Wooden Barque, 343 tons, 500 tons register.
Owned Messrs. R. Henderson and Jones, Liverpool
Struck Dinmor Bank, North of Trwyn Du Lighthouse, 15 April 1838.
Approximate position 53°18.84N, 4°2.39W, in 9m at LW.
Voyage Liverpool to Demerara.
Captain W. M. Cothay and crew of 16 saved by Penmon Life boat
Wreck in 5 fathoms at LW, salvaged by diver Mr. Deane, August 1838.
Here are two different contemporary newspaper reports of the wreck - and one of the subsequent salvage by a diver.
From Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald, 21 April 1838
SHIPWRECK. - We have the melancholy duty to relate the loss of the barque
Scotia, William Cothay, commander, on the Dinmor Bank, near Trwyndu,
Penmon, on Sunday evening last. She was bound from Liverpool to Demarara,
with a general cargo, and had only left the former place on the preceding
day. She had carried away her yards and all her sails, except her jib, in a
furious squall between four and five o'clock in the afternoon, and was
observed from Penmon scudding before the wind in an apparently
unmanageable state, and at half past six she struck with a fearful crash
on the bank. She instantly swung round, and her stern dashed against the
bank, her rudder was wrenched off, and her timbers laid bare. In this
predicament they let go both anchors which kept her head to the wind, but she
was filling so fast with water that not a moment was to be lost in trying
to get their own boats out; this however is no easy matter generally in merchant
vessels bound for a foreign place, as they have their boats on deck, and
usually filled with lumber. Providentially for the crew, the Anglesey
life-boat, No. 4, stationed at Penmon, came alongside of them when they
were in this awful dilemma, and the result was, THAT SEVENTEEN LIVES WERE SAVED.
The perilous situation of the vessel was first observed by the coxswain of
the life-boat, who immediately launched the boat, and though it was blowing a
furious squall, with a heavy sea running, they reached the vessel just in time
to rescue the crew and passengers from their impending fate.
It affords us very great pleasure to have an opportunity of inserting in our columns a copy of a certificate which Captain Cothay gave to the crew of the life-boat, as it shews the promptitude displayed by these brave fellows in rendering assistance at the hazard of their own lives.
This will cerify that the life-boat No. 4, belonging to Penmon, has rescued the crew of the barque Scotia, under my command, which was wrecked here last evening; had it not been for their timely assistance we all (amounting to 17 in number) must inevitably have perished great praise is due to them for their brave exertions." W. M. COTHAY. Penmon, April 17th, 1838
The Scotia was a complete wreck, and having drifted from the skirts of the bank, she sunk in seven fathoms water, not above twenty yards from the new light-house. The cargo is floating in every direction, and we hear a considerable quantity has been picked up under Penmaen Mawr, and on the Anglesey coast. Her tonnage was 343, but she had stowed goods on board to the amount of 563 tons. Her owners were Messrs. R. Henderson and Jones, Liverpool. We understand the ship and cargo were insured.
From North Wales Chronicle, 24 April 1838
Wreck of THE SCOTIA IN BEAUMARIS BAY- The Scotia barque, 500 tons register,
bound for Demarara from Liverpool, was wrecked in Beaumaris Bay on the
night of Easter Sunday; crew saved by the persevering and heroic exertions of
the Penmon life boat. At half past six o'clock in the evening the Scotia was
first seen coming from Point Linas towards the Sound with a jack flying for a
pilot, by Owen Roberts, pilot, who becoming alarmed for her safely from seeing
her hugging the land too closely, got out a boat to meet her, the pilot boat
having unfortunately gone up to Beaumaris. A squall coming on from the N.,
accompanied by hail, the Scotia struck on the sand bank inside the Dimnor buoy
and was literally smothered with the sea, sometimes broadside too as she beat
over the bank. The crew seeing nothing before them but inevitable
destruction from the reef of rocks on which the lighthouse is erected let go
the anchor and hoisted a signal of distress. Meanwhile Nathaniel Hillman and
Owen Roberts, (who had returned finding it impossible to proceed in his
small boat) with what assistance they could get together, put off in the life
boat, seven in number, and on reaching the vessel found her to be in a sinking
state, wheel unshipped, and the chain loosed from the tiller. With great
difficulty they got on board, and perceiving it impossible to work the
vessel, the captain ordered the boats to be got out as the water was already
over the cabin floor; this was done with much difficulty, the sea running so
high as to cause immense danger in the attempt; one passenger and two of the
crew with some luggage having been got into the life boat, the remainder of
the hands with the captain, left her together, - the lifeboat leading the
way, it being now flood tide and the gale continually[sic] severely, the ships
boats could not keep their ground and were drifting fast towards the Dutchman
sand banks but the life boat immediately went after them, took them in tow,
and by dint of hard rowing got safe to land under the Limestone Quarries at
Penmon. This was about 10 o'clock at night and, after securing the Boats, the
ship went down at about half past 10, where she now lies within a short
distance N. of the Lighthouse; at high water the tide is about level with her
top-sail yards, her masts standing and the signal of distress still flying.
It is considered highly necessary that at least four of the pilots should
reside at Black point, where there are cottages built for them, but only one,
viz. Owen Roberts, lives there; we have too frequently witnessed the truth of
the above, as were it not for the volunteered assistance of the people
employed on the Menai Lighthouse, a considerable time must elapse before a
boat can be got out. In the present instance if it had not been for the
strenuous aid of the women and boys, the Life Boat would not have been
launched until 17 human beings had been hurled into eternity. Great credit
is due to Owen Roberts for his constant look out for vessels, unaided by his
comrades in this duty, his wife and children being, generally his only
assistants.
Another contemporary report states that the Scotia had thrice put to sea
from Liverpool before, and had, owing to contrary winds, been compelled to put back.
From North Wales Chronicle, 28 August 1838
The Scotia wreck - Mr. Deane [John], the famous diver, has been for some days occupied in
raising the cargo of the Scotia, which some time ago was lost in the sound off
Penmon lighthouse. Mr. Deane's yacht is lashed to the wreck which is laid
about five fathoms deep at low water, and encased in his heavy helmet, into
which a supply of air is being constantly pumped, and a Mackintosh over-all
dress, the diver descends; and remains in the wreck for an hour or an hour
and a half at a time, making ropes fast to barrels, boxes and packages, which
are drawn up and taken into the yacht by his assistants, with whom he can
communicate by means of signal ropes upon any emergency. Some chests of tea
and barrels of rice brought up were found to be so much injured as to be
useless, and were consequently sent adrift, but in other articles the
searchers after the hidden treasure of the deep have been more successful.