The iron schooner Celtic was launched from the yard of William Thomas and Sons Ltd, Amlwch, Angelsey (Yard No 27) on 27th October 1894. She 123.0′ x 24.0′ x 10.6′ and her tonnage was 224 gross tons, 175 net tons. For the first ten years of her career she was owned by the company that constructed her until she was sold to Mr Walter Reney of Connah’s Quay in 1904. Six years later in 1910 she was purchased by her final owner, Mr J Hall of Arklow and registered in Chester.
Extract Lloyd’s Register 1907
On 8th August 1907 Celtic was en route from London to Oban with a cargo of cement under the command of her owner who had a crew of six men aboard when they encountered an unseasonably severe gale. She passed through the Pentland Firth around midnight but, when she was in a position half way between Hoy Head and Sule Skerry, disaster struck. Battered by strong winds and huge waves her foretop mast snapped and it fell with the topsail, topgallant sail and yards and was hanging dangerously over the side of the Celtic. The captain set his vessel to run before the storm back towards Orkney and, while the crew laboured to cut away and free the broken mast and sails, she was swept out of control towards the treacherous cliffs and shoreline between Row Head and Marwick Head, Orkney. Flying distress signals as she approached the coastline, by a combination of luck and the crew’s efforts, she drifted north of Row Head and into the Bay of Skaill, the only part of this coast not lined by towering cliffs. Although this did not mean she was safe she was swept ashore on this shallower, more sheltered part of the coast at the Point of Verran near Sandwick on the north side of the Bay of Skaills. An attempt by her skipper to avoid stranding by dropping both her anchors was unsuccessful as they immediately dragged in the huge onshore swell.
The Celtic ashore at Verron
The plight on the Celtic, flying distress signals, had been spotted by locals ashore who had called for the assistance of Stromness Rocket Brigade but, by the time the team arrived at the shoreline nearest to wreck, the crew were already ashore. The lifeboat from Stromness was also launched but turned back after receiving a signal from the shore that, given the position of the wreck, she would be unable to assist. With huge waves breaking over the wreck, the crew, all wearing lifejackets, had climbed into the rigging to avoid being swept off the ship. As the people ashore watched on helplessly, the captain and the mate were swept from their positions in the rigging and fell into the sea. Mercifully they were washed ashore and into the arms of the local people observing from the beach near the wreck. Seeing this, the remainder of the crew, one by one, jumped in to the sea. Thankfully, they all reached the shore without loss of life. The captain was badly injured when he was struck on the head by some of the wreckage floating among the surf and, when he reached the shoreline, it was feared he was dead. After a time he revived and was taken to a nearby house where he received attention from the local doctor, Dr Suttie.
As the tide fell and the weather calmed the Celtic was left jammed among the rocks just off the shore. Some of the locals were able to scramble aboard the stranded vessel and retrieve some of the personal belongings which were returned to the crew. It was hoped she might be saved but, as she disappeared from Lloyds in 1908 it appears she became a total wreck or, if she was refloated , she was most likely beyond repair and declared a constructive total loss.
