1892
Jane Gillespie, Age: 39, Marital status: [M]
Occupation: Sister-in-law; Class granted: 3 , and class used: 3
Port of arrival: Durban, Natal
Arrived June 27, 1892 aboard the S.S. Pembroke Castle
Margaret Gillespie, Age: 20, Marital status: Single
Occupation: Sister-in-law. Class granted: 3 , and class used: 3
Port of arrival: Durban, Natal
Arrived June 27, 1892 aboard the S.S. Pembroke Castle
Robert Gillespie, Age: 14, Marital status: Single
Occupation: Brother-in-law
Class granted: 3 , and class used: 3
Port of arrival: Durban, Natal
Arrived June 27, 1892 aboard the S.S. Pembroke Castle
The Wreck of A Ship
Friday, February 15, 1895
Wreck on Natal Coast
“Norman Castle” to the rescue.
Full details of the wreck near Port Shepstone, of the sailing vessel Fascadale, of Glasgow, show that the affair was terribly sad. The captain of the ship, a fine steel four master, was left sick at Java, and the chief mate, Mr G. GILLESPIE, was in command. Up to the 5th inst. The ship had made a splendid voyage, then dirty weather set in, and the vessel got out of her course. She went ashore under full sail, it being pitch dark and land being only sighted just before she struck on the Imbazane rocks.
When daylight appeared many Kafirs were seen on the shore, and an attempt was made to float a buoy with a line which the Kafirs tried to swim to, but the risk was too great. The ship broke, and the crew, numbering twenty-eight men, forced to take to the rigging to avoid being washed overboard. All the boats but one were smashed, and this one could not be floated owing to the heavy sea. The men had been clinging to the masts for nine hours when the Norman Castle came up. It was impossible to go near, but the chief officer (Mr WHITEHEAD) volunteered to go with a boat. Then he bravely sprang into the boisterous sea with a line, an apprentice pluckily jumping from the wreck and swimming to him with another, whereby eighteen lives were saved.
Captain GILLESPIE, with the mate, were the last to leave, and the former got washed away, and was only when utterly exhausted reached by Mr WHITEHEAD, who for the second time jumped into the sea at great personal risk. The second officer of the Norman with another boat also pluckily went to the assistance of the mariners, but there were seven man on board, whom it was impossible to save at the same time. They thinking they were being left, disappeared, and it is supposed tried to swim ashore. Nothing has yet been heard of them, but of three men who before the Norman came set out for the shore, two were drowned, being frightfully cut on their backs. It was a terribly trying time, and the conduct of the Norman’s officers and crew was highly eulogised on board. Mr WHITEHEAD was presented with an address by the passengers in which the second officer (Mr JENKINS) was also praised.
To-morrow at noon a public meeting is to be held in the Town-hall, Durban at which the Mayor will present Mr WHITEHEAD with an illuminated address, and afterwards entertain him at lunch at the club. The ship was completely broken up. The men saved nothing, and were all rigged out on the Norman, whose commander (Captain DUNCAN) is also much praised for his part in the sad affair.
Total Records: 4
Sources: South Africa Genealogy
