Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume Ten - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Even more aspects - The Lloyd's Register at Penarth Dock . . .

'Franklin'
The Steamer Franklin - All Hope of the Ship and Crew Abandoned - 'Upon inquiry on Tuesday evening at the offices of Messrs. Trechmann, Carrick, and Co., the brokers for the steamer Franklin, which is overdue on a voyage from Penarth to Malta, we were informed that all hope had been abandoned, and that the crew and ship had been given up as lost. It is surmised that the steamer foundered in the Channel during the gales which prevailed between December 11 and 14.' - Evening Express [135] [361] 8th January 1902.
The Loss of the Franklin - List of the Crew : Nine Men from Cardiff - 'All hope of the safety of the Glasgow steamer Franklin, 3,000 tons, which left Penarth for Malta on December 11, has been abandoned. It is supposed she foundered with all hands in the Bay of Biscay in the storm of December 13. The crew, who signed on at Cardiff and Penarth, were as follows:— William S. Strapp, captain, Dunover. John O. Thomas, second mate, Glasgow. Fred F. Allivan, second engineer, Glasgow. Alfred M. Wilson, third engineer, Liverpool. Daniel M'Diarmid, boatswain, Portree. Thomas Bryne, donkeyman, Birkenhead. W. J. Edwards. steward. Glasgow. James E. Goodall, cook, Bristol. F. Gwaekin, messroom steward, Ross. R. Reed (36), first mate. Charles Watkins (31), A.B., 33, Corbett-road, Cardiff. S. Cabot (19), A.B., 23, Christina-street, Cardiff. J. W. Harrington (48). A.B., Workman's Hotel, Cardiff. J. Stewart (23), A.B., Gordon Coffee-tavern, Cardiff. L. Rayman (35), A.B., 171, Bute-street, Cardiff. F. Campbell (31), fireman. 23, Christina-street, Cardiff. B. M'Guiness (21), fireman, 23, Christina-street, Cardiff. John Moran (36), fireman, 14, Maria-street, Cardiff. John Thornton (24), fireman, 14, Maria-street, Cardiff. Mr. John Oswald Thomas, second officer of the overdue steamer Franklin, is the eldest son of Captain David Thomas, Vulcan-place, Aberayron.' - Evening Express [135] [361] 24th January 1902.
The general cargo, single screw steamship, 'Franklin' was launched during April 1889 at the Glen Yard of William Hamilton & Company at Port Glasgow. She was of 261.2 ft. in length x 37.0 ft. breath x 16.9 ft. depth being of 1793 gross and 1160 net register tons. She was built for Andrew Ballingall (Ballingall & Co) of Glasgow but the ownership evolved c.1894 to become Andrew Ballingall and James Garroway also of Glasgow. The Scottish Built Ships website comments that she sailed from Penarth 10/12/1901 for Malta with coal and was reported seen 13/12/1901 entering the Bay of Biscay (along with steamer 'Basuto') by the steamer 'Gibraltar', which then experienced heavy overnight storms and did not see either vessel again. However, this report may have been erroneous. No wreckage was ever found. [425]