burned to death on board ship

blueladybird · Post by **blueladybird** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 7:26 pm

On the gravestone it says also son donald {mclachlan} who was burned to death on board the ss calliope at newport 13.2.1891 aged 21 years.is there anyway i can find out what happened then.

Rockford · Post by **Rockford** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:21 pm

Hi Blueladybird,

In the digital archive of the Scotsman Newspaper (a pay-per-view site), there is an article on the 14th February 1891 titled 'Shipping Intelligence where, under the heading 'Lloyds Notes - February 13', it states that a telegram had been received fron Newport on Monday, February 13th concerning the Calliope.

The telegram indicated that a fire had broken out at 4 o'clock that morning in the forecastle of the steamer Calliope, which had been unloading ore at the old dock, and that two people had died. It stated that the cause of the fire and extent of damage to the ship was unknown.

There are no names or further details, unfortunately and I can't see any further news items in February or March - I'm going to have another look in April/May.....

[Added later: I can't find anything else in the Scotsman, but i have found an article with more information in the Times Archive - I've sent you a PM with the details]

Best wishes

Brian