Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume Eight - Pre-Victorian to the present day - more aspects - George Wehrley - Photographer . . .

s.s. 'Carnmarth' - The above G. Wehrley & Co. photograph was used by the South Wales press to record the loss of the ship with two ladies from Cardiff aboard and with the intriguing title 'Cardiff Ladies in Peril at Sea'.

There were 15 crew and three passengers - Mr. Haycraft, Mrs. Daunton and Miss Wellstead. Mrs. George Daunton was still greatly affected when interviewed. 'I was asleep in my bunk,' she said, 'when a little before midnight I was suddenly awakened by being bumped against the side of my bunk. I called out, 'Whatever is that?' My aunt (Miss Wellstead) said, 'Oh, nothing. That is all right.' Presently I heard the captain shout, 'Come up, or we shall all be drowned!'

'I rushed up,' continued Mrs. Daunton, 'just as I was, in my night attire, and with bare feet. When we got up on top we found the seamen waiting to lowered the boats. I had practically nothing on, and if it had not been for the steward, who rushed down to get some clothes for us, I do not know what we should have done.'

'We might have been four hours in one of the little boats that had been lowered from the Carnmarth,' she continued, 'and it was an awful experience before we were safely landed at Anderville. At last we were picked up by a lifeboat. The sea was rough, and was tumbling all about our little cockle-shell, and we were frightened and terrified . . . . ' Evening Express [135] [361] 19th May 1909 - image above - G. Wehrley & Co., 97 Glebe Street, Penarth, S. Wales. [395]

The steamship 'Carn Marth' was launched in January 1884 having been built at the Tyne Iron Shipbuilding Company, Willington Quay, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. She was owned by Edmund Hancock & Co., Falmouth and on the 17th May 1909 sank after striking rocks off Cape la Hague whilst on a voyage from Barry to La Havre with a cargo of coal. Thanks to Tyne Built Ships for the info and image. [102]

I found another reference to the loss in the 'Coast Seaman's Journal which stated 'The British steamer Carnmarth ran on the Auderville (France) rocks on May 17 and sank. All on board were saved. The steamer was 1509 tons burden.'[397]

In the same journal I read the following:- 'The use of rat skins in various industries has created a demand in London alone to the amount of nearly $200,000 a year, states a British publication. They are used among other things, for bookbinding, photograph frames, purses and for the thumbs of ladies' gloves.' [397]