page_title: SS Fenella (1881)
section_title: Fenella Mystery
hierarchical_section_title: SS Fenella (1881) / Incidents / Fenella Mystery
caption_attribution_description: English: Fenella aground at Tranmere, April 1922.
context_page_description: SS Fenella (I), No.76303, was an Iron twin-screw steamer operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, and was the first ship in the company's history to bear the name.
context_section_description: On Monday 2 January 1899, under the command of Capt. Hill, the Fenella departed Liverpool at 11:30 hrs for Douglas, during the course of which she encountered severe weather with winds reported to be reaching Hurricane Force 12 resulting in a passage time of 8 hours. At a dog show which was taking place at the palace, Douglas, various rumours began to circulate when the Fenella was known to be overdue, and these increased to reports that the Douglas Lifeboat had been dispatched in order to meet the vessel; only for these reports to turn out to be baseless. On reaching Douglas, many passengers recounted their stories of the voyage to local newspapers. Accounts were given of people being thrown from their berths, and one lady being thrown across a cabin, sustaining cuts to her face. In the steerage section passengers were reportedly locked in to their accommodation, with some sustaining injury as fixtures such as heavy furniture became dislodged.
  It was reported that at the time of departure, whilst the weather was blustery, it was not sufficient for Capt. Hill to decide against making passage. The Fenella departed Liverpool on time and, exiting the Victoria Channel, she passed the Bar Light Ship, whereupon she set a course for Douglas. As the Fenella cleared to the northwest of Liverpool Bay, the weather worsened, and what was reported to be "one of the worst storms in many years" developed, with the wind blowing from the northwest, creating associated sleet and hail squalls. Reports stated that passengers on the deck were advised by the ship’s crew to go below due to the severity of the weather, but several passengers declined to do this, some seeking shelter on a covered seat aft of the funnel. According to a witness, Mr. Tom Wood, two passengers returned to the deck, (Mr. John Mc Combe and a young woman, Miss Janie Clucas), who joined three men believed to be the victims, sitting on the covered seat. Wood then stated that a wave crashed over the port beam of the Fenella with such force that it swept away the seat, dispersing its occupants, with the result that Mc Combe and Miss Clucas were washed up opposite the saloon door. Having both sustained injuries, they were taken into the saloon, where treatment was administered, and they stayed in the saloon for the remainder of the voyage.
  No exact eyewitness account exists regarding the loss of the passengers, but Wood stated that he did not see anything of the other occupants again, saying that he thought they’d taken shelter in another part of the vessel, and that it never occurred to him that they may have been washed overboard. He further stated that this occurred at approximately 15:30 hrs, and although visibility was poor it was not dark. Another passenger on board, Mr. Wightman (referred to as a commercial traveller), stated during the course of an interview with the Mona’s Herald that he was on the deck at the time when the incident occurred. Wightman stated that what was referred to as the "ladies shelter" was taken by the wave, but this was at a position further aft than from where he was standing. Wightman then continued that he stayed in that sheltered part of the vessel just aft of the funnel for the remainder of the voyage, being adequately sheltered by the funnel. Wightman further stated that when the sea came aboard the area in which he was standing was at least 1 foot (0.30 m) deep in water. The wave appeared to strike further aft than where he was, and the sea "probably" fell with all its force right on the shelter, which was swept away.  Wightman continued that no one was ordered below until the shelter had been washed away, as the situation was then described as "unsafe." Wightman concluded by saying that, to his recollection, six people were seated on the seat when the Fenella departed Liverpool; only for one person to leave after approximately 2 hours, and for the other person to leave after the announcement was made to go below. 
  Mr. John Mc Combe, during the course of his interview, stated that after passing the Bar Lightship both he and Miss Clucas 
caption: Fenella pictured beached aground on the Tranmere Bight, February 1923.
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