through Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday has been accompanied by many shipping disasters and serious loss of life. The stranding of the steamship “Renwick” at Falmouth on Thursday night was followed by a far more serious wreck near Cape Cornwall on Sunday. The rugged and deadly reef of rocks known as the Brissons, about 2 miles north of Lands End and about a mile from Cape Cornwall have nearly as bad a record for sacrifice of life as the dreaded Manacles.
On Sunday evening when the wind was blowing a gale at N.W. by W. a barque was sighted in distress off Pendeen. She had apparently lost her foretopmast and head gear, and was standing south with the intention of clearing Lands End. Noticing the disabled condition of the vessel, the coast-guard watched eagerly for distress signals, but there were none, and it was not until a quarter to 9 o’clock – when she was within 4 miles of land – that rockets were fired and flares burnt.
It was very evident to the men on the watch that the barque was in an almost helpless condition. They, however, did all they could to render assistance to ‘the crew, acquainted the Sennen lifeboat crew, and proceeded to Cape Cornwall with the rocket apparatus. On arrival they were informed that the vessel had struck the Brissons, the spot where it was feared she would come to grief, and where no aid could reach her. The Brissons are a mile from the shore and no rocket apparatus could reach her at such a distance. The length of the line is only 250 fathoms, and with such a wind blowing, the apparatus would not be effective. But as soon as the vessel struck she went down, as one watchman said ”...like a rocket”, and was broken to matchwood in less than ten minutes. The violence of the storm and the sea gave the men no chance of life.
A St. Just man who watched the vessel from Cape Cornwall said she appeared to get between the two points of rock which form the only visible portion of the Brissons, and when she struck the green light was seen for a moment, then she disappeared altogether. Nothing could be done; only wreckage washed ashore would give a clue to the name of the lost vessel and the extent of the loss of life. While searching for wreckage on Sunday afternoon, two men, John Thomas Matthews, 28, married, and George Johns, 18, both natives of Penzance were drowned.
It was not until Tuesday that the name of the lost vessel was established – she was the steel barque “Luna” of 800 tons register, owned by Wackmuth & Krogmann of Hamburg. She was bound to New Zealand from Liverpool with a general cargo, and it is estimated she would carry a crew of at least 20 men. The first indication of the nationality of the wrecked vessel was afforded on Monday when part of a lifeboat was washed ashore, bearing the letters
‘Hambur..’ . Later the waves threw on the beach another lifeboat on which was painted ‘Luna, Hamburg’, and it was soon followed by the backboard of a boat bearing the same names, and by the house-flag, with ‘W.& K.’ on a red ground and with a red border.
On the shores of St. Just 5 bodies at least have been discovered. The first was of a man of about 20 years of age and was discovered in Pedn-well
Cove. It was quite naked, but entangled with it was a piece of cloth, and -with that Mr. Sampson George was able to secure it. Shortly after midday 2 more bodies were found in Letcha Cove, and another in Pedn-well Cove. One was embedded up to the neck in sand, and the back of the scalp had been beaten against the rocks. A sailor’s blue jersey with D.J. on the front has also been picked up. All the bodies were perfectly nude, the clothes having evidently been torn off by the wild sea. Almost immediately after each body was found, some clothing was washed in close by. The victims were evidently sailors, and apparently foreigners.
Wreckage is washing in from Hayle to Gwithian, consisting of broken pieces of ship, several casks of whisky and brandy, brushes and soap. Also two boat’s sterns with the name ‘Luna of Hamburg’ on them, and part of a life buoy with ’..una’ on it, all supposed to belong to the barque. Nearly a score of casks of spirits, a large number of tins of beef and large quantities of candles were washed in at St Agnes. Three of the casks were picked up on the quay, while others were smashed to pieces on the rocks. It is reported that a large quantity has washed ashore at Perranporth, which is in a direct line with the Brissons, and all these articles are presumed to be parts of the cargo of the “Luna”
The inquest on the bodies of 5 victims of the “Luna” was held on Wednesday when Coxswain Henry Nicholls gave evidence as to the launch of the Sennen lifeboat. They had never any difficulty in getting a crew and had some of the best men in the county. The lifeboat dare not go nearer than a mile of the Brissons in such weather. If they had received the alarm before, they could have reached the ship before she was driven on the Brissons, and saved the crew. The coastguard, though they saw a vessel in distress, could not call the lifeboat men until they saw the ship showing a signal of distress.
