Page 54 - Greystones Archaeological Historical Society

THE ACCIDENT THAT TIME FORGOT

dockers to move the cargo to the appropriate location. The
sanitary pipes were placed on the starboard side of the car deck
and held in place by the cartons of footwear with the remainder
of the cargo on these trays being placed along both sides of the
car deck with care being taken to ensure that they did not block
the scuppers. The five laundry hampers and one case of
methylated spirits were stored on the turntable in the middle of
the car deck.

Due to the high winds blowing, it was impossible to load a car
on board by crane so its owner Mr. Carlin was informed that it
would be carried on the next sailing. Prior to loading the cargo,
passengers had boarded the ship, been assigned their cabins
and retired for the night.

Meantime Chief Officer Duckels went on to the car deck to
check on the progress of loading the cargo and while this work
was the task of the dockers, it was his responsibility to ensure
that it was properly stowed. Chief Officer Duckels asked that a
tarpaulin be placed over some of the parcels with dock foreman
William Pirrie supervising this work. At 7.30 a.m. before Pirrie
departed from the ship, he ensured that the dock porters slid the
port door closed and that the bolts sealing it up were positioned
properly.

Two hours earlier the overnight train from London Euston had
arrived at the quayside and this last group of passengers had
completed the embarkation process.

Throughout the ship crew made ready for departure and were
busy catering for the needs of passengers and attending to their
duties.

Just after 8 a.m. the mooring ropes of the MV Princess
Victoria were slipped and Captain Ferguson then eased her out

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