The Ivydene’s Negligent Captain

In its day, the SS Ivydene was a camel of the ocean, lugging cargoes back and forth between North America and Europe for fifteen years.

But its life’s work ended on the night of January 1–2, 1901 when it struck the rocks of Great Island, off LaManche on the southern shore. In those days, LaManche, located between Tors Cove and Cape Broyle, was a viable fishing community of about six or seven families.

The first news of the wreck came to insurance agents Bowring Brothers in St. John’s on the morning of January 2. It was a message from Captain Tippett of the Ivydene, stating:

One man lost. Ivydene high on the rocks. Cargo of salt. Ship filled immediately after striking. Water making over the decks and bridge. Fear that there is little chance of floating the ship.

Bowring’s immediately sent the St. John’s harbour tug D. P. Ingraham to the wreck site and requested their agent on the southern shore, Michael Patrick Cashin, to investigate. Later in the evening, his brief report arrived at Bowring’s office:

Wrecked steamer under water. Ingraham left with crew.

In time, the details of the loss of the Ivydene and one of its crew revealed that the steamer left Hamburg, Germany, in mid-December with a cargo of salt, destined for Wilmington, South Carolina. The Ivydene (previously called Dragoman) was a steel screw ship of 2,821 gross tonnage, built in 1885 for the Lunn Shipping Company.

What the captain was doing to be so far off course had mariners shaking their heads. He and his fine ship should have passed Cape Race many miles to the southward, well out to sea. What was he doing up near LaManche? Did he know how to navigate into St. John’s?

Some of the answers came when the D. P. Ingraham arrived back in St. John’s with the captain and crew. Tasker Cook, the acting consul for Denmark and for France (and the soon-to-be vice-consul for Norway), had also gone to the wreck site.

Captain Tippett said his westward voyage was fraught with heavy gales from the beginning. So long was the Ivydene pushing against opposing winds, it ran short of coal. Captain Tippett decided to bear up for St. John’s to replenish the coal bunkers.

On Tuesday, New Year’s Day, 1901, a fierce snowstorm was raging, and at 2:30 a.m., the Ivydene ran ashore near LaManche, a mile or two beyond Tors Cove. In the high seas the vessel immediately began to fill with water.

The crew, who had signed on at Hamburg, was multinational—from Italy, Sweden, Germany, Russia, England, and so on. They were struck with panic when they learned of their dire circumstances: a rugged and unfamiliar coastline, a raging wind and blizzard, a ship nearly under water.

Captain Tippett, realizing it would be useless to put out a boat before daylight, commanded his men not to put out the lifeboat. Two crew, however, despite his warnings, secretly chopped the lines to a lifeboat and jumped in to make for land.

In the high seas and jagged rocks, the boat was beaten to pieces. One of the occupants, an Italian sailor, disappeared in the surf and was never seen again. The other man, after being thrown into the water, swam back to the Ivydene.

He reached the side of the steamer but was nearly dead when pulled on board. His clothes were a mass of ice, for the frost that night was intense.

He lived, as did the rest of the crew. At daylight, the ship’s boats were put over and all reached shore. Fortunately, the wind had calmed down. After a tremendous struggle, all survived, except the Italian who perished.

They suffered much from the cold, and many had very little clothes on, including Captain Tippett, who was as bad off as his crew.

They were several hours on the rocks off LaManche, yet somehow the people there contacted authorities. It was the tug D. P. Ingraham, under Captain Charles Cross, which arrived in the mid-morning of January 2 and took them off.

At St. John’s, several of the twenty-seven crew had to be hospitalized, nearly dead from exposure. Those who were a little better off were housed in the Seamen’s Home and at the first opportunity were sent to England.

Captain Cross reported a northwest wind was coming when he left the wreck site, a wind that would certainly do more damage to the ship. He questioned whether the Ivydene would ever leave the rocks. In fact, the Ivydene and its belongings were total losses.

The Marine Court

Not every shipwreck in Newfoundland fell under the auspices of the Marine Court. On the other hand, with the Ivydene it was a total loss and one man had perished.

With Judge Prowse presiding, the Marine Court of Inquiry began its investigation on January 11, 1901, in St. John’s. The inquiry usually convened and gave its findings promptly, as it was costly to lodge foreign captains and crews. In addition, they were anxious to get back home and to work as soon as possible.

Sitting with Prowse were Captain Edward English and Captain Moss. Francis J. Morris (also Member of the House of Assembly at this time) was counsel for Captain Tippett.

The court concluded three days later, finding Tippett negligent. When Tippett knew he was on the Grand Banks at 1:00 p.m. of January 1, he took only one sounding, which was not enough. He should have lowered a sounding lead to check the bottom every hour. Prowse said these soundings were a clear and unmistakable guide and would have shown a clear position.

Tippett had nothing to gain by steaming ahead in such densely thick weather. Sight of land could not be made in snow squalls. It was rash and improper navigation. The captain should have waited at least until daylight to steam ahead.

Prowse and the court regretted to punish the master. He had acted so well after the wreck and “showed himself to be a thorough seaman” but did not show due regard for the safety of the ship.

We therefore suspend the master’s certificate for four months from this date. We recommend that, in the meantime, he may be granted a certificate as first mate.