Eagle

The iron steamship Eagle was launched from the Dumbarton yard of Alexander Denny (Yard No 47) in July 1857. She was initially registered by Denny in August 1857 but was acquired by the McConnel and Laird Line of Glasgow in June 1859.  She measured 160.0′ x 23.0′ x 18.5′ her tonnage was 324 gross tons, 220 net tons.  She was powered by a compound steam engine by her builders.  Her career was to be short and tragic.

On 28th November 1859 she was en route from Londonderry and Portrush returning to Glasgow with a general cargo, two hundred sheep and fifty four passengers. She was skippered by Captain James Eaglesham who had a crew of twenty three under his command. For the previous few days, the full rigged ship Pladda had limped towards the Clyde fully waterlogged, only staying afloat on her cargo of Canadian timber. Around 10pm on the 28th the tug Reckless took her under tow off the south coast of Arran. The Pladda remained under tow until around 11:30pm when, with a freshening wind, her captain decided to let go the tow rope and proceed under sail. Shortly after the two vessels parted the bow lookout on the Pladda sighted lights of another vessel close by off the port bow. The Pladda had not, as yet, set her sails and was not fully under control. As the two vessels closed, Captain Ingram aboard Pladda attempted to turn his ship to starboard, but she did not respond quickly enough and she crashed into the port side of the oncoming vessel.

The other vessel proved to be the Eagle. The Eagle was immediately enveloped in smoke and steam causing a state of panic aboard. The two vessels remained locked together for ten minutes, allowing most of the passengers and crew to scramble aboard the Pladda. However, unfortunately not everyone aboard was able to escape before the vessels parted and the Eagle filled and sank. The initial death toll was thought to be as high as twenty but, after checking with the ticket receipts and the survivors, it was ascertained that eleven people had lost their lives. The stewardess from the Eagle had a lucky escape. Still aboard the Eagle as she sank, she was thrown into the sea and managed to stay afloat by holding onto two sheep until she was rescued. After an extensive search for survivors by the Reckless and the boats from the Pladda, the tug took the Pladda in tow once more and headed for Greenock.

The collision was reported in the contemporary press to have taken place no more than a mile east of Lamlash. However the incident actually took place off Whiting Bay. Some records indicate that the wreck of the Eagle lying in position 55° 31.960’N, 005° 03.916’W but divers report that this is in fact a ridge of rock. The wreck was finally positively located in July 2024 when her bell was recovered. She lies in position 55° 30.271’N, 05° 02.859’W in 48 metres with a least depth clearance of 44 metres.