Kirkcudbright Skipper and all Hands Lost.
A painful feeling was created in Kirkcudbright on Friday when it became known that the schooner "Enigma," which left Whitehaven on Tuesday for Isle of Whithorn, with a cargo of coal, had failed to reach port.
Shortly after the vessel, which was under the command of Captain John Pearson of Kirkcudbright, left Whitehaven, a fierce gale sprang up from the north west, with a wild sea and it is feared that the vessel, which carried a crew of four, has foundered with all hands. Two of the crew belong to Castleton, Isle of Man, on their first trip, and a third is said to have belonged to Jersey.
The "Enigma," which was an old boat, was built in Calcutta, and was well known in Kirkcudbright, and all round the Solway coast.
On Saturday a figurehead, a hatchway and part of a bulwark, believed to belong to the ill-fated vessel, were cast ashore at Workington. Since the tragic occurrence of the loss of the motor boat "Sirius" by fire some years ago, the wreck of the "Enigma" is the worst disaster.
The vessel was some time in the hands of Mr Qualtrough, of Castleton, I o M, and she was bought a few years ago by Messrs Wilson, Whitehaven. For some time she was captained by Captain Dukes, Kippford, who was succeeded, on his transference to the "Adolph" by Captain Pearson.
Captain Pearson leaves a widow and a grown up family of one son and two daughters.