CARTOTI A.A,L, ÍUSTLAAII 264t3 8380 ZEEERUGGE
The Loss iii of the "Pamir" l
I In September, 1957, the
I I. Gerrnan Íout -rnasted ,.b,**e"" barque "Pamir" was lost in an Atlantic huticane. i,J..j P, D. Grant recounts the ,( ship's uaried, career and
the eaents uhich led uP to her tragic loss-a loss which brought commercial deeP-water
sai.l to an untimely end
ga
**t
(2 "Pàmir: All hope sone. 5roÍa ba|rr
,t ."*"-"*Ï
tffia, Parair's maís and yardarms She was sqLrare' ln 1954 r\e qflt Cermàn were ot í€el. r"."r"^"r,, - "n r'irrqr?rt Íigged on foÍe, main and mizzen masts, lore and aft on her Ii m: rron DM ro r\e I ande\bari SchleswiS_Hol're}nIwt' cn. jigger which cadied lhree spars spankcr sail boom, e;ab-(o rhcm to linan(€ ,he rJrnins oÍ borh §hips and so spank.r boom and upperspankergafi.- This enablcd her ro 5et hoth Ponn Ànít Passa! bnt ro sea aaàin as caÍgo cartvine sail by ,'^,n,' , .h'n. FvÈn qiÀ \uch a l.rie .oÍplemenr cdrÍ ed Ihlee sails on this mast instead ol rhe usual two catried 'he otheÍ non-German sailing ships. She was a powerlul ship, ,'a.-"frr" .onnare and. lor tne ne\r lnr(e yed,s, Poa' capable ol carrying 45,000 squarc {.et oi canvas. ".onr"r ',r.ce. lul rra.rin-e prosramme(; untrl lhar latelul dav Pr-irwas no record breakeÍ, but she did make a few sí,a!t pa§sages sailing beiween HambuÍg and Chile and save good \!,lr d cd-so or oar.ey. nJt ld o i (he A/o-e\. Pou r/ sas regular service to her ovners. hor -cwaÍd b;.,nd ltom Ihe Ri\.Í Plare ro Hamourg *hen However, this pcriod oi h to bc shoÍtiivcd, storm warnirss, wi0r rhe diiedion and §pecd ol a hurican€ for, in 1914, when shc was homeward bound, Parrtr vas reoorr.o. Paryrr pres'ed on, Capta,n Drebirsch pÍobablv informed rhar wa! had be€n declared, so §he made foÍ lhe d"ere o n, ihoq ml-ch .oicern as rhev seemed to be well cle3Í of Canary Islands, the caprain and crew expecting ro bc thcrc loÍ rhs huricanc'§ Darh. Pdmi. vas buill to survive sroÍms, §he but a \hort',me. Hos {, onts rhey qere: .he sJ. 'o iLmain in naa oeen rnro:gn rougn:ea( man) Iine:: belure and .he had lhe Canaries tor tive long years. when hosrilities wcre ar an end Pamir vas laken ovcr by the ltaliuís in l9l9 lo trade in Tl-e qcrrn(, DJ'r(, r ror rhe Ce'man \quarer,ts8er was now fie Mediierranean. This was no sea lor a Cape Horn{ and, beein,,i,,( ro ral( .hdDc . c.ouJy \\], senrle dnd modeÍaLc iound tor hcr; in . , ,ry cnd los I as Iuck would have it, no cargo coLrld be so, noirn"e i o ,e... o..., or"l no\eÍ.. sood i..oi 1925, F. Laeisz, heí old owners, were siven rhe opportunity to nonr*e,r ,\el. bLr hu ricane 15.8N 54 8 w i,\ mov:ng buy her back, which rhey gladlydid. rowcrJ, lne ea. c, \peed. A. lhe powerÍLl wrndjammeÍ A German ship once again, the P/nf w€nt back into lLr bo".eJ alons. rne huricdne. code nam€d CaUie', $a. being nirare trade which she knew