The coroner hoped that in future this regulation would be replaced. The jury returned a verdict of ‘Accidentally drowned’, and complimented the lifeboat crew on their efforts.
The “Luna” was well known at Falmouth, and made a stay in the harbour as recently as last January.
The master of the s.s.”Kilarney’’ of Cork reports that on Saturday, when 2 miles N.N.W. of the Longships, he saw a flare light and rockets. He bore down on the vessel, which he found to be the “Luna” of Hamburg, in a crippled condition, having lost her foretopmast. Her captain (Schmidt) signalled he wanted to be towed to Falmouth, and the captain of the steamer replied that he would do so if the “Luna” had a good towrope. The master of the barque said he had one ready, and after 5 or 6 attempts a line was thrown on board the barque on three different occasions. After standing by all night, he was told by the captain of the “Luna” that he had no towrope. As the weather was moderating the captain of the steamship concluded that his services were no longer required, and proceeded towards Cork.
Captain Schmidt was formerly the master of the “Undina”, belonging to the same firm. He had taken the “Undina” to Hamburg, and had gone from there to Liverpool to take charge of the “Luna”. He was about 40 years old. The crew of the “Luna” was of 17 hands and they hailed from Hamburg, Kiel, the Rhine province, and Scandinavia.
(Cornish Echo, Fri. 6/3/1903)
Barque LUNA (German). Age 18. Tonnage 777. Crew 17. Master H. Tiedemann. Owners Wachsmuth and Krogmann, Hamburg. Voyage from Liverpool to Wellington, New Zealand. Stranded Brissons. 28 February 1903. 17 lost. (Board of Trade Annual Returns of Shipping Casualties). Several men were on the rocks. between Pendeen and Levant about 6 o’clock on Sunday evening, watching the wreckage, when two of them were washed away and drowned. They were George Johns, 18, an orphan, and John Thomas Matthews who leaves a wife and 4 children.
R.C.G. Thursday
WRECKED ON THE BRISSONS
Loss of Barque and all hands.
Not a single survivor.
Gallant effort by Sennen lifeboat crew.
Another shipping disaster bus occurred on the iron bound coast of Pendeen, attended, it is feared with a terrible loss of life. The details to hand are of a very meagre character, but these point only too plainly to the loss of a large vessel, which in all probability was dashed to pieces on the Brisson Rocks.
The Brissons are two precipitous rocks or small island situated about a mile from Cape Cornwall,- and are remembered chiefly on account of the memorable wreck of the ” New Commercial,” fifty year ago. The rocks therefore are too far distant from the shore to allow the assistance by the life saving apparatus. |
On Sunday afternoon a barque was observed to the North of Pendeen, in a crippled state, having lost her foretopmast and head gear, but apparently not requiring immediate assistance. The rocket apparatus, however, both at Pendeen and Sennen, was promptly got out, and held in readiness, and the Sennen lifeboat was communicated with.
It was not until nearly nine o’clock that the barque showed signals of distress. She was then to the westward of Pendeen.
By this time the Sennen lifeboat was proceeding in the direction of the Brissons, under the charge of Coxswain Nicholas. The search for the unfortunate vessel, however, proved fruitless, and the plucky lifeboat crew were reluctantly compelled to return to Sennen between two and three o’clock in the morning.
Our St. Ives correspondent writes: On Sunday-afternoon a large barque was seen off St. Ives, going westwards, and making very bad weather.
