The iron steamship The Prince was launched from the Merksworth Works yard of J Fullerton, Paisley on 8th April 1890 for John Hay and Co Ltd., Glasgow . She measured 142.0′ x 25.1′ x 10.8′ and her tonnage was 390 gross tons, 142 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion steam engine by Muir and Houston, Glasgow delivering 60 nominal horse power. Her official number was 97625.
Lloyds register 1894
In December 1894 a massive violent storm swept across Scotland. Dozens of vessels were wrecked or damaged around the Scottish coast. The Prince was one of them. The small steamship stranded at South Cairn, about a mile and a half south of Corsewall Lighthouse on 22nd December.
The prince ashore at South Cairn
The Prince had been en route to North Wales from Sligo in ballast but became unmanageable in the atrocious weather conditions. Fortunately the vessel was pushed high on the rocks when she stranded and, as the tide ebbed, nine of the crew were able to reach the safety of dry land. Unfortunately the remaining two crew members were lost as they attempted to reach safety
The wreck was later sold at auction in 1895, and as can be seen from the photographs, dismantled in-situ.
