The four masted steel barque Chile was launched from the Vegesack yard of Bremer Vulkan in 1893. She measured 273.7′ x 39.4′ x 23.8′ and her tonnage was 2109 gross tons. Built for J Tideman and Co, Bremen she operated for this owner until the outbreak of World War One. In the early days of the war she was confiscated by the Admiralty and handed over to Thomas A Shute of Liverpool who operated the barque until her loss.
The precise details of her loss are not recorded due to wartime reporting restrictions. On 28th November 1915 she was en route from Greenock to Halifax, Nova Scotia with 1150 tons of sand ballast in her holds. In command, her 60 year old captain Sherwood Forrest had a crew of 19 men aboard. As the vessel reached the North Channel they were caught in a gale and driven ashore at Lady’s Steps. Port Counan near Burrow Head. Thankfully the crew were able to launch their boat and make it safely ashore and were looked after at Claymeddie Farm. The following morning they returned to the wreck. Two tugs were summoned but the attempts to refloat her failed and she became a total wreck. She was later sold for scrap and almost completely salvaged.
The wreck site of the Chile lies in approximate position 54° 41.612′ N, 004° 27.450′ W. Despite the almost complete removal of the vessel during salvage the site is still interesting, particularly because the steamship Craignair wrecked in exactly the same position when she was working on the salvage of the wreck of the Chile. The only wreckage that appears to be from the Chile herself are some heavy steel plates and ribs, most likely from the hull of the Chile that remained in place after the salvage was complete.