R.C.G Monday
FROM OUR PENDEEN CORRESPONDENT.
On Sunday afternoon a barque was seen ten miles north of Pendeen, with foretopmast gone, standing ‘unlh. She appeared to be helpless, there being a strong west wind blowing at the time. She was observed by the Pendeen coastguards who kept a very sharp watch on the ship, and chief officer Heale wired to all the stations in the west for the men to be on the watch, and also to Falmouth for a tug. He also informed formed Captain Hunt of Penzance.
At 8.50 on Sunday evening she showed signals of distress, when about four miles west of Pendeen. The Coastguards got out the rocket apparatus, and noticing the barque drifting down the Channel, they proceeded along the coast.
When the apparatus reached Nacherrow Bridge, at 10 p.m. the men in charge saw another signal sent from the distressed vessel and from the information they gleaned on reaching Cape Cornwall she must have struck on the Brissons about this time. Here the apparatus was set to work by sending out rockets. Other light were also shown from the shore, to attract the crew of the barque, but all attempts were futile.
Sennen apparatus was also on the scene, and the lifeboat was at sea labouring hard to reach the wreck.
The apparatus waited at Cape Cornwall in charge of chief officer Healey (Pendeen) and Wallis (Sennen) until two o’clock on Monday morning, but nothing more was seen of the barque.
At the time of writing no definite information was received concerning the nationality or her exact whereabouts. On Monday morning a small boat and a long spar were seen off Pendeen drifting up the Channel.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Another account says: From the time the vessel was seen she was standing south, apparently trying to clear the Land’s End, but the wind was blowing hard from the north west and it even then appeared improbable that she would get round. Just before nine o’clock, when she was only four miles away, she commenced firing rockets and burning flares. Chief-officer Healey having sent word to the Sennen lifeboat proceeded with the life. Saving apparatus along the coast in the direction of. Cape Cornwall. When he-arrived at St. Just he was told that the vessel had already struck on the Brissons. He got down to Cape Cornwall at half! past ten, and Chief-officer Wallis arrived with the Sennen apparatus about an hour later. They burned lights and sent up rockets, but there was no response from the vessel, and they stood by until two o’clock in; the morning,
Commissioned Boatman Bell and Boatman James Cocking were the St. Just coastguards on duty. The former states that about a quarter past seven o’clock the barque was about a mile and a half from Castle Point, a promontory close to Cape Cornwall, running westward under bare poles, with her sail in ribbons and making leeway. Her headgear and foretopmast had gone, and she burned flares continuously. At ten o’clock precisely she struck the Brissons, and immediately fired a rocket. He could see her port bow light as she struck, but then she must have slewed round, and the wind catching her on the other quarter drove her right round, because he saw her green or starboard light and a bright light astern.
SUDDENLY SHE DISAPPEARED, and that’s all they saw of her. No sound was heard after she struck, and everything was over in a minute such a tremendous sea was breaking that nothing could have lived in it for two minutes. It was utterly impossible for the life saving apparatus to render any help. At daybreak they saw the shore strewn with wreckage.
The Sennen lifeboat was out, and although it was launched immediately after the summons made on the first signal fired from the ship, it was then impossible for the boat to arrive on the scene in time. The wind was blowing very strongly from the northwest by west. which is dead in Sennen Cove, so that the launching the boat was both difficult and dangerous and it was a difficult matter getting up to the Brissons. The signal for the lifeboat was fired at nine o’clock, and luckily the tide at that time was at such a state made it just possible to launch the boat. The coxswain Henry Nicholas, who has been a member of the Sennen lifeboat crew for more than twenty years, stated that the crew having been summoned by a rocket, he was informed that a barque was off Pendeen, heading to the westward, with all her headgear gone. They at once manned the boat, and went off as quickly as possible, and had a very rough time-in getting off. \\hile getting the sails up they saw signals going up at the back of the Brissons at half-past nine. They continued to beat towards the spot, until they got to three miles off the Brissons, burning all the lights they had to ascertain the whereabouts of the vessel. But nothing could be seen, and apart from the rockets, which ceased about ten o’clock, they did not see a sign of the wreck. They sailed around, looking for the ship the lifeboat being
BURIED ALTOGETHER IN THE SEA ! sometimes, while now and then they had to bring it up head on to the seas. Seeing nothing further, they returned, and landed at three o’clock. Mr. Nicholas added that if the ship struck at ten o’clock, as stated, there was never any chance of the lifeboat getting to the Brissons by that time, as they had a dead bent to windward.
