The 100-metre Hudson’s Bay Company steamship Bayrupert was built at Ardrossan, Scotland, in 1926. Designed specifically for the challenging ice conditions of northern waters, she featured a strengthened hull to serve the company’s fur trade outposts throughout Labrador, Hudson Bay, and Baffin Island. For her era, she was also lavishly furnished and exceptionally well appointed. Her launch on 16 March 1926 required four attempts before she finally entered the water—maybe it was an unfortunate omen.
During the summer of 1927, Bayrupert departed Montreal carrying a complement of 80 crew and passengers, along with supplies destined for communities and trading posts in the North. In the early hours of 22 July, after departing Hopedale and while passing north of Cape Harrigan on the Labrador coast, she struck a reef and ran aground after only a year in service.
The Hudson’s Bay Company’s SS Nascopie was already operating in Hudson Bay with a cargo of northern supplies, so the Newfoundland Railway Company wired Captain Tavernor of the SS Kyle requesting that he proceed to the wreck and render assistance. At the time, the Kyle had already departed St. Anthony on a southbound voyage, meaning it would be at least twenty-four hours before she could reach the stranded vessel.
With the holds steadily taking on water but the sea remaining calm, the passengers and most of the crew were safely landed on the Nanuktok (Farmyard) Islands, approximately seven to eight miles south of the wreck. Captain Smellie and nine crew members remained aboard. While the No. 1 and No. 2 holds remained dry, the engine room and No. 3 hold were completely flooded. Prospects for salvaging both the vessel and her cargo depended on favourable weather and the timely arrival of suitable assistance.
Despite early reports suggesting she had been refloated, the situation continued to deteriorate. On 2 August 1927, after just one season of supplying the Moravian Mission stations and Hudson’s Bay Company trading posts of northern Labrador, Bayrupert was declared a total loss and abandoned by her owners. Later that month, the SS Meigle was dispatched in an attempt to salvage what remained of the wreck.
From “The Daily News” (St. John’s)
23 July 1927, page 3.
BAYRUPERT ASHORE NEAR CAPE HARRIGAN
Ship fast on Rocks Amidships and Bumping Heavily – S. S. Movarin to Assistance
S.S. Bayrupert is fast on the rocks in latitude 55.59 N., Long. 59.59 W. on the Labrador coast 14 miles true north of Cape Harrigan, near Davis Inlet. The ship is hard aground amidships and bumping heavily, while jettisoned cargo is floating around.
S.S. Moverin, 360 miles S.E. is proceeding to the assistance of the Bay Rupert at 13 knots.
The foregoing information was received by Mr. J.J. Collins by radio, the first message being received at 7 a.m. yesterday, and a later at 3.30 a.m.
Yesterday morning Mr. W. J. Carson, manager of the Hudson’s Bay Company, received a wire from Montreal saying that the S.S. Bayrupert had gone ashore on the Labrador coast in Latitude 55.59 north and longitude 59.59 west. This position would place her about four miles from Clinker Rock, off Cape Harrigan. Mr. John Ledingham, of this city, is the chief engineer on her. The railway management wired Captain Tavernor of the Kyle to render any assistance required. Late yesterday afternoon Mr. H. J. Russell, general manager of the Nfld. Railway, had a message from Captain Tabernor saying he had received a Marconi from the Bayrupert asking him to come to her assistance. The holds were filling and passengers and part of the crew had been landed on Farmyard Island, about seven or eight miles from the ship. The sea was then smooth.
The Bayrupert is the new ship launched March 16th , 1926, for the Hudson Bay Company. She is a passenger and cargo boat of 3700 tons d.w. Her hull is strengthened for navigation through ice, and whe was specially designed as a supply ship to the trading stations in Hudson Bay and the Arctic. S.S. Nascopie, the other ship of the Hudson’s Bay Company, is now in Hudson’s Bay with a full load of supplies. When the Kyle got the message she had left St. Anthony coming south, so it will be a least twenty-four hours before she can get to the wreck.
25 July 1927, Cover.
BAYRUPERT’S CREW LANDED AT FARMYARDS
Montreal, July 23 – The Hudson’s Bay company here today received a message from the London office saying the crew of the steamer Bayrupert, ashore on the Labrador coast, have been taken off the steamer and are at Farmyards Islands, a small settlement in the community, with the exception of Capt. Smellie and nine of the crew who are standing by the steamer.
26 July 1927, page 6.
THINK SLIGHT HOPE SALVAGING BAYRUPERT
Numbers One and Two Holds Dry – Engine Room Flooded – Depends on Weather Conditions
Captain W. C. Winsor Minister of Marine and Fisheries had a message last night from Captain Hann, Labrador fishery officer on the Kyle, as follows: “Bayrupert on the rocks. Captain Tavernor says Rock is 3½ miles S 67 degrees East of position Clinker Rock as shown on the chart. The extent of the damage is unknown. No. 1 hold and No. 2 hold dry. Stokehold, engineroom and No. 3 hold full of water. Chance for salvaging ship and cargo depends on weather conditions. If Sea continues smooth chances fair with proper appliances, otherwise absolutely no chance.”
27 July 1927, page 3.
KYLE RETURNING FROM BAYRUPERT WRECK
The Newfoundland Railway had a message from Captain Tavernor of the Kyle yesterday afternoon saying that at 1.20 p.m. he was proceeding to Farmyard Island thence to St. John’s. Captain Stuart representing the underwriters is on the sueu and ought to arrive at the wreck to-day. He will make all the arrangements in reference to salvage.
