Built by H McIntyre and Co Ltd., Paisley (Yard No 103) and launched on 7th December 1883 the steel salvage vessel Storm Cock was to have an adventurous career before her demise in 1934. She measured 161.0′ x 24.6′ x 12.6′ and her tonnage when launched was 364 gross tons, 135 net tons. She was powered by twin compound direct acting steam engines, twin screws by James Howden and Co Ltd., Glasgow delivering 250 registered horse power.
Lloyd’s Register extract for Bullger
Builder GA drawings – Lloyd’s Register
Launched as for William Becket Hill of Liverpool she was involved in a collision off Pladda, Arran in March 1884 which resulted in the loss of the other vessel, the schooner J M Stevens. She was then sunk in another collision with the steamship Oregon off Brighton in January 1885. She was successfully salvaged and sold to the Admiralty on 22nd April 1885 who renamed her HMS Traveller.
HMS Traveller under way
On 27th June 1903 she collided with the new cruiser Euraylus at Devonport but was again successfully raised to re-enter service. She was sold to Crichton Thomas of London in 1920 but was immediately resold later that year to the Leith Salvage and Towage Co Ltd who named her Bullger. A number of alterations to her configuration followed which changed her tonnage which now was 405 gross tons, 77 net tons.
Her service for these owners was to end in one final accident on 20th January 1934 after an unsuccessful attempt to pull the stranded trawler Roseberry off the rocks near Crail. Bullger herself stranded on rocks close to Anstruther harbour entrance and was to provide a significant obstacle to the local fishing vessels moving in and out of the small, busy harbour.
Bullger aground at Anstruther
Multiple attempts to refloat her failed until she was finally declared a constructive total loss on 24th February. As discussions proceeded on how to deal with the wreck a violent storm during the weekend on 10th and 11th March smashed her to pieces, The wreckage still constituted a hazard to vessels entering or leaving the harbour and much of it was cleared in May that year to ensure safe access to the harbour.
We would like to thank Lloyd’s Register Foundation – Heritage & Education Centre for allowing us to reproduce documents from their archive in this article.
