SS Peveril (1884)

SS (RMS) Peveril (I) No. 76307 - the first vessel in the Company's history to be so-named - was a packet steamer which was operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company until she sank off Douglas following a collision with SS Monarch in 1899.

Construction and dimensions
Constructed in 1884 by the Barrow Shipbuilding Company, Barrow-in-Furness, Peveril was launched on Thursday May 24th, 1884. The Barrow Shipbuilding Company also supplied Peveril's engines and boilers.

Length 207'; beam 26'; depth 13'; with an i.h.p. of 1,200. Peveril had a design speed of 13.5 knots.

Passenger capacity is not recorded. However, her sister ship SS Fenella (1881) was certificated to carry 504 passengers. Peveril had crew accommodation for 30.

Service Life
Sister ship to SS Fenella (1881), Peveril was intended for general cargo work in the main season, and for passenger relief service in winter. When ten years old, she was fitted with electric lighting. Fifty seven points were installed, and these installations were considered so successful, that it was decided to install a similar lighting system to SS Mona's Isle (1882), PS King Orry (1871) and SS Snaefell (1876).

Sinking
After 15 years service with the Company's fleet, she was sunk off Douglas on the night of 16 September 1899, following a collision with SS Monarch.

The Peveril, under the command of Capt. William Woods, departed Queen's Dock, Port of Liverpool at 19:50hrs and passed the Bar Lightship at 21:17hrs when she set a course bound for Douglas.

The weather for the passage was fine, with a clear night sky, good visibility and a calm sea. For some time as the Peveril was nearing Douglas, the lights of another vessel could be seen off the Peveril's starboard quarter, with the range decreasing and the bearing remaining constant. These were the lights of the steamer Monarch, making passage from Workington to Swansea.

The Monarch (No. 90117), was an iron-built schooner-rigged steamer, and was of 113 tons. She was built by Mollwaine, Lewis & Co., Belfast in 1885, and was owned and operated by Alexander King Ltd, Belfast.

She was sailing under the command of her Master, Captain Alexander McCullough and with a crew of 10. Monarch had departed Workington at 19:30hrs, carrying 360 tons of flue-ash for the Villiers Spelter Company, Swansea. She arrived off St Bees Head at 20:35hrs and set a course for Skerries.

As both vessels neared a position southeast of Douglas Isle of Man, the Monarch's helmsman F. Burns, and her lookout, George Caddell, spotted the light on the Peveril's masthead away to port.

The starboard light of the Peveril and the port light of the Monarch maintained a constant bearing, and neither ship appeared to alter course.

At 01:00hrs, 14 miles southeast of Douglas, the Monarch rammed the Peveril amidships, flooding the engine room. On the bridge of the Peveril at the time of collision, were First Officer Thomas Webb and Second Officer J. Collister. Following the collision all hands were immediately on deck, and Captain Woods, who was below at the time, assumed command.

It was clear to Capt. Woods that the vessel would founder, and the necessary provisions were made to abandon ship. The Monarch stood by whilst the Peveril's lifeboats were lowered, which then made their way towards the Monarch. There were 30 crew members on board the Peveril and one passenger (Mr Robert Henry Pitts, of Johannesburg, South Africa). On carrying out a muster upon reaching the Monarch, it was discovered that the ship's two Firemen (J. Crellin and J. Crowe),  together with an additional crew member were missing. First Officer Webb returned to the Peveril and was successful in assisting all three crew members to safety, clearing the lower part of the ship just as the stokehold became flooded.

The Peveril sank in 40 minutes. The position of the wreck of Peveril is given as 54.01667°N, -4.18333°W.

Aftermath
The Monarch then made her way to Douglas Harbour with the Peveril's solitary passenger, her ship's company aboard; and towing two of her lifeboats astern.

Monarch arrived at the Victoria Pier at 04:00hrs.

However, the Monarch had also sustained serious damage. Her stem was stoved in, and had it not been for an extra-strong collision bulkhead she may well also of foundered. On discharging the Peveril's crew and passenger, the Monarch moved across the harbor to the Red Pier; and then to the South Quay in order for repairs to be effected, where she attracted considerable attention from the public.

In accordance with the provisions of The Merchant Shipping Act 1894, both First Officer Webb of the Peveril, together with Capt. McCullough of the Monarch were summoned to appear before an inquiry held at Douglas on Monday September 18, 1899, presided over by the Receiver of Wrecks, Mr. M. J. Cahill, as to the events surrounding the loss of the Peveril.

During the course of the hearing, unsurprisingly, Mr. Webb blamed the Monarch stating:-

As would be expected, during the course of his deposition, Capt. McCullough made a different assertion:-