DescriptionArchaeological remains are not confirmed as present at this location, but may possibly be in the vicinity.
Event and Historical Information:
The MARS was an iron steamship or packet owned by the Waterford and Bristol Steam Navigation Company and registered at Bristol. At time of loss on 1 April 1862, the packet had on board 180 cattle, 137 pigs, 10 horses, and a quantity of eggs, fish and poultry. The passengers included a retired Captain of the English East India Company, one woman and a child, as well as businessman's daughter described in the press as 'a very amiable and interesting young lady.' The MARS left Waterford at 10am. As darkness fell that evening the MARS encountered dense fog and the master Blynman quickly got off course. Just after 8pm the MARS struck the rocks below Linney Head. It was still making full speed (about 9 or 10 miles an hour) as well as having all its sails set for a fast passage, causing the ship's bottom plates to be torn open. Thinking the vessel could be refloated easily and unaware of the great damage it had suffered underwater, the master put the engine astern. The MARS floated off with little effort and reversed for about 40 yards. However, the sea entered through the many holes and poured through the hatchways into the engine room. Survivors estimated that the steamship went down about 5 or 6 minutes after striking. The Bristol Mercury published a statement from one of the surviving crewmen 'I and two others cut the fastening of the lifeboat, then ran to the small boat and cut her loose and lowered her, when six of us got into her and pushed her off from the ship. The vessel was then down to the horse pipes in the water. Before we were ten yards from her she sunk'. The survivor also reported that just before the MARS was engulfed 'he saw the form of a woman who he is certain was the stewardess, Mrs Way, standing on the deck wringing her hands'. Several boats were launched, but only one survived in the heavy seas under the cliffs. It held just six men, two firemen, two seamen, a cattle dealer and a young boy. The Bristol Mercury stated that 'The tiny craft in which they were was tossed violently about, whilst their risk of capsizing was every moment increased by the drowning cattle, some of which swam about, occasionally coming close to and thrusting their heads over the boat?'. The companions could hear the captain and others shouting to them, but could not tell where they were. After rowing all night (sometimes with the boat half filled with water which had to be bailed out with a shoe) they reached Milford Haven. Over 40 lives were lost. Twenty-one bodies were later recovered near Freshwater West and taken to Castlemartin Church for burial.
Sources include:
Bristol Mercury, 12 April 1862, issue 3760
Larn and Larn Shipwreck Database 2002
Goddard, T, 1983, Pembrokeshire Shipwrecks, pg83-5
Western Telegraph, 20 July 1983
Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, March 2008.
