The Ellan Vannin tragedy

SS Ellan Vannin - geschiedenis
The sad loss of the SS Ellan Vannin (the Gaelic for Isle of Man) on 3rd December, 1909, with the loss of all passengers and crew was a very sad time in Manx history. The Ellan Vannin was a paddle steamer launched in 1860 as the Mona's Isle II, but converted to a twin screw steamer in Barrow-in-Furness in 1883 when she was renamed Ellan Vannin. On December 3rd 1909 she left Ramsey Harbour just after 0100 hrs in adverse, but not extreme weather. Conditions, however, deteriorated and by the time the vessel was approaching the Mersey Bar violent storm force conditions/hurricane winds (Beaufort Scale 11/12) were prevailing. The Ellan Vannin was overwhelmed by massive waves, capsized and sank. A Board of Trade Enquiry subsequently exonerated the Master, the company and the crew of all blame for this tragedy. No subsequent vessel of the Steam Packet has borne the name Ellan Vannin. "After the Ellan Vannin sank there were 58 children left without either one or two parents"
Hieronder nog een gedicht/liedje over Ellan Vannin – het eiland

Manx (Gaelic) version
Tra ta'n laa souree ec jerrey
As imnaghyn lhie ersooyl
mish nyn soie fo ny rollageyn,
slane my lommaghyn as skee
Eisht ta girree gollrish ashlish,
Loandyr gial as dooghys sail
she o heen o Ellan Vannin,
Lesh chroink glassey rish y cheayn.
Ta mee clashtyn tharmane tonnyn
Myr ta'd nish paagey yn traie ;
As heese dowin fo'n ushtey geayney
Kiaulleeagh foast ta'n ven-varrey ;
As ta'n Ellan soilshean aalin
Myr ve ayns my aegid hene ;
My heer deyr shenn Ellan Vannin
Lesh e chroink glass rish y cheayn.
Nish ta smooinaght millish meiyghagh
Cheet myr kiaulleeaght gys my chree ;
Jeh ny cree'ghyn va ayns Mannin
Foddey raoie hug graih da mee ;
Ta mee coyrt lesh jeir as bannaght
Nish my smooinaght share dhyt hene ;
My heer deyr shenn Ellan Vannin,
Lesh e chroink glass rish y cheayn.

Ellan Vannin
When the summer day is over
And its busy cares have flown,
I sit beneath the starlight
With a weary heart, alone,
Then rises like a vision,
Sparkling bright in nature's glee,
My own dear Ellan Vannin
With its green hills by the sea.
Then I hear the wavelets murmur
As they kiss the fairy shore,
Then beneath the em'rald waters
Sings the mermaid as of yore,
And the fair Isle shines with beauty
As in youth it dawned on me,
My own dear Ellan Vannin
With its green hills by the sea.
Then mem'ries sweet and tender
Come like music's plaintive flow,
Of the hearts in Ellan Vannin
That lov'd me long ago,
And I give with tears and blessings,
My own fondest thoughts to thee,
My own dear Ellan Vannin
With its green hills by the sea.

Tekst:

Snaefell, Tynwald, Ben My Chree
Fourteen ships have sailed the sea
Proudly bearing a Manx name
But there's one will never again

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Oh Ellan Vannin, of the Isle of Man Company
Oh Ellan Vannin, lost in the Irish Sea

At one a.m. in Ramsey bay
Captain Teare was heard to say
"Our contract said deliver the mail
in this rough weather we must not fail"

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Ocean liners sheltered from the storm
Ellan Vannin on the waves was borne
Her hold was full and battened down
As she sailed towards far Liverpool Town

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With a crew of twenty-one Manx men
Her passengers, Liverpool businessmen
Farewell to Mona's Isle, farewell
This little ship was bound for hell

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Less than a mile from the Bar lightship
By a mighty wave Ellan Vannin was hit
She sank in the waters of Liverpool Bay
There she lies until this day

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Few Manxmen now remember,
The third day of the month December
Of a terrible storm in Nineteen Nine
Ellan Vannin sailed for the very last time

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Vertaling:

Snaefell, Tynwald, Ben My Chree

Veertien schepen bevoeren de zee

Trots een Manx’ naam voerend

Maar er is één die nooit meer zal gaan

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O, Ellan Vannin, van de Isle of Man Company

O, Ellan Vannin, verloren in de Irish Sea

Om één uur ‘snachts in Ramsey Bay

Hoorde men captain Teare zeggen:

‘Ons contract zegt bezorg de post

In dit ruige weer mogen we niet falen.’

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Oceanreuzen scholen voor de storm

Ellan Vannin was op de golven geboren

Haar ruim was vol en de luiken vastgesjord

Toen ze naar het verre Liverpool voer

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Met een bemanning van 21 Manx man

Haar passagiers, Liverpool zakenmannen

Vaarwel aan Mona’s Isle, vaarwel

Dit kleine schip gaat naar de hel

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Minder dan een mijl van het Bar lichtschip

Werd Ellan Vannin door een monstergolf getroffen

Zij zonk in het water van Liverpool Bay

En daar ligt zij tot vandaag

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Weinig Manx’ mannen herinneren zich nog

De derde dag van de maand december

Van een vreselijke storm in negentien negen

Ellan Vannin voer voor de laatste keer

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