The appearance and course of the vessel are being discussed by the seafaring men along the coast. It is thought by some that the captain or responsible officer must have been incapacitated by the accident which caused the loss of the gear, or in some other way, because they cannot understand why the vessel should not have gone about and run up Channel with a fair wind and taken her chance of safety on a lee shore, instead of running to certain destruction by trying to get round the Land’s End in with such a wind, if she had missed the Brissons, she must inevitably have gone ashore near the Lands-End. Another view largely shared is that if the barque had shown distress signal two hours be-fore she did the crew might have been saved, as the lifeboat would then have had a chance to reach her before she got to the rocks, or possibly she might have got help -from passing steamers. However, the reason why other courses were not followed will never be known, as there is not a single survivor.
The wreckage along the coast was carefully examined all day in the hope that the name of the ship might be ascertained, but without success. She was a steel barque and the coastguard think, of about a thousand tons, probably carrying twenty-five hands. This view is confirmed by the size of the cathead, which has been washed ashore.
THE VESSEL IDENTIFIED.
PENDEEN, Tuesday Afternoon.
The body of a man was washed ashore at Pendeen this morning.
Another lifebuoy has been picked up, with the words ” Luna, Hamburg” painted on it; also a house flag, white with red border, bearing the letters W. and K. These are the letters of the firm owning the German barque, which recently discharged a cargo, of grain in Penzance dock.
PENDEEN, Tuesday.
The identity of the barque is now established beyond doubt. The backboard of a boat has been picked up with the name ” Luna ” on it. The board was washed in just opposite the wreck.
Two more bodies have been washed ashore here, presumably from the wrecked barque.
The Luna, of Hamburg is an iron barque, of 800 tons register, and owned by Wackmuth and Krogmann, of Hamburg. She was bound from Liverpool to New Zealand with a general cargo.
R.C.G.
Complete Story of the “Luna’s” Wreck.
GALANT CONDUCT OF SENNEN LIFE.
BOAT CREW.
AN EXHAUSTIVE INQUIRY.
At St. Just Working-men’s Institute, on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Edward Boase (County Coroner) held an inquiry into the death of the five unknown men washed ashore from the wreck of the vessel, which struck the Brissons late on Sunday night. Mr. Pascoe Wallis was the foreman of the jury. Mr. E. T. Mathews, German vice-consul and Lloyd’s agent at Penzance, and Mr. T. H. Cornish, representing the National Lifeboat Institution, were in attendance. After the jury had been sworn, they went to view the bodies which had been placed in the mortuary near the church, and were those of men in the prime of life before being aged from twenty to twenty-five, and the other looking about thirty three.
