This Tragic Shore
A tragic tale of a tragic shore
lives lost
eighteen or more
The journey started from Pt Adelaide
The star of Greece in Belfast made
Was on a Journey to Queenstown in the UK
And doomed from the start
Some might say
Laden with sixteen thousand and two
Bags of wheat
Unbeknown to the crew
A watery grave she'd meet
At the time of departure on the 12th of July 1888
The violent storm was not evident until too late
In the wee hours of the 13th day
Two hundred metres from shore
T"Was where this vessel now lay
As the churning sea battered her badly
And many of her crew were lost, so sadly
It was a rage and force, like no other
Many a poor sailors soul in heaven, they now gather
As for those who were left behind
They
Waited in fear for help them to find
Seven twenty am when a boy while out on his morning walk came
across this tragedy
But alas no help from them until after 9.30am
Because!
No official was ready
It was a comedy of sad errors, so to speak
Little comfort for those, whom safety did seek
It would be four in the noon
Before help would arrive
All were ashore, those who managed to survive.
The coronial inquest attempted to find
Some good reason for such delays and hold ups of the human kind
In a damming report it was later revealed
Infrastructure, poor communications, lack of transport had delayed help
Unfortunately
Leaving these poor unfortunate sailors with their
Fates now sealed indefinitely.
The local people did all they could to rescue the stricken and save grace
Thank God for their efforts as they plied on with such
brave face
It had been such a tragic situation.
It was also reported in the local news papers of this very
Sad occasion
That
The Star of Greece, a three mastered ship
Was built by the White Star Line of Belfast, she was under their ownership
And this firm also operated a Luxury Liner
Named
The Titanic
Is this not... Ironic!!!!
RIP those who went to their watery grave
And
Thanks to the locals from those, who were saved.
Milli 2010
A link to older posts here about this tragedy.
And the original post I did about this Tragedy is here.
Some nice photos too in the above links..
Memorial Monument Below.
very tragic indeed!
ReplyDeleteI have sttood almost exactly where you were to take a similar picture of that memorial gravestone.....
ReplyDeletehow ironic.....
That is tragic and ironic too. I enjoyed this ballad, I dont know why it gives out that feeling.
ReplyDeleteIndeed an awful tragedy. Just looking at that picture one can almost feel the horror of that moment. Love the way your words flow, almost with melody .......
ReplyDeleteyour words simply flowed and so did the story......so unbearably sad.....
ReplyDeleteI was wary of that bay when you showed a shot of it before. (Taken in the evening)
ReplyDeleteFrom what I could see it looked enclosed on three sides and dangerous because of the lack of sea room.
Anyone sailing into it today in an on shore wind, would be hard pressed to come about.
Without using their engine of course.
The most dangerous cargo in those days was Rice or Wheat.
Both can split the hull of a wooden ship open.
For those in peril, amen.
Thank You Jacob
ReplyDeleteNow that is ironic Peter.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rashmi and yes it is a ballad of sorts.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that you have a feeling about it.
If anyone will add the melody It would be most welcome Lynne.
ReplyDeleteHorrific it was from the documentation of the time.
Thank you Sonny.
ReplyDeleteYes in those days they used a leaded line to check the depth, and in rough weather the shoal water would not have been seen. Worse case with a strong onshore wind and of course a square rig makes it impossible to tack in the confines near the coast.
ReplyDeleteYou have it in a nutshell Bill. So sad it was but the ineptness onshore by the departments of the day was highlighted in the Enquiry which was a very clear cut case for improvement along the coast line in the event of future emergencies.
ReplyDeleteThanks Belita and thanks also for leaving your link for me.
ReplyDeletewhat a fabulous post and great tribute Milli...your words lyrical and the photos the icing on the cake!
ReplyDeleteYou would sail with me then????? lol
ReplyDeleteIndeed Sir.
ReplyDeleteSad irony, that bit about the Titanic also being owned by the same company. Never knew this piece of tragic history. Your words are a wonderful tribute. May the crew RIP.
ReplyDeleteI'll send you a story. lol
ReplyDeletefor some reason it brought to mind the recent Gulf tragedy. Life on the water is especially precarious.
ReplyDeletehttp://msnuser.multiply.com/journal/item/381/Creative_Challenge_111_-_A_Tragic_Story