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Pacific - a general history

Masters: 1894-97 F Marshall: 1898 JC Wotton: 1899 CW Joules: 1908 JR Peck: 1909 a Barron: 1913 John Grigor.

Scotsdyke left Grangemouth in September 1913 with a cargo of coal on a voyage for Venice. On route she called in at Susa, North Africa & other Mediterranean ports taking on board a quantity of zinc ore & esparto grass which was used in the manufacture of paper. A large amount of the grass was stacked on the deck which somehow set on fire when the vessel was just off St Catherine’s Point on 19 November 1913. The flames could be seen from the shore & the Iron Duke which had just left Portsmouth on her trails-came to the rescue. The master’s wife, the crew’s pet dog & all the crew, including a boy of 14, were taken from the burning vessel. Several of the crew were treated for slight burns.

Crew November 1913: Erskine, 1st mate; Hardy, John, fireman; Spitri, fireman.

Passengers November 1913: Calder, WB; Geddie, AF. (Both Parliamentary Journalists)

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