so well. The proud ship save D,orred b\ rhe sea'hermen qho reoorred a'ery hicn norrh€rly good regulaÍ seÍ!ice as she did before the qar. She remained ise.. tnd very rouen.oniu\ed.ea. The,qel, \ere\eryhig'r. in this capacily until 1932, when lhe was sold ro the weu' .tceD ano breal'ne hea\.1\. huri.dne Íor.e w'nd\ wer€ knoyn Finnish sailirg ship ownÍ, Captain CuÍai Erikson ol €xtendrne ouNvards 50 miles Irom lhecenlre. the Aland hlands lor rhe sum ol 14.000. It was at thk timc, I hc nish or l9rl \errembcr,Ihe(ea'hertore(àsl8a\eout when moí ol rhe world's rcmainins deep water saiiing ships sarnrne. ot ,,'o'm ror.i t I to .I i\p(cred in .uurnern rec'ion, were beins sold oti, that CaptaiÍ Erikson wa! busy bLrilding in advance oi lilrricane'Caric'which was eíimaied al up his fleet plying between Àuíralia and ELrrope with gÍaini posirion 34 N 44 W, moving e3st-norlh-eaí aI l0 to l5 knol§ he made them pay, roo. His shiprnasters and mares weÍe and expecled to move iíto the weÍsoutheÍn seclion. hard€ned and seasoned men many oi whom h.l been under AI t2l0 hou6 on rhe louowins day the sky wa§ dark and sailsince they were boys. olercrst, \!irh a lÍesh to slrons norlhweÍ breeze Captain Diebiisch aM his ollicers exoected 10 be weU clear of th€ huricane's path bul, by 2130 hours rhat ni8hl, it was clear tnle.ritiotrd Crels tha! rhis vas nor to 6e, Huricane 'Cade' was no* repoÍed Erikson's crews lere made up oi international yourh to be moving eastwards al 15 mph. Pc ir now lound heBelf Finnish, German, British and Ausrralian youns men from- in a íresh southerly gale, which Nas increasing. By lhe moln. all fie *orld in iac1. Some even paid him- íor the plivilege ol i18 or 21 . Scpremoer. rne barq-e $d' ir \ery rou8n .eas dnd sailing on one ot his ships as applenrices. Erikson had a+eye hed\r rdrn, cnd.o oelan sha *a'ro beher lÀsr barrle stLh foragood sound ship a.d he knew he had onewirh thePa,?i. He r€sarded her as oneolhis best. The heavy seas, with the roar ol rhe sloÍÍn *a§ now upon So ii was thal Parrl/joined this iamous lleer roserher with Pa-,r, sseeping her decks and lreaking ur lileboats as il such vell-known vessek as Passal, Pama, viking, fletzogin wenl. with a shifting cargo rhe barquc b€san lo lisr. HeÍ Cecilie, Lavhill, Gruce Hartrat and many orheB. Herc she ollicers and cre* w€re now lishrins for their very exislercc, remained. lor a lew years anyway bul, in l94l, the lortunes of otlen up to rheir necks in wateÍ trying roconlroltheiÍ ship. *ar caughl up heÍ again. year had houÍ,. toreroPmaí wilh In ihat Pa,1ir sailed Ar "ppro!matelJ ll00 'he Pontli for the Seych€lle Islands when Finland, which had been .r"y.drl ano:irní j.b reÍe c.rned away and the cÍeq Íoushl ga.lanrly ro ropsarl. h,rrtican€ neutal, had enlered the war. Once again the Por.rl. found tles up d 'À .rh Ihe screanlng hersell a war prize and was taken over by New Zealand.It was try'ns o rear rhem ro pie.e", ir sas Io be a hopeless Lask. under the New Zealand llag rhat she visired rhis coun!