A seaman or stowaway?

Post by **marilyn morning** » Wed May 30, 2007 3:26 am

Here's an interesting tale of Thomas Morning. Was he a seaman or a stowaway on the "Challenge" when it sank on 26th of November 1880?

According to "Argyll Shipwrecks" by Peter Moir and Ian Crawford, he was a stowaway.

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-1239
http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-1241
http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-1240

Regards
Marilyn

Hugh Stevely · Post by **Hugh Stevely** » Wed May 30, 2007 12:07 pm

Hi Marilyn.

I would say Stowaway as they did not sign the Ships articles they are not crew onboard, but if the ship was in danger ?.

Hugh.

http://www.navis.gr/safety/general/stowaway.htm

Post by **Anne H** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 12:43 am

Hi Marilyn,

Yet another interesting story...this one though has more questions than answers.

Presumably, if he was a stowaway, the surviving two stowaways would have confirmed it to be so, and if he had been part of the crew there would have been a list of crew members by name, but since he's on the DC as "seaman or stowaway", I suppose it's anybody's guess. One thing is for sure, your ancestor was quite the adventurer...but what a tragic end of life at only 19 years.

Regards,
Anne H

Post by **marilyn morning** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 1:50 am

Hi Marilyn.

I would say Stowaway as they did not sign the Ships articles they are not crew onboard, but if the ship was in danger ?.

Hugh.

http://www.navis.gr/safety/general/stowaway.htm

Hello Hugh,

Great link, very interesting and thanks for sharing it with us. I'm still not convinced he was a stowaway though. I'm guessing the ship's manifest sunk along with the ship, but one of the survivors had to know he was sailing on board and perhaps provided his name for the recording of his death certificate not knowing if he was a seaman or stowaway?

Regards
Marilyn

Post by **marilyn morning** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 1:58 am

Hi Marilyn,

Yet another interesting story...this one though has more questions than answers.

Presumably, if he was a stowaway, the surviving two stowaways would have confirmed it to be so, and if he had been part of the crew there would have been a list of crew members by name, but since he's on the DC as "seaman or stowaway", I suppose it's anybody's guess. One thing is for sure, your ancestor was quite the adventurer...but what a tragic end of life at only 19 years.

Regards,
Anne H

Hi Anne

I agree this story does raise more questions, but I try to give it a positive spin when I'm recreating it in my memory. If Thomas was a stowaway then he had to rush back to Scotland after receiving some bad news and "pay day" wasn't until the end of the week.

I'm glad you enjoyed the read.

Regards
Marilyn