Ardrossan & Saltcoats herald
November 30, 1906
Ayrshire Sailors - An Interesting Record of "City" Line Apprentices. 1840-1904. Associated topic Saltcoats Shipmasters
By the courtesy of Mr T. W. Orr, we have been favoured with copy of Captain Brown's booklet on the "City" Line apprentices. It is a neat compilation, comprising a list of "the ships and the boys who helped to man them." Already we have given publicity to Interesting articles on the "City" Line from the pen of Captain Smith, Ardrossan, and we find in this booklet the names of many Ayrshire sailors associated with the Line and mentioned in those papers. Captain Smith showed how excellent a part the famous "City" Line had taken in the development of the British mercantile marine, and in the development the men from the Ayrshire coast did and are doing grand work:
"There's never a flood goes shoreward now
But lifts a keel we manned;
There's never an ebb goes seaward now
But drops our dead on the sand."
With those lines of Kipling Capt. Brown prefaces his booklet, appropriately. We have paid the price of the admiralty," and this district has given its share. To begin with the ship "Majestic, we note that James Brown, Irvine, joined that vessel in March, 1860, served four years in her, and became master of the "City of Glasgow." Another of the "Majestic" boys was John Hunter, of Prestwick, who became master of the "City of Florence," and still another, mow passed away, was Robert Clark, of Irvine, who rose from apprentice to shipowner. Amongst the "City of Glasgow" boys we find the name of John Irvine, of Kilbirnie, who joined her in February of 1864. In 1882 W. H. Brown, Ardrossan, joined this ship: in 1884, John Bews, Troon: in 1886, Robert Kerr, Saltcoats; in 1896, Henry H. Macauley, Irvine.
The" City of Edinburgh" was joined in July, 1874, by Archibald Taylor, Saltcoats, now a master in the "City" Line. In the record of the "City of Madras," the first Ayrshire name seems to that of A. B. Gray, of Irvine. who joined in July, 1869?, and at the time of his death was master of the "City of Canterbury." Neil M'Neil, Arran, Joined in 1888, and in master of the City of Bombay. Another Arran man, William McKelvie, joined in 1890, and W. S. McFarlane, Millport, in 1893: he Is now in Africa. Of the "City of Manchester" boys, Alexander Thomas, Saltcoats, who joined in 1883, is captain of the "City of Vienna" The principal local name in the list of the "City of Tanjore" is that of Robert McFee, R.N.R, Saltcoats, who joined in 1871 and became marine super. of the Anchor Line.
Some local names are recorded in connection with the "City of Delhi," the first being that of D. Muir, Irvine, who joined in 1858. He is supposed to have been drowned. John Dick, Ayr, Joined in 1875: he is now trading in China. ?. Martin, Ardrossan, joined in 1887, and then came Thomas Smit, Saltcoats, who became master of the "City of Madrid." In March of 1885?, James Stewart, Arran, Joined the "City of York." A West Kilbride name John Lindsay - appears on the roll of the City of "Pekin," he joining in February of 1868. "The City of Lucknow" had James McMurtrie, Irvine, who joined in June, 1881, Add A. K. Chalmers, Saltcoats, who came four years later. The "City of Perth," in her crew of August, 1881?, Included apprentice James Love, Saltcoats, who became a Clyde pilot; and in August, 1872, he was joined by by D. Ingram, Saltcoats, who became master of the "City of Glasgow." One of the "City of Perth" apprentices gave up the sea to edit paper in New South Wales.
Two Saltcoats lad joined the "City of Shanghai" in Nov., 1880, James Thomson : in Oct., 1851, W. Colquhoun. R. McGeachan, Old Cumnock, Joined the "City of Ningpo" in May, 1883, at the same time as A. Cook, Arran. The "City of Paris" was Robert McFee's (Saltcoats) first ship in the "City" Line. He joined her is 1863. In 1864 J. W. Love, Ardrossan, joined the "City of Amoy." He was accompanied on that voyage by James Brown, Irvine, formerly of the - "Majestic", and each became master of the - "City of London," eventually. The "City of Amoy" had J. McMillan, Irvine, in 1867. And James Wilson, Irvine, in 1881. The "City of Lahore" seems to have been quite a favourite with the lads from this neighbourhood. John Mair, Irvine, who afterwards became master of a coaster, Joined her in 1886, as did Alexander Young, Irvine, who retired a captain in the Village Line. and took his seat on the Irvine and District Water Board the other week. James Speirs, Largs, joined in 1875: W. M. Ingram, Saltcoats, in 1877; and J. Blair, Irvine, in 1867.
J. Jack, Largs, who joined the "City of Vienna" in 1886, was drowned in 1895 when chief officer of the s.s. City of Agra." William R. Lawson, Ayr, came to the "City of Athens" in 1868; he eventually became marine superintendent to the New Zealand Shipping Co. In 1893, A. Howie, Troon, joined the "City of Florence." John Miller, Ardrossan, joining in 1893. J. Wilson, Kilmarnock, who became a marine superintendent in Glasgow joined the "City of Venice" In 1871. In 1879 D. Taylor, Saltcoats', came to the "City of Corinth," and to the same vessel, in 1883, came James Smith, Saltcoats, who was lost at sea.
An Ayr man, John Wilson, who eventually became master of the s.s. "City of Athens," joined the "City of Sparta" in 1871. Ayrshire is closely associated with the "City of Benares." Robert Hedderwick, Saltcoats, afterwards a "City" Line master, joined her in 1870; James Thomson and William Colquhoun, Saltcoats, were members of her crew in 1867: George Jaffrey, Irvine, in 1869 W. R. Miller, Saltcoats, la 1893: William Muir, Irvine, 1866. of the "City" Line apprentices, since 1901, Brown, Saltcoats, who joined in 1904 the s.s."City of York."
In looking over the pamphlet, the reader is struck by the manner in which the seafaring men have wandered and the diverse way they have taken. In 1870, a good many "left at Melbourne," and doubtless went gold-hunting and the following are some of the notes regarding others - "Died in Africa " : "In Vancouver City" : "living in Australia" : "living in New Zealand": "trading in China" ; "lost in wreck"; music seller in Sydney", "chemist in San Francisco" : "electrician in Melbourne" : "saddler in St Petersburg" : "hotelkeeper (retired), Dunoon" : "captain of Australian survey steamer" : "Lieutenant, R.N." : and, we may add regarding one of them, "trader in Basutoland." With the pamphlet there is a very smart picture of the "City of Ningpo" in full sail, "rolling down to St Helens. Capt. Brown has earned the thanks of many by his interesting compilations.
