Fog on the Coast
A Steamer Wrecked
The Crew Rescued
Another serious shipping casualty occurred off the Tyne early yesterday morning, this being solely due to the prevalence of the dense fog which prevailed on the coast throughout Saturday and yesterday. The alarm guns created great commotion among the residents of harbour boroughs, but those who turned out were unable to glean much information at first as nothing could seen outside of the piers in consequence of the thick weather, It was subsequently ascertained that the steamer Dorothy had foundered two and half fathoms of water inside the harbour, somewhere about 300 feet from the north side of the South Pier after striking the rocks near Tynemouth Castle. Captain Pert and crew, numbering four hands in all, were subsequently landed and taken the Tyne Sailors' Home, North Shields, where their wants were attended to by the superintendent, Mr R. J. D. Brown.
Later in the day, Captain Pert was interviewed by a Gazette representative who stated that the steamer Dorothy, which was owned by Messrs D. and G. Nichol of Dundee, was a vessel of 140 tons. She was laden with a cargo of stone dust from Queensferry, bound to Hull, and sailed from the former port on Saturday at noon. Almost from the time of the departure thick weather predominated, and the speed of vessel had to be minimised. Yesterday morning the fog was exceptionally dense, in fact before the vessel struck it was as a matter of fact impossible to see a few yards from the bridge. The position the vessel was ultimately lost in the density of the atmosphere, and at 6.30 she went ashore. It was obviously clear that the steamer had sustained a good deal damage, as some time after stranding the fore compartment began to fill. The coastguard brought the rocket apparatus down and fired a line across the vessel, but Captain Pert intimated his intention of remaining by his ship. There was a strong swell prevailing towards the shore, but it was considered there was no immediate danger. The lifeboat Tom Perry had put off from South Shields in charge of Thomas Young and William Marshall and soon arrived at the scene. The tug Hercules and two other tugs were likewise in the vicinity. It was decided to endeavour to get the vessel off. A hawser was taken aboard from the Hercules, and after towing some time the Dorothy was floated and towed clear of the rocks. Owing to the critical condition the steamer, Captain Pert, fearing that she might founder with the pressure of towing, had the hawser cast off, and the vessel steamed in between the piers, the tug Hercules being in attendance, and the lifeboat Tom Perry following should its services be required. Shortly after the vessel reached the piers she gave unmistakable signs of settling down, the engine room soon filling. The crew were taken off by the Tom Perry not a moment too soon, for when Captain Pert was about to leave her, vessel's bows were submerged and in the water. The crew saved a portion of their clothes and effects, but Captain Pert has suffered rather a heavy loss, losing some valuable nautical instruments, charts, etc. The Dorothy lies in such a position that she will be an impediment to navigation. At all tides her masts and funnel are visible. It should be stated that the North Shields lifeboat, James Young, was also launched when the alarm was fired and proceeded to the wreck.
Mr Brown forwarded three of the crew of the wrecked steamer Dorothy to their homes in Dundee to-day though the agency of the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society. The master, Captain Pert, will remain at North Shields to confer with of the owners of the vessel who is expected arrive at Shields this evening from Dundee.
Source: Shields Daily Gazette 25 November 1901
The Sunken Steamer Dorothy
Vessel to be Blown Up
The effort to raise the Dundee steamer Dorothy, which lies sunken inside of the South pier, has been abandoned. The Dorothy, it will be remembered, struck the rocks off Sharpness in December last, and was towed off, but sustained so much damage that during the towage operations the vessel foundered about two hundred yards from the Tyne General Ferry Company's landing stage at South Shields pier, fortunately out of the navigable channel. The contract for floating the Dorothy was secured by Messrs Lindsay, Carverhill and Co., Sunderland, This firm have made three attempts to raise the vessel, but it seems that the chains could not be got underneath the hull, owing to some obstruction. It has been ascertained that the vessel jammed against an old wreck, while the sand has accumulated round the vessel's side in such quantities, through the prevalence of the easterly winds, that salvage work is now considered impracticable and the operations have therefore been abandoned. The wreck will be removed shortly by explosives. This work will be carried out by Tyne Commissioners.
Source: Shields Daily Gazette 26 March 1902
TYNE IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION.
SUNKEN STEAMER " DOROTHY."
THE TYNE IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION- HEREBY GIVE NOTICE that in Pursuance of the Powers vested in them by the Harbours Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847, the Merchant Shipping Act 1894, the Tyne Improvement Acts 1850 to 1898 and every other Act enabling them in that behalf they have taken possession of and it is their intention to raise remove destroy sell break up or otherwise dispose of or cause to be raised removed' destroyed sold broken up or otherwise disposed of as they may deem fit the wreck of the above named vessel and its cargo stores tackle equipments and other appurtenances now sunk on the Herd Sand near the South Pier at the mouth of the River Tyne and which is or is likely to become an obstruction or danger to the navigation of the said River.
ROBERT URWIN, Secretary.
Tyne Improvement Commission Offices,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
15th April, 1902.
Source: Shields Daily Gazette 18 April 1902
The Raising of the Dorothy
The Dundee steamer Dorothy, which foundered inside of the South pier nearly six months ago, is now being raised the Tyne Commissioners. The raising of this vessel was, in the first instance, in the hands of a Sunderland firm, who, after a series of attempts, abandoned the salvage work, and it was then proposed to blow up the wreck owing to the awkward situation in which she was lying. On examination, however, the Commissioners' engineer decided that the vessel could be floated. Lifting operations have been in progress since Saturday, and have proved partly successful up to the present time as the ship's stern is out of the water. The floating of this vessel, it should be mentioned, has been attended with considerable difficulty owing to the fact that she was found to be sunk upon an old wreck.
Source: Shields Daily Gazette 28 May 1902
The Steamer Dorothy
The Dundee steamer Dorothy which was recently raised after being sunk inside of the South Shields pier for nearly six months, is now discharging her cargo consisting of stone dust. The vessel , after the cargo has been landed, be docked for examination.
Source: Shields Daily Gazette 18 June 1902
Sale of Wrecks
Yesterday afternoon Messrs Joseph A. R. Ellis and Son, auctioneers, North Shields, instructed by the River Tyne Improvement Commission, offered by public auction at the Three Indian Kings' Court Hotel, Quayside, Newcastle, the following wrecks:— S.S. Dorothy lying in the wave trap at the river entrance, the wreckage salved from the schooner Atrato and lying at the South Pier Works, and the wherry Jane raised and lying at the mouth of the River Derwent. There was a large attendance of buyers, and the bidding was brisk, especially for the steamer Dorothy, which was knocked down for £600. All the lots were sold. Messrs Bramwell and Bell, solicitors, Maritime Buildings, represented the River Tyne Commission.
Source: Shields Daily Gazette 8 August 1902