This is an article from the Sunderland paper that was passed on to me in copy about the ship "Claverdale" that sank. The exact date is unknown, as that part of the clipping was not sent, so if anyone can date this article for me, I would greatly appreciate it. David Eyre SUPPOSED LOSS OF THE CLAVERDALE Four Sunderland Men Aboard LIST OF THE OFFICERS THE MISSING STEAMER BUILT ON THE WEAR Much anxiety is being felt in Sunderland for the safety of the Claverdale s, a steamer of 4,000 tons, which was built at the shipyard of Messrs J. PRIESTMAN and Co., and which was purchaes by Messrs E. HASLEHURST and Co., London, E. C. It is reported that she left Barry in September, with coal, ostensibly for Manila. She left Hong Kong on November 23rd for Vladivostock, but has never been heard of since. When she put into Hong Kong it was rumoured she was blockade running. Her long absence has raised alarm, and it is conjectured that she must have been either seized by the Japanese or sunk by a floating mine. There is no confirmation, however, of these theories. The local men on board of her are Fred COOPER (36), chief engineer, living at 81, Sorley Street; Edward BEADLE, third engineer, son of the deputy dock master; Cornelius GRAY, fourth engineer; and John CAMPBELL, steward, 8, Dock Street East. It is difficult to assertain whether there are any local men among the crew, but it is thought that the remainder are Welsh, including the master, Captain THOMAS. COOPER is a married man with four children, and CAMPBELL is also married. Sad to relate, the wife of COOPER died on January 3rd from an illness contracted through nursing a sick child.* The last letters that seem to have been received by the relatives arrived last week from Hong Kong, and were dated November 23rd, but in them nothing definate was stated in regard to the movements of the ship. CAMPBELL wrote stating that the vessel would proceed from Hong Kong to Vladivostock and COOPER, in his letter, after, in effect, confirming this statement, added that if the vessel went direct they would expect to do the voyage in 29 days. The vessel, it is said, was carrying coals for the Russians and had simply called at Hong Kong on the passage. CAMPBELL wrote that the Claverdale after arriving at Vladivostock would return to Yokohama probably calling at Hong Kong on the way, and after loading would proceed to New York. He assured his people that there was no need for alarm. If as he stated it would take the vessel 29 days to reach Vladivostock she ought to have been there on Dec 13th. He promised that as soon as he arrived at Vladivostock he would send a cablegram to his wife but one has not yet arrived, and the families of the men are in a very anxious state of mind in consequence. Fears for the worst are being entertained. A local solicitor wrote to the London firm in respect to the payment of a donation to COOPER's wife, and in their reply Messrs E HASLEHURST and Company after dealing with the business in hand made no reference to the Claverdale, and this leads to the assumption that at any rate in the owners' minds nothing untoward has happened. Some persons are inclined to believe that the vessel is waiting for the Baltic Fleet, and so far as this is concerned there appears to be some likelihood that this is the case. The father of one of the engineers, when spoken to this afternoon, was of the opinion that if anything had happened to the boat some notification of the fact would have been received. He did not think that the Claverdales had run to Vladivostock, and the fact that no news had been received from his son supported him in that idea. It is understood that an agreement had been signed to make the run and that special money was to be paid to the crew for their share of the risk of the voyage. This money, it is reported, has been paid to some of the families, which makes it appear as though the vessel had reached Vladivostock. List of Officers Her officers and crew numbered 30, including four apprentices. The former signed on at Barry, and are as follows: -- E. THOMAS, Cardigan, Captain D. LLEWELLYN, St. Dogmael's, mate D. T. JONES, Cardigan, second mate James REED, St. David's, third mate D. D. JONES, Cardigan, carpenter J. S. CAMPBELL, Sunderland, steward Owen ROBERTS, Holyhead, cook John WADDLE, Jersey, boatswain Fred COOPER, Sunderland, chief engineer Fred MAHER, Teddington, second engineer James BEEDLE, Sunderland, thrid engineer Cornelius GRAY, Sunderland, fourth engineer: the four apprentices were: William HOWIE, Aberdeen, Gerald Howard MacFARLANE, Montreal, Reginald TURNER, Lewes, and George Alexander SAUNDERS, Portsmouth. *Fred COOPER is my ggg-uncle, his brother George Jeremiah COOPER immigrated to Luzern Co, Pennsylvania, USA. The name of Fred's wife is not known to me. Fred's children were Gertrude (b. 1898), Freda (b. Aug 1900), George, and Clifton. As Fred was never heard from again, it is assumed that the Claverdale was indeed lost at sea. His children were living with his mother, Caroline ELMY Cooper at 81 Sorley Street, she died 15 Mar 1919, after which the children had sold the house. Gertrude was married to (--) ALEXANDER, and moved to Norfolk with her brother George. Freda and Clifton took rooms near each other in Hendon. Clifton was apprenticed to be a ship's engineer, Freda was working in booking keeping and ledger. If anyone knows anything about this family, please let me know. Happy Christmas! David Eyre -- Psssst! Mit GMX Handyrechnung senken: http://www.gmx.net/de/go/mail 100 FreeSMS/Monat (GMX TopMail), 50 (GMX ProMail), 10 (GMX FreeMail)