Íy in a,nr"rf Trrehr,.h.rdered \ail. to be cur down $her. 1948 wirh a carso of srain. Her Majeíy the Queen, then Princess Elizaberh, and the Duke oí Edinburgh, vÈrred her Durins rhis dme Pa-ir was sending oul calh on heÍ radio whileshevas beíhed in London's docks. IoÍ d ,.t"ne. ale',ins \hipprns Io het plishr. l_out-masLed This voyage, ufltorlunarely, was not very successlul brrque Paa.. o|lline in hea!y :ras wirl'our ,ails in posilroí financially and, on her return to New Zealand, ir was an- 35.57N-40.20W. Ships in vicinity please sive posilion." She nounced ftar the PrmrT wa§ to be sold. The nexl we h€ar of had bcsun to tisr more heavily now. 3.100 tons oi ship with a her was in 1951, when i! \{as reported that, along wilh lhe shrrtirg(arso! wha .nancedrd.he \Énd rn such condrtionsl .qually known iouÈmast€d barque Pa$ar, she was to be sold Sh,D' Iron \r\ narions. inclLdinc German, raced ro lhc to Belgium shipbr€akeÍs. Both ships duly aÍrived ar Ansrerp strick€n vindjamm€r. Panit's Íadi,o condnually .equ.sted wher€ the *ork of learing lhcm aparr *as to begin. For- asritan(e. Pdmir a posrrion 15.5'7 N - 40.20 W. Allsails runar€ly, jusr ar the la§t moment! lhey were re)cufd b) HeÍr loit, li)!rnB ct l5 deBreer. SriliBoins. Ships iB vicinit) pl€as! Hcinz Schliewen trho pJrchàr€d both shrps {hrcn he planred communicaie, master," ro conv€rr inro sarl ;ain;ns 5hrps. sori Pant zníi pdssar Makine radio conlacl with Pamir at lhis timc was thc wer€ fitted with auxiliary €ngin€s and fitt€d our b€]ow d€cks A.metican ship Presiden t Tallor, which received the following to take about 80 cadels. The plan was a Sood one but, un- message. "From Pani. to Prcsidení Tarlot, Pann in heavy fortunately, like so many oi lhesc yentules, il was backed by r."as plea5e p_oceed ro L\ rmmeoiarely." The .rorm rdSed on. tinancial p;omries rhar qere conver,ently ÍatEailen Pann, lr +à) ,o be a lonc and brave Í,snr rhar *as ro la,r mosr ol lh€ wrrh rhe Pasor, made one voyase Lo Soulh Ame, i." and ba.l dav. a!sogr€ar aloss lhar theywere once againlaid up. At 1454 houÍs Panít\ rudio gave our an SOS. SEPÍÉMBEÀ 1979 31
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Th. PÀn\t htl thc Pa\sà1 laj.l upit Poutlr Dali hitt!\, !n'ilir rLoltin!, sher ir I912 rhe sril rraln,Dg ip Nior. or .nQ 1919/54, bllnk then \ale tu H(rt H! rr \Lrttrrtt'r,tlt t.t t.r .n. oL l,r ie!!r, \rnrDu . !i\§ wrs yruck by r suddr, vfrybn tottt!.11 ttott, lrni"nu I 4.tt)/)l)r\ \tl tlrt)\ I it) \( !rilqI iI krio.