DAVID LAW
DAVID LAW
Years Active: 1879-1880
Vessel Type: 3-Masted Full-Rigged Ship
Full-rigged
Nationality: Scottish
Destroyed by mysterious explosions and a fire whilst trying to enter Stanley in August 1880 after its cargo was “stirred up” by “stormy” weather.
Main Use:
Cargo
Years Active:
1879-1880
Power:
Sail
Built:
1879
Size:
1584 Gross, 1490 Net tons
76.44 x 11.67 x 6.71m metres
(length, breadth, depth) metres
Design/Build:
Birrell, Stenhouse & Co, Upper Woodyard, Dumbarton, Scotland
Main Use: Cargo
Built: 1879
Power: Sail
Design/Build: Birrell, Stenhouse & Co, Upper Woodyard, Dumbarton, Scotland
Size: 1584 Gross, 1490 Net tons
Dimensions: 76.44 x 11.67 x 6.71m metres
The DAVID LAW left Leith in Scotland in June 1880 with a cargo of 2,300 tons of coal and about 300 tons of pig iron. Within 300 miles of the Falkland Islands, it became “stormy” and she, “being very heavily rigged”, began to roll. This “stirred up the cargo”. Land was close by but seeing no signs of habitation her Captain tried to sail her into Port Stanley. After “laying too” during the night there was an “explosion” at daybreak and a fire broke out. The Captain decided to run the ship “broadside” onto Elephant Cays and his crew were “speedily landed” and taken to Stanley. After half an hour ashore, there was another “tremendous” explosion and another fire broke out. By evening, the foremast “fell” and during the night the main and mizzen masts came down, demolishing the “after part” of the vessel. By daylight, “around” 11th August 1880, nothing but “a few floating spars” marked the scene of where the wreck of the DAVID LAW had been.
The DAVID LAW left Leith in Scotland in June 1880 with a cargo of 2,300 tons of coal and about 300 tons of pig iron. Within 300 miles of the Falkland Islands, it became “stormy” and she, “being very heavily rigged”, began to roll. This “stirred up the cargo”. Land was close by but seeing no signs of habitation her Captain tried to sail her into Port Stanley. After “laying too” during the night there was an “explosion” at daybreak and a fire broke out. The Captain decided to run the ship “broadside” onto Elephant Cays and his crew were “speedily landed” and taken to Stanley. After half an hour ashore, there was another “tremendous” explosion and another fire broke out. By evening, the foremast “fell” and during the night the main and mizzen masts came down, demolishing the “after part” of the vessel. By daylight, “around” 11th August 1880, nothing but “a few floating spars” marked the scene of where the wreck of the DAVID LAW had been.
