Ellen (1883)

Ellen (also known as SS Ellen) was a steamship that was launched in 1883 and whose career involved coastal shipping firstly in the Colony of Queensland and then in the Australian state of South Australia. It was wrecked in Gulf St Vincent in South Australia at Morgan's Beach near the town of Cape Jervis on Saturday, 12 December 1908 during its return from fishing in waters around Kangaroo Island to a destination on the mainland.

This article is about the ship called Ellen or SS Ellen. For the ships called USS Ellen, see USS Ellen. For other uses, see Ellen (disambiguation).

The trawler Ellen wrecked on Morgan Beach
(State Library of South Australia image B40011)
History
Name: Ellen
Owner: Breslin and Watson
Builder: Smith Forrester & Co., Queensland
Completed: 1883
Fate: Sold
Notes: Iron hull
 
Name: Ellen
Owner: Messrs. W. R. Cave & Co.
Port of registry: Port Adelaide
Acquired: Prior to 1908
Fate: Wrecked, Morgan’s Beach, SA 1908
Status: historic shipwreck
Notes: [1][2]
General characteristics
Class and type: Twin screw steamer[3]
Tonnage: 91 tons (Gross), 62 tons (Net)[4]
Length: 100 feet (30.5 m)[3]
Beam: 18 feet, 6 inches (5.64 m)[3]
Depth: 6 feet, 6 inches (2.0 m)[3]
Installed power: steam, twin 30 horsepower, 11 inch cylinders.[3]
Propulsion: engine, sail[3]
Sail plan: schooner rig[3]
Speed: 8 knots[3]

History of vessel prior to loss

Ellen was built in Brisbane, Queensland in 1883 for Messrs. Breslin and Watson for the purpose of trade from Gladstone to Keppel Bay and other ports within Queensland.[3][5][6]

The ship purchased several years prior to 1908 for the purpose of 'coastal work' in South Australian waters by Messrs. W. R. Cave and Co. and Co., grain merchants, shipping and Customs agents based at Port Adelaide.[7][8]

Historical account of loss

The vessel was chartered in November 1908 for 3 months by a delegation of Scottish fishermen consisting of Messrs. W. J. Newlands, W. Eaglesham, W. Grieve and M Grieve, and who were interested in establishing a fishing business in South Australia.[9][10]

On Thursday, 10 December 1908, Ellen under the command of Captain A. McMillan departed from Glenelg for Kangaroo Island with Mr Newlands, and a crew of 6.[11]

On Saturday, 12 December 1908, Ellen returned from Hog Bay on Kangaroo Island en route to a destination on the mainland with a load of fish valued at £50. Ellen encountered very rough conditions when passing Cape Jervis. The rough conditions included a sudden swing in wind direction from the South West to the North West. As a result, the ship drifted astern towards the shore until its stern run aground on the rocky seabed. The bow was then swung around onto the rocks by the waves thereby completing the wrecking. The heavy sea then continued to pound the wrecked vessel, washing fittings and timber overboard and onto the shore. The crew escaped to shore via the use of a dinghy while Mr Newlands swam to the shore.[12][13]

At its meeting on Wednesday, 30 December 1908 the Marine Board of South Australia found that the wrecking was caused by the inability of the ship to regain control after the sudden change in wind direction because of its insufficient engine power.[14]

Aftermath

Despite the wrecking event and the complete loss incurred, the Scottish fishermen resolved to continue with their enterprise.[15]

In 1962, the wreck site was extensively salvaged by divers visiting from New South Wales.[16]

The Society for Underwater Historical Research (SUHR) carried out a survey of the site in 2003. The SUHR study reveals that the principal feature of the wreck site at the time was a boiler sitting in the intertidal zone.[17] The wreck site is protected by the SA Historic Shipwrecks Act 1981 and is located at 35°35′46.5″S 138°06′07.6″E.[4]

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See also

References
  1. Christopher, Peter G. (2006), South Australian shipwrecks 1802-1989: a data base, Society for Underwater Historical Research (Maritime Archaeology Association of South Australia) Inc, p. 49, ISBN 978-0-9588006-2-4
  2. Jack Kenneth; Loney (1975), Wrecks on the south coast of South Australia (4th ed.), J.K. Loney, p. 42, ISBN 978-0-909244-00-2
  3. "Trial Trip of the Ellen, S". The Brisbane Courier. 17 September 1883. p. 5. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  4. "Ellen". Australian National Shipwreck Database. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  5. "Colonial Telegrams (from our own correspondents, Queensland". Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld.). 17 September 1883. p. 2. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  6. "The Brisbane Courier, Tuesday September 18, 1883". The Brisbane Courier. 18 September 1883. pp. 4 & 5. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  7. "Scottish Fishermen wrecked, the Ellen ashore, all hands safe, no hope of salvage". The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929). 15 December 1908. p. 9. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  8. 'Ellis, Frederick (1862-1927),' at http://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/ellis-frederick-1438, retrieved 21 June 2012.
  9. "The Scottish Fishermen; Visit to Kangaroo Island; Impressions of the Country". The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA). 27 October 1908. p. 8. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  10. "Scottish fishermen to begin fishing this week: Steamer Ellen Chartered". The Register (Adelaide, SA). 23 November 1908. p. 5. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  11. "Scottish Fisherman to start today'". The Register (Adelaide, SA). 10 December 1908. p. 7. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  12. "Shipping disaster; Trawler Ellen wrecked, unfortunate Scottish Fisherman, All hands safe". The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA). 15 December 1908. p. 7. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  13. "Scottish Fishermen wrecked, the Ellen ashore, all hands safe, no hope of salvage". The Register (Adelaide, SA). 15 December 1908. p. 9. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  14. "Wrecked Coastal Vessels: Marine Board Enquiries". The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA). 31 December 1908. p. 10. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  15. "'The wrecked Scotchmen, returned to Adelaide, Will go ahead, Disaster incentive to work". The Register (Adelaide, SA). 16 December 1908. p. 7. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  16. O’Donnell, I.; (2001), 'Sport Diving on South Australian Shipwrecks,’ Soundings (2nd series), Vol. 2 No. 4 (October–December 2001), Society for Underwater Historical Research, Port Adelaide, SA, pages 7-8.
  17. Cowan, David; (2003), 'The SS Ellen Project', Soundings (2nd series) Vol. 4 No.1, pages 8-14, in Cowan, David (editor), (2007), The Society for Underwater Historical Research: Publications 1974-2004, Society for Underwater Historical Research, Port Adelaide, SA.

Further Information

The online collection of the State Library of South Australia includes the following images of the ship after its grounding:

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