Catherine Jenkins

Last Updated on Wednesday, 19 May 2010 11:01

1856 - The Catherine Jenkins was one of the famous copper barques plying between Santiago, Cuba and Swansea.   Santiago was known, notoriously, as “Swansea Cemetery” on account of the Yellow Fever that raged there.   The Catherine Jenkins lost five men dead of the disease and sailed with the only eleven crew members left.   In foggy weather well north of Lundy they lost their course and were driven on to rocks by Oxwich Point.   Thecrew managed to get into the ship's boat but no sooner was it clear of the vessel than it capsized.   Only four men made it to the shore.  The cargo was eventually got ashore but there is a still a bare patch, between Lucas Cove and Oxwich Point, where the copper had lain when it was unloaded. (Ref. 059)