(cd h.J o!.r rrd \enl her lolLcborlonr ,\ 1.N days alt.r llarrll! sinkirg, when a1l hope oi ever "SOS.SOS.SoS. DI: I)Klll , ru\h, rslr ro u\ (,c Drar roul jn i:irrrLt ,!i\ ol rhc.r.r wa\ bepi niDs lo dwindlc, six sur masled o s i n k i r i n I L barque danBer I ! , a ! . I " lL\rN) ló t)Lo\c ,]'.) \ || | (jIj]d an impossiblc task lor th. scar(Ll ! \rril». t.r \!lLl yll! Lr. what llrcr. was ol il, !iv rLll \yry L! dn I L§\, Lurr! \r!\ !r( 11,\,!i LrL .(i,§o, L ltr! u .o bee. horrcward trourd and rdin,\ rl.,lr{r. J. l. .- . r, .(..!,1.,.r. r- {l' ur t,\ r[ri!nrc\rorn, Shc rooexp.ric.ced rheshilting ol (j Ab\P,o\. \l -r "J .l . {. rJr!o .r r(i li! nrr\(ci, C!frrrn (irrhbe, \ri,.ly had alrered call on hq radio. "P"/rri makidg waier dans., oi rirk,,L.!' ru! \'rLtr I l\tron. Sl'c nradr ihLrr Doí \atcl). had her car8o h was larer rhal Sarurday nishr rtint rhc p?trrl/ 8rvc orr tr.l . ., I \ 1', .,. , r1....ó-.s vl.e, .rc ,... 1.,.J rr. ld.rd.rÍe....1 .5 ..r,j.r . " t.,.r,.,.r.tr.-.. ..j. I1, ....'j l.'.'.,ycr.-r...on nc,cul.q-aÍenglcr. degee5,bo-r..T,.n.r srr.'ir.. r.tt(d L \o . -rd \\-r a crew ol8ómenand boys, only 6 survivcd. llr:iridi sr or rhc public inquny which tollowed, seemed Thc nexr day, Sundat, 22nd Scpr.nlbu, rti. r)uool( .r r..rrLltiLli5c or lhc way thc /,r,j/j.aÍqo sa\ 5toled, for WesÈ r Ccrnra y (dio 11,i,, \rirfolr.ioubl, sar th0 nurn cr!s. ot: rer sinkins. Ai the warcd by rhri, and rcLc\ L\ro| \!rr lol jn news ol rhcir cadcl )hrpi tIcy hr.l hcard ol (|e di\a:t.r orl rir,c ol L..dlng lucno\ thc dockes wcre on lríike i new! bLrlLcrlfi larc tli. riiejrt bclor.. thcywaircdl[al rr! in àf( \o, rjrl, rhc d,sÀrDcc ^i,cs,or'rhe arnry, the crew loaded the the hope rh r rhcir 5ailiISjIip saiLors wcÍc salc. $,!o ol b JLev Ihe barlcy, il irems, was loaded loose sjih (oD, Bact 'n rh( A rann.'. (hin. a, o oir.ra \(dr.Ic.i .....r,r bx8\ o but, ol couÍse, rhc wholc carso should nave been rhip to rdd o Ihroueh lndr .n( 1.,j toJ-d (' r.lfl*( r ' was British tanker ".c 'dee fte Sa, Si/resl/c which iound a lilcboàl Ci\'nÈ "\idence ar rhc inqu y sere rhe,i\ 5u^i\or:, and wirh the bows damaged and helm lashed in Dosirion. lhe (-rn d n Crubbe. maire, ot lhc Pr\srr. and ( dprain Eggeh, tanker susgestcd that rhe boar could havc becn washed PJ,,r', r(ÈLL-r md.ler, \VeJrIer cond.lron., rr $a. sdrd, +ere overboard some considerable tim. bclorc.Prrnr lo dcred. scv.re, wi,rds estinated ar 70 knos and scas risine ro 36 .wo tl An Ameri.rn rI.Íarj rl-rn,cpo rco nd .n( hd. .fo.r,i r(, ,c. 'JcJ. Il., ..ane '(.uae had cnansed diÍ€crion lifebods dn.l d _drr on qnj.h , ( r.r ( .r.udrion cr .oL,d eJo hL ume '< -l , . 'nt ,.'ns rnc eveí rurh . Anorher ''Luebe(l . Paa,,1 home po . Onc oy ore, rl,(r n.r. s(r. fa0tor a!ainst PaDll once shc was on heÍ sidc. was lhe sheer lrndrng evrdenc( ol wreckaee \'rc.gth ard wciehr oi her \recl mass anrl rlgging. There was In Weslern Cermany thc televi\ion anroun.ed rha( wat /1rril ro or cultin! lhere adritt, as i. the day§ 'Jl wood.n had loundeÍed and silh rhar rcDotl all Drosrmnre! olóled Drrsrcd shLps 1r wa§ lelr at rhe inquiry rhat Prnll should I doen. The lracedy re.rindcd son). ol rhc Cànra pcofic or r rcvd hnre lor inro that losirion and rhal her reliel masler :l 32 St]IPS MONÍHLY
