Maritime History Archive Public Photo Catalogue

Home New Search Previous Image Next Image View Record List

Photo Title:	"Dorothy Duff" (Schooner)
Description:	Painting of the schooner "Dorothy Duff," Capt. John P. Horwood, 1909. Ruby Hammond (artist)."
Image No.:	PF-008.053
Image Location:	Box10/pf008_053.jpeg
Physical Description:	1 slide : col. ; 35 mm
Biography/Admin History:	The three-masted schooner "Dorothy Duff", official number 117164, gross tonnage 186, was initially known as the "Dorothy M. Porter" when built in Falmouth, Nova Scotia in 1906 by Thomas M. McKinley and registered in Windsor to Lawrence D. Shaffner of Bridgetown. In 1908 the vessel was registered in St. John's, Newfoundland to the new owner, merchant William Duff of Carbonear. It encountered a number of misfortunes under Duff's ownership. Captain George Windsor delivered the vessel to Duff at Carbonear in May, 1908. Soon after, Felix Luther was given command of the schooner. Later that year, on a voyage to Pernambuco with a load of saltfish, Captain James Newhook of Catalina with six crew members, eventually made port in Barbados after a difficult voyage, apparently having been thrown off course by a faulty chronometer. Before its next voyage, the firm renamed the schooner "Dorothy Duff", after John Duff’s daughter, a granddaughter of William. Michael Hoelny, John P. Horwood and Edgar Burke subsequently served as masters of the vessel. On January 23, 1917, while under the command of Captain George J. Dean, Jr., the vessel was extensively damaged in a gale en route from Carbonear to Gibraltar, again with a cargo of saltfish. While undergoing repairs at Gibraltar, the vessel suffered further damage in a storm. In May, with Dean still at the helm, the vessel finally left port for its original intended destination of Valencia, Spain. However, on May 18 the voyage was intercepted by a German submarine which captured and subsequently released the crew into a life boat, prior to sinking the "Dorothy Duff". The crew - including Dean, Arthur Nichol - mate, H.W. Powell - cook, and W. Burden, Stephen Penney and James Windsor - was picked up by a Spanish coastal vessel and landed near Valencia. From there they returned to Gibraltar, finding passage on a liner bound for Saint John, New Brunswick. They arrived home about six months after their departure from Carbonear.
Collector:	Dr. Harry Roberts
Source Donor:	Dr. Harry Roberts, ca. 1981
Collection Title:	Dr. Harry Roberts Slide Collection
Restrictions on Access:	Copyright expired
Copyright:	p
Physical Condition:	Good
Notes:	See "Newfoundland Fish Boxes: A Chronicle of the Fishery" by Dr. Harry D. Roberts with Michael O. Nowlan.
Subjects:	Dorothy Duff (Schooner) / Dorothy M. Porter (Schooner) / Ships in art.