A ship bound for New Toulouse was lost in a terrible storm. Below is the report from the Court of Inquiry.
Shipwreck report
Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas
July 19
Finding and Order of a Naval Court held at the American Consulate at Charlotte Amalie, Danish Virgin Islands, on the 18th day of July, to investigate the circumstances attending the loss of the American barque, “MIELLE,” of Galveston, on the Island of St. Thomas, on the 10th day of July, and to inquire into the conduct of the master, officers, and crew of the said ship.
The “Mielle” was an iron sailing vessel, barque rigged, of 954 tons register, official No. 14.386, built at Port Glasgow in 1876, and owned by Messrs. Chadwick & Theobald.
From the evidence given before this Court it appears that she sailed from Grand-Bassam, Ivory Coast on or about the 1st day of June, bound for the port of New Toulouse, with a cargo of livestock and a crew of 18 hands and 4 cowboys all told.
That they experienced variable weather during the passage, nothing unusual occurring until on or about the 8th day of July, when they encountered strong winds and heavy seas, which continued until and after the ship ran aground.
It appears that the course was altered from W.N.W. to S.W. in an attempt to seek shelter in the lee of St. Thomas Island, but the evidence is conflicting as to the exact time she was steered S.W. The latter course was steered until about noon, when the ship did run aground and went to pieces on the north shore of St. Thomas. From the evidence before the Court it appears that beyond the trimming of sails no precautionary measures were taken with the object of preventing the ship from driving on shore. After breaking the ship against the shore the crew did take refuge in the wreck, and emerged on the 11th day of July, and made their way by walking to the Port of Charlotte Amalie. The fate of the cargo is unknown, none was recovered, but reports indicate that an unknown number did survive and were salvaged by the local populace.
The Court, having regard to the circumstances above stated, and to the whole of the evidence produced before it, finds as follows:
That the master, Mr. Terrence Romero, did find himself overtaken by a storm of exceptional size, and was taking on water due to the exceptionally heavy rainfall and the height of the waves. Mr. Romero was unable to predict the course of the storm, nor any reasonable guess as to the best quarter to run before it, and did make every reasonable effort to save his crew. Mr. Romero was not in default for driving his ship ashore, visibility during the storm being so poor as to prevent any sighting of the land or aids to navigation.
That the master, mate and crew did make every effort to preserve life and property, and that all of the crew and passengers did survive the incident, and all of the cargo was lost.
The Court, in pursuance of the powers vested in it by Section 483 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, therefore orders:
That the casualty of the ship “Mielle” and the cargo on board was due to the storm itself, and not worsened by the actions of the master.
That a copy of the report, or a statement of the case, upon which the investigation was ordered having been furnished the master, Mr. Terrence Romero, that he retain his Master’s certificate without default.
We exonerate him from all blame.
(signed)
E. COLE, Judge.