#irishsea

On October 9 1921 tragedy struck when the SS Rowan sank off the Rhinns of Galloway with 34 deaths.

The steamship Rowan, on a voyage from Glasgow to Dublin sank after collisions with two ships off Corsewall Point. She collided with the American steamship West Camak, and immediately afterwards with the steamship Clan Malcolm.

The Rowan, under Captain Donald Brown, was held to blame for the first collision because of her speed in fog and failure to sound her whistle. For the second collision she was held one third responsible because of her failure to sound her whistle as a vessel stopped in water, a decision that seems harsh given the short time after the first collision, and Captain Brown’s immediate concern for preserving lives, which helped save some 70 people.

The tragedy hit the headlines in the US as among those lost on the Rowan were many members of the African American jazz band the Southern Syncopated Orchestra the "pop stars" of their day. Survivors were rescued by Clan Malcolm, West Camak, and the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Wrestler.

On 14th October the Theatre Royal in Glasgow held a “Special matinee in aid of the surviving members of the Orchestra who lost nine of their members. Despite the loss of lives, the orchestra would go on to complete its delayed dates in Ireland, but they disbanded soon afterwards.

Pics are the ship, a picture of the sinking of the SS ‘Rowan’ which appeared in the Italian newspaper ‘La Domenica del Corriere’ and the Southern Syncopated Orchestra

WALKING IN A WINDY WONDELAND

Torr Head, Northern Ireland