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Famous Scots - Samuel B Murray
Captain Samuel B Murray (1862-1893) drowned on board the passenger cargo vessel “SS Trinacria” when it sank off the coast of Spain on 8th February 1893. Robert Duncan & Company of Port Glasgow built the 2,256 ton steamship in the year 1871, and her maiden voyage took place under the ownership of the Anchor Line in September of that year. The steamship had accommodation for 69 first class and 910 third class passengers. On 3rd July 1892 the Trinacria commenced her last successful voyage, safely carrying almost a thousand immigrants from Italy to a new life in the United States. The journey took in Palermo and Naples, arriving in New York on the 29th July 1892. |
Tragically, the Trinacria was wrecked six months later near Cape Villano, Spain in February 1893. The ship had left Greenock on 2nd February 1893, heading for the Mediterranean with Gibraltar the first port of call. Suffering rough seas and poor visibility, the ship was grounded 4 miles from the Cape Villano lighthouse near Finisterre. The Trinacria immediately started to break up and the four female passengers were put into the only lifeboat it was possible to launch, but they were drowned when it capsized. Then a massive sea burst into the Trinacria, collapsing the funnels and ventilators onto the ship. At the same time, the masts went overboard. Thirty crew were swept away, including Hudson Birrell and Captain Murray, to bring the death toll to 34. Only seven survivors managed to reach shore.
Left Greenock on Feb.2nd 1893 with four passengers and 37 crew for the
Mediterranean with Gibralter the first port of call. The crossing of the Bay
of Biscay was extremely rough and on Feb.7th at 6am, in heavy seas and poor
visibility, the ship grounded 4 miles NE of Cape Vilano lighthouse near
Finisterre. She immediately started to break up in the heavy seas and the
four female passengers were put into the only lifeboat it was possible to
launch, but they were drowned when it capsized. Then a massive sea burst
into the ship, collapsing the funnel and ventilators which fell into the
ship. At the same time, the masts went overboard. Thirty crew were swept
away, including Capt.Murray to bring the death toll to 34. Only seven
managed to reach shore.
Headstone Photograph
Further Information
Title: CAPTAIN
Firstname: SAMUEL B
LastName: MURRAY
Date of Death: 2nd Feb 1893
Age at Death: 31
Cemetery: Sothern Necropolis
Caledonia Road
Town: Glasgow
Region: Glasgow and Clyde Valley
Country: Scotland
Please Note, the marker on this map indicates the Cemetery location, not the location of a particular grave.
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