WORLD'S OLDEST VESSEL

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22520, 30 September 1938, Page 8

WORLD'S OLDEST VESSEL

PREMIER'S CLAIM QUESTIONED

MEMORIES OP LIVERPOOL SHIPPING MAN

Publicity recently given the sale of the old steamer' Premier resulted in "Mersey," the official magazine Of the Mersey Dock Board, publishing the views of Mr S. Sindall, a well-known Liverpool shipping identity. The Premier is usually referred to as the oldest steamer afloat. Mr Sindall, however, thinks there are several older vessels. He bases his opinion on information gathered not so long ago from old records. "The Premier," writes Mr Sindall, "was built by Messrs W. Denny Bros., of Dumbarton, in 1846. In 1878.she underwent considerable repairs, was lengthened, and had new engines (about the same time) .by John Penn and Sons, of Greenwich, and again, in 1926, she had about 30 new plates put into her. She was in Government service during the War.

"The Ceres has just passed, in 1938. Lost in Barnstaple Bay, December, 1936, she was built in 1811 at Salcombe, Devon, for William Lewis, of Bude, North Cornwall, for trading in the London-Spanish fruit trade. During the Peninsular War she carried stores to the British troops in France, under the Duke of Wellington. On the death of William Lewis, his son, then about 18 years old, went captain, and kept her coasting till 1855, when she was sold to Captain D. M. Petherick, of Bude, who took command of her until 1884, then his 'brother, Walter Petherick, took her, and he retired in 1930. She ran the gauntlet of the German submarines and found her end, as stated, in 1936, aged 125 years. "The Anna, a small sailing vessel of Veile, Denmark, built in 1794, at Marstal, Denmark, and of only 20 tons gross register, was in 1934 still in active service.

"The Lisa, of Korsharn, sailing vessel built in 1790 at Svendborg, Denmark, originally for the Danish Navy, sailing for many years as far as Iceland and North America, in 1934 was employed in coasting trade. "There was a steamer, the HsinTai, built in 1840, and still going strong in 1936. "The Great Britain, built in 1843, has but lately ended her career. Built in 1836

"What of the steamer Norwich, built on the River Hudson, 1836, and still, I think, actually employed in the Hudson river and New York Bay trade? She has in-built paddle-boxes and a most curious funnel, and, 1 should say, this must be the oldest steamer.

"Has the old Truelove 'gone west'? A barque of 296 tons, built at Philadelphia in 1764. As a Hull whaler she was in active service when well past a centenarian.

"The Glengarry, built by Smith and Rodger, at Glasgow* in 1844. An iron paddle steamer built for David McBrayne and running in the Caledonian Canal to Inverness, and also the Glencoe, built in 1846 as the Mary Jane, of 226 tons gross. Dimensions: 165 ft by 20ft by 9ft 4in. A paddle wheel steamer built by Todd and McGregor, Glasgow, plying with passengers and mails between Mallaig and Portree, and, I think, broken up in 1932. What has happened to the De Tre Sostern. built in 1772, and was still carrying grain cargoes a few years ago? A Spritsail Barge "Another old vessel is the old Virgen Del Mar (Virgin of the Seas), formerly the Neustra Senora Del Mar (Our Lady of the Seas), launched at Arneys in June, 1824. Spanish owned, is she still afloat? In 1924 she held celebrations of a high standard at her centenary.

"The Good Intent, built at Plymouth in 1790. I have a little picture of her when 135 years old.

"Yet again the Wellington, built at Liverpool in 1815 by Messrs Mottershead and Hayes. In 1831 she made some trips to Scotland, otherwise I believe her life has been spent in connexion with pile-driving operations at Liverpool and use in the docks as a lifting flat or derrick. "The old spritsail barge Favourite, built at Sittingbourne in 1803, is she now being used as a boathouse on the Thames? The ketch William, of Bristol, built in 1809. what of her?

"The Java, built in 1813. Active until about 1860, and now a coal hulk at Gibraltar. "We need not look at China, for there we find junks of untold age. hundreds of years old, but they have undergone repairs so often that littl'-. if any, of the original vessel remains, and all records of dates as to their building lost."