Maritime floral tributes

[Manila Jack]

My great grandfather, the original Manila Jack, died in a shipwreck on the coast of Islay, Scotland on 4th November 1911, his body was never recovered. In early May I intend to visit the site of the wreck and put a wreath into the sea. Does anyone know of a biodegradeable alternative to the wire and oasis that is used for most flower arrangements as I want to pay this tribute but I don't want to create a hazard for any local wildlife?

[MaryA]

Googling doesn't appear to be very helpful as it is quite informative about oasis - which is presume is called "floral foam" by another name - is definitely NOT biodegradable, but without suggesting any alternatives.

I would have thought a florist should have alternative items but if not I was thinking perhaps something made from stems of a bush and then I saw this, don't know if it will be of any help as it was made in Long Beach, but there may be something of a similar nature in England.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcNcdTQZxwY

[Manila Jack]

Hi Mary,

That's brilliant! I'll hunt down a florist who can do that for me. I appreciate your help. What would be nice would be to have the Nila plant (Manila is named after it) incorporated into it. Probably not much chance there!

[Tina]

Hi M.J
Dried lavender mades the most beautiful wreath. You should be able to get one easily, there's also dried mimosa too.
All you do is pop your fresh flowers between and the whole things will eventually break down in the salt water.
Good luck

Tina

[Manila Jack]

Sounds good Tina. Thank you. Will take all these things on board when I eventually talk to the florist.

[Manila Jack]

I noticed that it's almost three years since I posted this enquiry. I did manage to get an appropriate floral display and stayed for a few days on Islay. With the help from Effie Clarke, a wonderful lady from the Islay Family History Society I contacted the farmer who owns the land where the shipwreck site is. He was so kind and also knowledgeable about the shipwreck. He showed us the stable on his farm where the survivors were sheltered on that dreadful day and then took my wife and myself over the headland to the shore on his tractor and then helped my wife over the razor sharp rocks to the water's edge. I put my flowers into the sea as a tribute to my great grandfather who I never knew but who I felt so close to that beautiful sunny day which was in sharp contrast to the weather conditions in which he lost his life. Afterwards a visit was arranged to the son and daughter, now in their eighties, of one of the three men who rescued most of the crew from the stricken vessel. They showed me the OBE and the citation from the King which their grandfather had received. Islay is such a beautiful place and the people are wonderful. As the first member of my family to visit the site it was quite an emotional time. A pilgrimage in a way. The next day I went to a beach close to the shipwreck site and collected a jar of sand. Upon returning to Liverpool I visited the grave of my great grandmother, Elizabeth Delacruz, nee Winn, at Anfield Cemetery. On the large headstone, which is now pushed over and in poor condition, are commemorated her husband who perished in the sea off Islay and her two sons who died in World War I. I had never been to this grave as it took me some time to track it down but once there I also placed a vase of flowers and the sand that I had collected from Islay.

[MaryA]

Thank you for telling us about such a moving tribute Jack. Your family would be very proud of the pilgrimage you have made to honour them.

[Tina]

Thanks Jack for sharing your heart warming story. So very touching. I'm so pleased you made this special journey.

[Fledge]

Lovely story, Jack.

[Manila Jack]

Thanks everyone for your interest and sentiments over this tragic event. If you don't mind I will fill in the missing parts of the story so that a full picture of the day that so grievously affected a Liverpool family is recorded here. The following is a transcript of a newspaper story in the local Argyll paper at the time.

"ISLAY - FOUR MEN LOST
The iron barque, Ocean, of Mariehamn, Finland, 1200 tons, which left Dublin in ballast for Norway on the 1st Inst. experienced the full force of the gale on Friday night, when off the west coast of Islay the sails were blown away and the vessel became unmanageable, when at daylight she was described as drifting near Machrie on to the Islay coast. Messrs Andrew Stevenson and Donald Ferguson, Machrie, hurriedly followed along the shore and were present at 7 am when the Ocean struck on the rocky coast to the North of Kilchiaran Bay. The crew of 16 men were seen clustered in the bow, which first struck the rocks, but the vessel instantly canted round, the stern striking the rocks and before the men could leave their shelter suddenly parted in the middle. Tremendous seas broke over the ship, which, with the rising tide, was pounding on the rocks within about 50 yards of the shore in a wild gale blowing full on the hind. Very soon, the captain, A. Christopher, plunged into the water to swim ashore and actually reached the rocks when he was instantly killed and washed away. The stern mast then fell landwards and Messrs Stevenson and Ferguson then began a most exciting and heroic rescue. One by one the crew attempted to crawl along the mast and throw themselves into the boiling surf and get ashore. In this two poor fellows were drowned and twelve succeded. Five or six times A. Stevenson holding a rope held by D. Ferguson, plunged into the sea in a wildly daring manner and saved five men. One poor fellow passionately kissed the hand of his rescuer as Stevenson pulled him up onto the rocks. A heartrending sight was to see an old man sitting in the stern hatchway clinging to a rope and apparently afraid to let go of his hold. From 7 am to 11 am he sat trying to warm himself by rubing his hands, the sea breaking over him and the group of people on the shore silently watching and powerless to help, when at last his head dropped and he sank down the hatchway. Within a few hours nothing was left of the Ocean but a huge pile of broken wood filling a creek in the rocks and being dashed about by the stormy sea. The twelve rescued men were taken to Kilchiaran farmhouse and treated with great kindness by Mrs MacTaggart and family. Warm food was supplied and at night the harness room, with fire and bedding of clean straw and sacks, was turned into a sleeping place. Several of the poor fellows were without boots, some without jackets and the few who could speak English expressed themselves as most grateful to their benefactors. It is extremely probable that except for the heroic assistance of Messrs Stevenson and Ferguson all the crew would have been drowned. Mr Ferguson left home without breakfast and worked all day drenched in sea water."

Juan de la Cruz, the ship's cook, was 62 years old when he died. It is possible that he was the old man seen clinging to a rope in the stern hatchway.

When I visited Islay I was told that Messrs Stevenson and Ferguson were coastguards and although it is not mentioned in the newspaper report, it seems that it was Gilbert Ferguson, together with Andrew Stevenson,who carried out the rescue work while tied to a rope held by Donald Ferguson, Gilbert's son. Donald received a medal for gallantry from the Glasgow Islay Association. I do not know if Andrew Stevenson received any award but it would be a great injustice if he had not. I have tried to get the Maritime Museum in Mariehamn interested in this story as the ship was registered there and was one of many owned by Gustaf Erikson, from Mariehamn, including the Moshulu on which Eric Newby voyaged to Australia and wrote his marvellous book, The Last Grain Race. A must read for anyone interested in tales of the sea. Unfortunately, when I contacted them they were very busy moving to new premises. I may send them all the information I have and perhaps my great grandfather's memory will also be preserved in the far off Aland Islands.

[MaryA]

Thank you for the extra details Jack.

I would also like to suggest that such a successful story as you have put together could be forwarded to our Journal as I know our members would enjoy it.

[Manila Jack]

Thanks for your advice Mary. I may do that.

[BarbaraW]

I agree with Mary, this would make a really interesting subject for the journal.

I found your post very moving Jack and got quite teary, how lovely that you took the sand to your great grandmother's grave.

[Manila Jack]

Thank you Barbara. I will try to put it into a narrative that could go into the journal.