:lrstrmr{fimffi;* Undtt the l tdrt\h Jltq th. t,unn xc!\ \ailo\ \lk pa \ tuttrony silh ho lta ulkr huynu H,l bornlt l0 tht Btttn l trh lnrutu,t
' :l§r..,§,e--. -d!.''i*{!*elà'r'." had nor enoush expeÍie cc ir Íhc handtinS ol such a ship. ships wlrich searcred the Arlanrc ior survivors, and there :l Captain Diebirlch, alrhou8h a good scamln with Dany ycaó werc nrall, w€Íe rl'anked l'or rheir elíorrs. expericncc in sail, had sailcd on Puzrn only a\. (dcr and (har Th,j evidcnce relètrcd ro ar rhe inqniry resrrdins Captanr w?s belore the lirí Wo d War. Dtbirsch rnd hjs experieDce in sail may srem to be a liltle One ol thc most balflirs 1àcri lhal camc 10 ii§lir was, rhar untrir, 0o,i\idcrinB rhe \evcrc conditions Prrxi encounleÍed un 2lsrS(fr st€am herrins drifters predominare, the Becau§e oi the Lowestoft bias of the Book Review coloured coveÍ illustrating rhc iasr ol !,9ture\, rhoe arc nor ran) 5hots ol these, the l,),../i4 6yí oi 1[c ]liu.ilime srcdm rÍar Ld s, 5x\ c lor J \ciie5 laken in Trust, on pa$aee lÍom Cr.dr Yannourh 1930 aboard thc Hull rrawler Z.'rd Sleom Fishermen in Old Pho(ogrlphs. to St Karhàrinc's Dock on rhe lhrÍ,e!. Herra or a Bear kland Trip by MÍ lrom lhe lorrl.leÍkiís Coll€clion wheÍesheisnowonshow. Ford Jenkins. Some of these pictures Narratire br Colit Elliott Th€ accompanying well resear.hed have not, for some reason, Íeproduced Published blTops'IBooks, Readi g. t€xr. written by Coljn Elliott. is an too wel1, bLrl thc clarity of the Íeí h excellen! commenlary on rhe risb and good. I lhink the book vould have Follolvins the well present€d'Sailine decline of íeam in the fishins induíry, benelilt€d with moÍe steam trawlers in Fishermen' seleclion of pholographs íarung wirh derails oÍ rhc pad\.lle russ it, since they did go lhroush a con- lrom the iamous Ford J€nkins oi chich became lhe Íi!í í€am trJ*leB siderable evolution, moÍe marked than Low€íoft collection, *e now have rhe Sleam drilt€rs w€re later on rhe scene the d€velopment ol the drifter. Some §team scquel from the same source, not unlil 1897 was one builL -.r moÍe pictures of rhe gear mighl hav€ Th€se picrures, ot high qualily, Lowestoft. Subs€quent chapreÍ\ deal helped loo ii h easier to describe in illullÍàle the work oi rhe Í.owesloft with rhe lile ol lhe sream lishcrrnen, illustration -rhan in lei(1. But this is a lisherm€Í wirh commendable deplh and rle sJ,r ,,k c(pluLr., fJí rr LdrLy good buy a.d a woíhy coun(erpaÍl of accuracy. Narurally there is a slrong \luirdxrrc l9l4 l8wara[d 1iÍ.r]l\ rhr 'Saitins irishamcn'. EWP'T Lowe«oft bids in ri'c rlecrion and decline ol sream. IJEPTEMBER 1979 33