Part of the
Acorn Archive
Hearts of Oak
Temperly,
Carter & Darke Ship
SS SCOTLAND
The
Times 18th September 1869
Iron
Shipbuilding on the Forth
Mr
Key, of Kirkaldy, recently launched from his building yard at Abden, near
Kinghorn, the largest iron ship ever built on the Forth. the vessel is named
the ABDEN. She is the ninth steamer Mr Key has launched since he commenced
operations at Abden, and is the finest as well as the largest. She is 320 ft in
legth, 38 ft in breadth and 28 ft in depth. Her engines, which have been made
by Mr Key, are surface condensing, on the horizontal principle. They are 500
horse power nominal and 1,700 horse power indicated, and are calculated to give
a speed of 14 knots an hour. The diameter of the cylinders is 70 inches and the
stroke is 38 inches. Steam is generated in four tubular boilers, with four
furnaces each.
SCOTLAND
– Built as ABDEN
ON
62293
Iron
Screw Steamer
Launched
(Yard Nr 9) 9th September 1869; John Key & Sons, Abden
2,146
grt; 304.1 ft x 37.9 ft x 19.6ft
Three
decks, five bulkheads.
Twin
screw 2 cyl steam engines and four single ended boilers operating at
60lbs/sqin
pressure; by John Key & Sons, Whytebank Engine Works,
Kirkcaldy,
Fife; 400 hp. Service speed 14 knots
Accomodation
for sixty passengers.
Port
of Registration : Leith.
Registered
at Leith 1st October 1870, under the name SCOTLAND
1873
Bought by Temperly, Carter & Darke
1874
Entered Leith drydock; Lengthened, by
Key's; 365 ft; 2,645 grt
Three
charters carrying coal to the Far East for the Admiralty
1889
Sold to W. Ross & Co, London
1895
Scrapped
The
ship was christened ABDEN by Miss Morgan daughter of the manager of
the
local branch of the Commercial Bank. She was then taken to Granton for fitting
out and to await a buyer. In the months following a number of interested
parties viewed the vessel but only P&O showed any great interest, but due
to the opening of the Suez Canal larger tonnage vessels were required and the
interest was not followed up.
In
September 1870 Key’s negotiated a contract with the British Government
for
the vessel to carry military personnel and supplies from Liverpool to
Calcutta. She entered the Prince of Wales dry dock,
Leith, for an
underwaterline
check and painting. On completion she was renamed SCOTLAND with Messr`s
Stoddart, Town Buildings, Liverpool, being appointed managers for the duration
of the contract.
The
vessel remained in Key`s ownership with him holding all 64 shares.
The
contract commenced when the vessel left Granton, with 400 tons of
cargo,
bound for Liverpool on 2nd October 1870. On the morning of 7th
October
while approaching the Sound of Islay and under the command of an
experienced
ships pilot her port engine suffered piston failure. Weather
conditions
were very good and the vessel was able to make good progress and
maintain
steerage but for some reason the vessel ran aground, at high water,
close
to the McArthur Head lighthouse at the south end of the Sound.
The
steamship STAFFA was close at hand at the time of the stranding and took
off
non essential crew members from the vessel before proceeding to Greenock
from
where the managers were telegraphed
First
indications were that the SCOTLAND could not possibly be saved and
with
the vessel insured for only £55,000 against building costs of £72,000
there
were some worried men at the Kinghorn yard. With the arrival of a
diver,
aboard the large Greenock based tug ADMIRAL, it was found that the
vessel
was in no immediate danger and temporary repairs were carried out.
On
21st October she was refloated and proceeded to Greenock for drydocking.
At
a subsequent enquiry the pilot was held to be at fault for the stranding.
On
completion of that contract, in November 1871, John Key sold 43 shares to
John
Temperley with the remaining 21 being bought in 1873.
From
Lloyds List
Port
Engine suffered piston failure
The
contract commenced when the vessel left Granton, with 400 tons of
cargo,
bound for Liverpool on 2nd October 1870. On the morning of 7th
October
while approaching the Sound of Islay and under the command of an
experienced
ships pilot her port engine suffered piston failure. Weather
conditions
were very good and the vessel was able to make good progress and
maintain
steerage but for some reason the vessel ran aground,at high water,
close
to the McArthur Head lighthouse at the south end of the Sound.
The
Times 30th December 1880
The
screw steamer SCOTLAND, which had been hired from Messrs Temperley, Carter and
Darke, sailed from Portsmouth yesterday morning with drafts. She took out Major
Taylor, Lieut Levett, 70 men, 4 women and one child, of the 27th Foot; Surgeon
Wolesley, 38 men, 8 women and 9 children for Hong Kong; Capt Kerr, Lieut Holme,
154 men, 1 woman and 4 children, of the 2nd battalion 3rd Foot, 24 men, 1 woman
and 2 children for Singapore; Lieut Lindrop, Second Lieuts O'Niel and Adain,
157 men, 4 women and 7 children of the 102nd Foot, 22 men belonging to the
Royal Artillery, and 14 men, 2 women and 2 children belonging to various corps
for Ceylon. Captain Brownlow, RN of the Transport Department, owing to his
being employed in surveying and preparing hired steamers for despatching
reinforcements to Natal, was unable to be at the embarcation.
With grateful thanks to John D Stevenson
for his permission to use his research material.
Raymond
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