Shipwrecks

St Davids Peninsula & Ramsey Island Ship Wrecks

NIMROD of Cork, Ireland.

WRECKED TUESDAY 28TH FEBRUARY 1860.

She was built to take cargo and Irish immigrants from Cork, Ireland to Liverpool, England. From Liverpool the Irish immigrants would then sail for a new life to America or Australia. At Liverpool she would load up with cargo and passengers then steam back to Cork. For 17 years she had sailed this route until February 1860.

25th February 1860, Saturday afternoon the "NIMROD", steamed out of Liverpool, England for Cork, Ireland. The weather was so dreadful that she anchored for the night at Beaumaris Bay, Anglesey Island, off the North Wales coast.

26th February, Sunday morning, the "FALCON", another vessel of the CORK STEAMSHIP Co. sighted the "NIMROD", steaming out of Beaumaris Bay, nothing unusual appearing with her, as she proceeded on her course for Cork.

When off the Irish Coast, the "NIMROD" engines broke down, the wind was moderate, blowing westerly, so Captain Lyall, ordered her sails to be hoisted; under sail she headed for Milford Haven, West Wales. At 10.30 Monday evening 27th February, the Milford paddle steamer "CITY OF PARIS", under Captain Pearn, Milford for Waterford, Ireland sighted the "NIMROD", flying distress signals 15 miles off the Smalls Lighthouse. When the "CITY OF PARIS", went to her aid, Captain Pearn of the "CITY OF PARIS" offered to tow the "NIMROD", to Milford Haven for ?1,000. Captain Lyall of the "NIMROD", said "tow us to Milford for ?100." After some bickering, Captain Pearn then offered to tow the "NIMROD", to Milford Haven, and settle the remuneration with the owners later. But Captain Lyall refused. It was a decision he would regret before the night was over.

At the time of the encounter with the "CITY OF PARIS" the weather was moderate, and the light of St. Ann's Lighthouse, West Wales were visible. The "NIMROD", was fully rigged with sails just in case of such engine failure, and she seemed able to reach Milford Haven under her own sail. Captain's Lyall's only request to the departing "CITY OF PARIS", that they were to report the "NIMROD", engine failure on there arrival at Waterford.

After the two paddle steamers parted, the wind increased to south westerly gale force winds, and the already-crippled "NIMROD", could not make Milford Haven.

Tuesday 28th February, at 8 a.m. the "NIMROD" was seen being driven before, not a gale, but south westerly hurricane force winds, with gigantic sea's. With her sails now in tatters she was now being driven through the dangerous rocks, known as 'the Bishops and Clerks', towards 300 foot shear cliffs at St. David's Head, West Wales. Residents of St. David's, and the surrounding area, hurried to St. David's Head, at the news that a shipwreck was imminent. Over 200 people watch at the pitiful sight of the doomed paddle steamer coming towards them, at the mercy of the Hurricane force winds and huge sea's. When half a mile off the cliffs, Captain Lyall of the "NIMROD", ordered the lowering of both anchors, this was his last hope of saving all aboard his vessel - the anchors held. On the cliffs the people were cheering and shouting 'they are saved', 'they are saved'. Then the unbelievable happened, both anchor chains broke. Now all those people on the cliffs could do was to watch in horror as the doomed paddle steamer was driven before the hurricane, towards them, for they knew what fate that awaited them.

About 10 a.m. the paddle steamer struck the cliffs, at Porth Llong, near St. David's Head, the "NIMROD", quickly broke in three sections. Some of the people on the cliffs tried throwing ropes down, but the hurricane force winds blew them back. It was all over in ten minutes and 45 crew and passengers were all meet a watery grave. For years after, the witness's of this tragic event, could still hear the heart rendering screams for help from the drowning people.

Research done by Jim Phillips (Shipwreck Researcher)

The Gem

St Davids RNLI Lifeboat

MT Concord

Awaiting Text

Langton Grange

St Davids RNLI Lifeboat