The iron barque Catalina was launched from the Pallion yard of William Doxford of Sunderland on 14th November 1868. She measured 151.1′ x 28.1′ x 16.8’ and her tonnage was 511 gross tons, 484 net tons. Ordered by Yturriaga and Co of Bilbao she was based in this North Spain for her initial owner and for a second owner, P Berrugia, who purchased her in 1881. A year later her ownership changed again, purchased by W D Gilchrist of London. Finally she was acquired by Hilken of Vegesack, Bremen who owned her till her loss in 1893. Her official number was 87085.
The barque Catalina in harbour
The Catalina left Bowling in ballast on Friday 10th February 1893 bound for Cardiff where she was to load cargo. By the morning of Tuesday 14th February she was close to the Maiden Isles off the Irish coast in a freshening south westerly wind. The wind strength steadily increased during the morning and by early afternoon had reached hurricane force. Her sails had been continually reefed as the weather deteriorated and she gradually became uncontrollable in the violent conditions.
The Catalina was pushed towards the Galloway coast throughout the rest of the day and was eventually driven ashore shortly before midnight near Slockmill Farm just north of Crammag Head. The huge waves slammed her against the rocks. Each time she hit men jumped for their lives before the swell pulled her off shore again. Finally she wedged on submerged rocks and quickly capsized throwing the remaining men into the sea. Only four of the twelve man crew aboard managed to reach the safety of the rocks through the heavy surf.
Edinburgh Evening News February 16th
The remains of the Catalina lie in shallow water beneath Slockmill Farm in position 54° 40.034’N 04° 57.945’W. The wreckage, which is well broken, is scattered and intermingled with the wreckage of the Mazeppa which sank at the same spot in 1847. The seabed is predominantly rock and coarse shingle with kelp, the wreckage lies in general depth depths 5-10m on a shelving seabed.
