THE OLD COMPANY BOATS
Edna Shepherd
They were known as the "The Three Graceful Sisters" and were the pride of the Clyde: the Kintyre, the Kinloch, and the Davaar, of the Campbeltown and Glasgow Steam Packet Company. Their fiddle bow was for fifty years the distinguishing mark of the Company on the waters of River and Firth of Clyde, as they ran, one up and one down, each day between Campbeltown and Glasgow.
Captain McKechnie was on the bridge when the collision occurred. He refused to take advantage of any means of escape offered by the "Maori" and gallantly stuck to his post. The chief engineer, William Lennox, joined him on the bridge, having realised that his task below deck was finished. Both men stood to attention as the "Kintyre" quickly sank. An explosion hurled them into the sea; the bow sprit being the last part of the stricken ship to remain visible for a few more minutes. Captain McKechnie was later picked up in a dazed condition, but the chief engineer lost his life, leaving a widow and child.
The advent of the "Kinloch" in July, 1878, was a great day for the Campbeltown Shipping Co. and the District. She was an iron plated ship with a yacht-like hull and bow sprit, and a credit to her builders. She was designed by Mr. Robertson, whose father constructed the "Kintyre", but was built and engined by Messrs Inglis. On a survey after half a century's sailing her hull was found to be as sound as a bell. She was a wonderful weather boat, and came through many severe gales and had a special place in the affections of the public. In a rising south-easter in Kilbrannan Sound, many there were who were happy to feel her timbers beneath their feet. When the passengers arrived off the train at Gourock for the Campbeltown run and saw the storm canvas around the bridge they knew they were in for a rough sail home. No enclosed bridge was thought of for the Captain then. His ruddy face peering over the storm canvas and the crew all in storm oilskins made many a person quail. But they were a hardy breed of men and we had faith in them. When the storm was bad and the people of the town knew the "Kinloch" would be delayed, they gathered anxiously on the pier. News would filter through - someone had seen between the Isle of Ross and Davaar Island burying herself in the waves, but ploughing gallantly on. A very bad stretch of water this, with a full tide running. A cheer would go up when she was at last sighted coming round the Trench Point on her homeward stretch; a royal welcome and thankful hearts awaited her.
Her deck cabin was small, but she had a plush dining saloon with tables extending down both sides and long cushioned seats against the hull, and swivel chairs on the outside of the tables; wonderful for a child to birl on! The small deck cabin was used by the passengers, except when Ina, Duchess Dowager of Argyll, was travelling with her maid, her dog and her companion. As a child I was most interested to watch the lady's maid make up the special dinner for the dog, which was old, cross and had two false teeth. This meal was put on a tray and carried to the deck cabin, and only then was the lunch for the Duchess put on a silver tray and served "up bye" also!
The "Kinloch" served the Company well for 47 years, and was sold to the Channel Island Steam Packet Co. in 1926, as the prolonged coal strike was just beginning. On her way out of the Firth of Clyde she called at her old home port for the night. Next day she steamed away with her bunkers full of Campbeltown coal, and many were there with sad hearts to see her go.
The stately "Davaar" was built at Govan and was launched on 17th July, 1885, by Miss Greenlees, Hazelbank (later to become Mrs. Rome, Knocbay). She was larger than her two sister ships for strenuous efforts were being made by the Campbeltown S. P. Co. to capture the growing passenger traffic on the Clyde and Firth during the summer months. People were beginning to appreciate the beauty of the country and a day's sail was then considered part of a person's holiday and also good for the health.
The "Davaar"cost around £18,000 to build, and her maiden trip was a test of her weather qualities. It was blowing hard from the south when she left Greenock, with a heavy ground swell topped with broken white water. By the time she reached the Cumbrae Heads she was in a smother of water and in Kilbrannan Sound it grew steadily worse. But her behaviour was splendid and gave her immediate fame as a good weather boat. In spite of the storm she made the passage to Campbeltown in 5 hours 45 minutes, and attained a speed of l4 and a half knots; everyone was happy.
Since early days the townspeople of Campbeltown had enjoyed a biennual excursion to Belfast. On June 7th, 1895 the "Davaar" was on this run. There was dense fog at the entrance to Belfast Lough; she crept slowly along and then suddenly grounded on a rocky stretch of the coast. After a lot of excitement the passengers were all taken ashore safely. The tide was ebbing and it was discovered as the water slowly receded that the boat was in danger of breaking her back. But she was a stout craft and after two days of anxiety and suspense she was successfully refloated, and in a few weeks' time returned to her usual Glasgow-Campbeltown route.
As built "Davaar" had two rather thin funnels, but when she was extensively altered and reboilered in 1903 a single funnel of greater diameter was fitted, and this enhanced her appearance. The main saloon was widened to the full breadth of the ship, and the promenade deck was extended to the stern. The cabin was re-upholstered luxuriously and ottoman seats were introduced.
At this time during the summer the "Davaar" was practically wholly engaged in the passenger trade. She arrived in Campbeltown after 1 o'clock, leaving again at 3 p.m. Horse-drawn charabancs were awaiting her arrival to take passengers on the much-advertised drive to "the shores of the Atlantic", and back again in time for the departure of the "Davaar" at 5 p.m. The "Kintyre" and "Kinloch" maintained the ordinary daily runs, and a late boat arrived in Campbeltown each evening, but the loss of the "Kintyre"curtailed this service. The 1914 War and post War conditions caused the then uneconomic three steamer service per day to cease.
For the rest of her career "Davaar" sailed as consort to the "Kinloch" and later to "Dalriada". In 1940 during the Second World War and with the threat or invasion she was taken over and sailed south to Newhaven, where she was to be sunk as a block ship at the harbour entrance. Fortunately this did not become necessary, but she never again raised steam. In 1945 she was beached on the Sussex coast and scrapped. But still she lives in our memory, and many there are who can still feel and hear the distinctive throb of her engines as they stand gazing up Kilbrannan Sound.
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