“Loss of the Life-Boat Crew at Fethard”
Author: John Butler, Tipperary
Earliest date: 1948 (Ranson)
Found in: Ireland
Description
The life-boat goes out on a stormy night to try to rescue a Norwegian crew. "Early on next morning the sorrowful news went round." Wives and children find "husbands and fathers lying dead" on the Fethard shore.
Notes
February 20, 1914: "Nine members of the Fethard lifeboat were drowned when going to the assistance of the Norwegian steamer _Mexico_.... Eight of the Mexico's crew were saved by the five lifeboat survivors. All but one of the stranded survivors were saved with great difficulty the next day." (source: Bourke in _Shipwrecks of the Irish Coast_ v1, pp. 52-53) - BS
We note that at least four poems were written about this disaster (see the cross-references); one suspects a campaign to raise money for someone's family. - RBW
Historical references
- Feb 20-21, 1914 - The Mexico wreck
Cross references
- cf. "The Mexico" (subject) and references there
References
- Ranson, p. 104, "Loss of the Life-Boat Crew at Fethard" (1 text)
- BI, Ran104
The Traditional Ballad Index is copyright ©2008
by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.
The Digital Tradition is copyright The Mudcat Cafe.