The first witness called at the inquest was William Trembath, living at Carn Bosavern, St.Just, a miner, who deposed that about half-past six that day, Wednesday he found one of the bodies at the Letcha foreshore under a cliff at St Just. The body was perfectly nude and there were no marks, which he could see. It was that of a young man, clean-shaven, about twenty years of age, placed near the door of the mortuary, he did not see anything of the wreck. The man had light hair and was about five feet six inches in height. Sampson George, Penhale, St Just, a labourer, stated that he found one of the bodies on the Letcha foreshore, at a quarter past seven on Tuesday morning. The body was. that of a young man about twenty years of age. There was a small part of the shirt still on the body, which was otherwise nude. There were cuts on the head caused apparently by rocks; it was tattooed on the right arm. Deceased was fair, and about five feet seven inches in height, and wore a slight moustache. The tattoo marks were a life buoy, boat hook, anchor, and mast, all worked in one device about an inch and a half in diameter. Mr. Mathews intimated that he would like the description taken, as he would have the ship’s list on he following day, and perhaps be able to identify the drowned men. William Hosking, Pleasant Row, St. Just, farmer, stated that about eleven the preceding morning be found two bodies on the Letcha foreshore, they were both perfectly nude. One was a very stoutly built man from 35 to 40 years of age, some 5ft 10 ½ in. in height, with dark hair; most of the head was gone; he was lean shaven. There were no tattoo marks, apparently the severe cuts on the head were caused by the rocks. the other man was about the same height, slighter in build; and about 21 or 32 years of age • he had an anchor tattooed on the right forearm. This body was also perfectly nude; he was clean-shaven and had fair hair.
James Ellis, Carhallack-Farm, St.Just, farmer, stated that on the preceding day in the afternoon about half past one, he found a body on the Letcha foreshore. It was perfectly nude, excepting a vest and a leather belt. It was that of a slightly built man of 5ft. 101/2in.about 20 years of age, clean-shaven and fair-haired. On the left forearm there was an anchor tattooed; here were no cuts or bruises on the body.
Coastguard F. J. Lee, boatman, stationed at Pendeen, where chief officer Healey is in charge, stated just after five on Sunday afternoon, when on watch, which extended from five o’clock to midnight, he saw a barque with the upper part of her fore gear carried away. She had been seen by other men just before five. She had a fore-lower top sail, two main topsails, and her mizzen stay sail, she was then about ten or twelve miles away, and he could not see that she was flying any signals of distress. At that time it was blowing hard. Mr. Healey, just after five, telegraphed to Falmouth for a tug and he also telephoned to Sennen Coastguard Station about the same time, and told them of the barque. He watched the vessel until dusk set in, between half-past six and seven o’clock; she was still making headway south-south-west for the Channel; the wind was north-west, and she did not seem to go far during the time he was watching her. From the station at Pendeen he could not see if the lifeboat was launched before dusk.
About half-past nine he discovered the sailing lights of a sailing ship; he had her in line for a quarter of an hour, and saw a flare and a rocket. Then he called the chief officer; the rocket apparatus was taken out and taken by cart to’ Cape Cornwall. The coastguards fired rockets from the bay.
Examined by the Foreman: The canvas on the ship seemed bound, and his opinion was that the reason she did not clear the Land’s End was because she had not enough sail on. He did not consider that the. ship was in danger until she sent up a rocket; he thought she would have been able to get round all right. —Examined by Mr. Cornish: She was carrying a. lower foretopsail. ‘’ The message given him by the man who was on watch before him was that there was a barque, just in sight. Then she was about dead north of the: watch-house, some twelve miles away. It was about high water. When he first saw her she would have had the flood tide on her starboard side, and also the wind, and this would have the tendency to drive her towards the land. There were steamers near her and plenty coming up behind. Knowing the conditions which prevailed, still he did not think she was in immediate danger. When he last saw her she must have been about nine miles from the land.
Chief-officer W. H. Healey, Pendeen, had reported to him a few minutes to five on Sunday evening that a barque was in sight which appeared to have lost all her head-gear, about ten miles north of the station. He took the glass and looked; the upper part of the foretopmast was carried away, and there were no signals of distress flying. She had a lower foretopsail, two main topsails, a mainsail, and mizzen staysail. The canvas appeared to be in good condition. The weather was squally and showery, with a heavy sea, though it moderated in the evening. She was making a course about south-southwest, and the wind was about northwest. He telephoned to station in the west—St. Just and Sennen, and to Penzance, reporting, the state of the vessel, and also giving orders to the man on watch to look out for signals. He had previously telegraphed to Falmouth for a tug’, that was all done before half-past five. A few minutes to nine Watchman Lee reported to him that the vessel was making signals of distress. He immediately telegraphed to the Sennen Cove station and told them to advise the coxswain of the lifeboat that there was a barque in distress four miles northwest of Pendeen.
