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FOR most people, New Year is a time for celebration and for looking to the future with renewed hope. In 1897, however, it was a desperate time for the crew of the Aberdeen steamer SS State of Georgia and for their families, it became a time when all hope was lost. John Hacket, born 26 January 1852, the husband of Mary Jane Stuart Beaggerie and with 9 of a family was a Fireman on the crew of 'The Georgia'. The ship was last seen as it passed Dunnet Head in Caithness on the 28th December 1896 on it's way to Halifax, Novia Scotia carrying a cargo of sugar. The 2500 tonne iron vessel, under the command of Captain Stewart, had a crew of 32 men almost all from Aberdeen and surrounding districts. One of the seamen aboard was the captain's own son, who at the age of 23 was making his first voyage in the steamer. The voyage usually took about a fortnight and concern was first raised in the early weeks of 1897 when the ship was reported overdue. It was generally thought at that time the ship had become ice-bound and the captain was cautiously making his way out. Eventually concern among the families grew and an appeal was made in the press for a ship to be despatched from Canada to attempt to rescue the stranded ship, which, it was felt, was still afloat. By the end of January though, the mood had changed and it was felt in Halifax that the ship was lost. The steamer 'Adria' which had taken the same route as the 'Georgia' arrived in New York two days later, without any sign of the missing ship. The Canadian Government and Secretary of the New York Maritime Exchange were of the opinion that a search was 'futile' and so it was left to the ship's owners, the Aberdeen Atlantic Shipping Company, to charter it's own ship - 'Nimrod' - a powerful sealer, to sail from St John's to search the coast of Newfoundland. Sadly though 'Nimrod' despite a thorough search reported no sign of the Aberdeen trader and herself became stuck fast, unable to return to the port of St John's which was almost completely cut off from the open sea by drifting ice. | ||||||||
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Above: A report from Aberdeen Journal Below: Bad news from the Canadian side | ||||||||
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