DescriptionArchaeological remains associated with the loss of this vessel are not confirmed as present at this location, but may be in the vicinity.
Event and Historical Information:
The LILY AND MAY was a pilot cutter built in 1893 by J P Hambly & Co, Cardiff. The cutter was placed on the Port of Cardiff Shipping Register on 2 May 1893 (5 in 1893) and which time its technical and configuration specification were given as 19.66gt/rt, 45.4ft length x 13.15ft breadth x 7.15ft depth; 1 deck, 1 mast, cutter rigged, semi elliptic stern, carvel built, wood framework; official number 98431. The subscribing owner was David Francis, 7 Newport Street, Lower Grange, of Cardiff, pilot. Shares in the cutter remained mortgaged to the builder up to the time of loss on 6 October 1894. The cutter was seeking pilotage work for Cardiff when it was in collision with the Whitby registered steamship OSWALD. Evidence given at the Board of Trade Inquiry noted that the LILY AND MAY had been upon a west-by-north course with the wind on the starboard quarter, and had been making about 2 1/2 knots. The cutter's mate states that she was kept upon her course until a collision was inevitable, when he put the helm hard-a-port. The second officer of the OSWALD judged the cutter to be upon the port tack, and when about half a mile distant the helm was put to starboard with the idea of passing under the pilot cutter's stern. At 8.26, seeing that he was closing upon the cutter, and that there was a risk of collision, the engines were stopped, and put full speed astern. The collision took place by the OSWALD striking the cutter just abaft the port beam nearly a right angle blow directed forward. The cutter hung under the OSWALD's bow for a few seconds and then foundered. The cutter's crew managed to get to the OSWALD's anchor with the exception of one man, Lewis Phillips, who was not seen afterwards, nor was any cry heard. The OSWALD promptly lowered a boat, and after a careful search of half an hour failed to find any traces of the missing man. The collision took place 5 miles south-southwest of Nash Point.
Sources include:
Board of Trade Wreck Return 1894 Appendix C Table 1 pg144 (666)
Larn and Larn Shipwreck Database 2002
Port of Cardiff Shipping Register 1885 -1895, Glamorgan Archives, folio 151
WWW resoruces:
Board of Trade Inquiry, number 5045, 21-24 December 1894, Cardiff
http://www.plimsoll.org/resources/SCCLibraries/WreckReports/16620.asp
Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, June 2009.