He got out the rocket apparatus, and witness took it I down to Cape Cornwall, and sent a man along the coast to the westward with a flare in case she had gone
ashore. They arrived at 10.30 at Cape Cornwall, after stopping two or three times to look out for the vessel.
They could still see the barque’s port light at this time
Botnilack was the last place they stopped at. When he got to Cape Cornwall he fired a signal rocket, but there was no reply. He remained there until half-past; five in the morning. On Monday his son picked up at Pendeen part of a lifebuoy, marked ” Hamburg’ and on Tuesday one of his men picked up the name-board, this was marked ” Luna,” with the figure 18.
Examined by Mr. T. H. Cornish; the witness saw the vessel about dusk she was nine miles from the shore, heading in a south-south-westerly direction. The ebb-tide was making strong, and several steamers were passing. They did not regard her in imminent peril, as she was standing well clear of the land, and she did not seem to want help from any of the passing boats. The early message to the coastguard station had no reference to the lifeboat.
Coastguard W. H. Bell, commissioned boatman, St. Just, in charge of the station, had not heard anything of the vessel until 5.30 on Sunday afternoon, when a telephone message from Pendeen stated that there was a vessel standing out from Pendeen in & distressed condition, but there were no signals of distress flying. At 6.30 he received another message, which he immediately passed on to Sennen. Then he went down towards Cape Cornwall, and did not see any vessel until 9.30, when he saw her steering west, showing her red port bow light, a bright light at the stern, and occasionally burning a flare. She was then about a mile off Kenidjack Castle. He communicated with Pendeen, and they got out their rocket apparatus. He had heard that the lifeboat had gone out from Sennen, and he saw her something before ten. After communicating with Sennen he sent a man out to meet the Sennen rocket apparatus and direct them to Cape Cornwall. Witness went down to the Cape saw the vessel pass, and, judging from the lights then witnessed her running into the Brissons. The bow light went from view, and a rocket went up. She must have slewn round, for then he saw her green light. That was extinguished ten minutes afterwards, and then she disappeared. She struck at ten exactly, when she fired the rocket and he replied. He did not see the lifeboat and had heard that she had gone back. He expected to see the lifeboat then, but there was none about. Pendeen rocket apparatus arrived first, at half past ten, and Sennen half an hour Iater. They both stayed until 2 a.m. Before the vessel struck he saw the lifeboat twice, and when people came they told him she had gone back. When he first saw the lifeboat. About 9.30, she was making for the Brissons, though she was still a long way from them. About an hour after the barque struck he saw the lifeboat again making for the Brissons.
Date Lost: March 1903
Ex:
Official number: R.G.T.Q
Ship Type: Barque
Cargo: General
Cause: Stranded on the Brissons
Wind: Gale NW-W
Sea State: V Rough
Crew: 17
Crew Lost: 17
Pass: 00
Pass Lost: 00
T/Lost: 17
P of Registry: Hamburg
Flag: German
Owner: Wachsmuth & Krogmann
Shipbuilder: Germania Werft
Construction: Iron
Where Built: Kiel
Year Built: 1885
Propulsion: Barque rigged, twin deck
Machinery: N/A
Boilers: N/A
Hp: N/A
Gross Tons: 846
Net: 777 (tons)
Length: 182.4
Breadth: 31.9
Ships Draft: 18.5 (Ft)
Armament: N/A
Voyage From: Liverpool
Voyage To: New Zealand
Location A: The Brissons,
Location B: SW side of Large Brissons
Latitude: 50 7 199N
Longitude: 005 43 370W
Depth: 5>20 meters
Captain:
Circumstances of loss:
Contact
Author:
Kevin Heath
Email: info@travel-dive.com
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