This Middlesborough registered iron steamship was wrecked in Wick Bay early on a Tuesday morning, under somewhat peculiar circumstances. The vessel, which had a crew of 8 hands besides Captain Butler was in the employment of Messrs Ross & Co. Fishcurers, Wick and chartered to carry a cargo of herring to Stettin. She arrived at Wick from that port on Monday morning with 800 empty barrels. These were quickly unloaded and with equal despatch a cargo consisting of 130 barrels of selected full herring and matties were shipped. This was completed by midnight and at about 1am on the Tuesday morning the vessel left the harbour to proceed on her voyage. When the mouth of the Bay was reached speed was slowed in order that ship’s boat might be taken onboard. While this was being done the ebbing tide caught the steamer and before the crew was aware of the ships position, she had drifted on to the outlying rocks at Proudfoot. The Pilot boat at once proceeded from Pulteney harbour to render any assistance that might be required, but the crew thinking that they might be able to get the vessel off declined the proffered assistance.
Meantime a gun was fired to warn the Rocket Apparatus Company and the men having quickly assembled got out the apparatus and under the command of Lieut. Aylen, Mr Gann of the Coastguard and Mr Mercer of the Naval Reserve hastened to the spot. By the time they arrived there was every indication of the steamer breaking apart amidships and a rocket and line were at once fired. This passed over the vessel and Lieut. Aylen seeing the perilous position the men were in, urged them to take advantage of the means of safety thus placed at their disposal. The line was accordingly seized, the hawser pulled aboard and in a short time the whole crew were safely landed. Shortly afterwards the steamer broke up right in the centre and the forward part disappeared in the sea.
The cargo of 1300 barrels valued at about £2000 was shipped by 16 different curers, the principal of whom were the charterers. The greater portion was uninsured and there was little hope entertained of any of it being recovered in a marketable condition, a serious loss was thereby entailed on the shippers.
The precise cause of the wreck has not yet been ascertained. How a vessel under steam, in a comparatively calm night and with but a slight sea running, should have been carried on to the rocks as the Ems was, is a question to which as yet there is no satisfactory answer.
The local paper, the John o' Groat Journal on 27 July 1882 stated that "the steamer Ems, which went ashore on Proudfoot while on passage from Pulteney harbour to Stettin with a cargo of herring, is to be sold on Friday, as she now lies stranded. The after part of the steamer still lies on the rock, the forward part having disappeared in the water along with the greater portion of the cargo. Some of the stores and part of the engines, along, along with a few copper pipes and a small part of the cargo have been landed. Portions of the cargo have been washed ashore, but owing to the damage the barrels of herring have sustained, they are practically useless. The engines and boiler, it appears, were put into the steamer new in April 1881. Messrs. Louttit & Co. are acting as agents here for the owners of the steamboat. It is anticipated that a Board of Trade enquiry will be held regarding the loss of the vessel".
On 3 August 1882 the John o' Groat Journal reported that "the stranded steamer Ems lying at Proudfoot with the portion of cargo recovered was sold by public roup on Friday. Mr Begg, fishcurer, bought the hull for £15 5s and the machinery for £65. These together with some small stores sold to various parties, brought up the whole amount realised for the vessel to a little over £100. About 24 barrels of herring were purchased by Mr James Moore, fishcurer, Pulteneytown at 19s per barrel. The engine and machinery were almost new and cost about £3000".
The Ems was built in 1857 and was 158 tons.
Meantime a gun was fired to warn the Rocket Apparatus Company and the men having quickly assembled got out the apparatus and under the command of Lieut. Aylen, Mr Gann of the Coastguard and Mr Mercer of the Naval Reserve hastened to the spot. By the time they arrived there was every indication of the steamer breaking apart amidships and a rocket and line were at once fired. This passed over the vessel and Lieut. Aylen seeing the perilous position the men were in, urged them to take advantage of the means of safety thus placed at their disposal. The line was accordingly seized, the hawser pulled aboard and in a short time the whole crew were safely landed. Shortly afterwards the steamer broke up right in the centre and the forward part disappeared in the sea.
The cargo of 1300 barrels valued at about £2000 was shipped by 16 different curers, the principal of whom were the charterers. The greater portion was uninsured and there was little hope entertained of any of it being recovered in a marketable condition, a serious loss was thereby entailed on the shippers.
The precise cause of the wreck has not yet been ascertained. How a vessel under steam, in a comparatively calm night and with but a slight sea running, should have been carried on to the rocks as the Ems was, is a question to which as yet there is no satisfactory answer.
The local paper, the John o' Groat Journal on 27 July 1882 stated that "the steamer Ems, which went ashore on Proudfoot while on passage from Pulteney harbour to Stettin with a cargo of herring, is to be sold on Friday, as she now lies stranded. The after part of the steamer still lies on the rock, the forward part having disappeared in the water along with the greater portion of the cargo. Some of the stores and part of the engines, along, along with a few copper pipes and a small part of the cargo have been landed. Portions of the cargo have been washed ashore, but owing to the damage the barrels of herring have sustained, they are practically useless. The engines and boiler, it appears, were put into the steamer new in April 1881. Messrs. Louttit & Co. are acting as agents here for the owners of the steamboat. It is anticipated that a Board of Trade enquiry will be held regarding the loss of the vessel".
On 3 August 1882 the John o' Groat Journal reported that "the stranded steamer Ems lying at Proudfoot with the portion of cargo recovered was sold by public roup on Friday. Mr Begg, fishcurer, bought the hull for £15 5s and the machinery for £65. These together with some small stores sold to various parties, brought up the whole amount realised for the vessel to a little over £100. About 24 barrels of herring were purchased by Mr James Moore, fishcurer, Pulteneytown at 19s per barrel. The engine and machinery were almost new and cost about £3000".
The Ems was built in 1857 and was 158 tons.