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Everest (1881) - a general history

Official No. 84535: Code Letters WFNC.

Owners: 1881 Murrell & Yeoman, West Hartlepool: 1898 Peter Rowe & Sons (Rowe SS Co) Cardiff.

Master: 1881-89 T Douglas: 1890-93 P Gough: 1894-95 C Kienz: 1896-97 T Webster: 1898-1902 RP King: 1902-04 W Beer: 1905-11 Evan Owen Evans, 52, Llangrannog.

Everest had been purchased by Peter Rowe & Sons for £9,280 & was for sale at £6,000. The Board of Trade inquiry at Cardiff on her loss considered there was evidence to show that the master had acted in the execution of a criminal design intending to wreck her for the insurance. She was insured in total for £10,730 so assuming an amount for her freight & the highest possible value for the vessel she was insured for £2,000 more than her value & the master was a part owner in the vessel. However, they took a more favorable approach & charged him with careless & inaccurate estimation of the distance from land five minutes before the vessel was stranded. The master’s certificate was suspended for six months & he was ordered to pay £50 towards the cost of the inquiry.

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