S.S Turret Hill - collision - The Flower of the Fal - 9th November 1912

 

So now I have to tell you what happened on that most dreadful night  .

Saturday 9th November 1912

 Two men were on watch . The schooner's oil lanterns shining out through the darkness .The other three men were below deck asleep .

I don't know how to describe to you the terrifying sound of this metal monster collier steam ship colliding into our beautiful wooden schooner  .

It was reported in several local newspapers -West Britain and The Falmouth Packet .

Falmouth Schooner -The Flower of the Fal -lost in the early morning  off the Isle of Wight . Owned by Captain Joseph Paull of Flushing  122 tons registered . Carrying a cargo of coal destination of the Falmouth  Gasworks , was in collision with the S.S Turret hill .

Sunk off the Owen Lightship 20 miles off the Isle of Wight .

The schooner was struck on the starboard quarter and sank within half an hour .

       All five men threw themselves overboard into the ice cold waves below .

Can you imagine it ?  You're fast asleep in your bunk and the next minute swimming for your life in the sea !  

For a while the steam ship was seen to be towering above our schooner . As a matter of fact I couldn't possibly have drawn such a horrific scene .

I am told that from where and how she was struck , the schooner's masts would have folded in on themselves and the weight of the cargo would have dragged her down .

Our men were rescued by the crew of the SS Turret Hill .....but our ship was gone .

Great Grandfather Captain Joseph Paull who was back home in his bed in Flushing , it is said, woke up in the night....... and knew she was gone ..... he knew ....

                                                                      ⚓

"To my Great Grandfather Captain Joseph Paull  ,The Flower of the Fal was the love of his life."

 "To my Great Great Grandfather Captain Walter Paull , The Helen Tregenza was his passion ."