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The Robert Kerr (1866–1911)

by William Miller 2022

Robert Kerr

The Robert Kerr was the first vessel to go up on the ways at the Esquimalt Marine Railway Co. Ltd. (Photo from the John MacFarlane collection.)

The Robert Kerr initially began construction as the Buffalo in April 1865. The three–masted bark was launched as the Buffalo at the shipyard of Narcisse Rosa at Hare Point, St. Charles River, St. Roch district of Quebec City in May 1866. The main cabin was spacious and had six small windows and one large skylight. Opening off the cabin were three large staterooms. There was a buffalo emblem located on the stern. The vessel was purchased by Robert Kerr and Son, Tobacco Merchants, 19 Hanover Street in Liverpool, England. The founder of the company, Robert Kerr had died on January 2, 1864 and his son, Robert Kerr (July 25, 1840 – August 14, 1882) now controlled the business and purchased the ship, naming it the Robert Kerr, after his father. The ship had a figure–head representing his father holding a scroll.

The ship was registered in the 1866 Lloyd’s Register of British and Foreign Shipping, July 1, 1866 – June 30, 1867, page 794 of 807, with an A–1 rating and Vessel Name: Robert Kerr; Master: W. Hunter; Tons: 1191; Dimensions: 190.6’ x 38.4’ x 23.7’ It made its first trip from Liverpool to Calcutta (Kolkata) In India on January 9, 1867 with Captain Hunter in command. In the ensuing years the Robert Kerr sailed to many ports, including: Bombay, Calcutta, Melbourne, Singapore, Rio de Janeiro, San Francisco, New York, Saint John, and Quebec City. The 1884 Lloyd’s Register gave the owner as H. K. Waddell. In 1884 the vessel was owned by Hugh Kerr Alexander Waddell, a cousin of the late (1882) owner, Robert Kerr, and began what turned out to be its last voyage.

Robert Kerr

Newspaper advertisement for the Robert Kerr (Photo from the William Miller collection.)

On September 30, 1884 the bark Robert Kerr (ON 53862) was laying at Birkenhead, River Mersey, across from Liverpool, when Thomas Jones (Carpenter), W.B. Miller (Steward) and Theo Win (Cook) joined the ship. The remaining crew joined the ship on the morning of October 2, 1884 and the tug, Knight of St. John, towed the ship down the Mersey to the open sea where it set sail at 11:00 AM for the long voyage to Panama. The bark Robert Kerr was under the command of Captain Edward Edwards (December 12, 1822 – August 10, 1885) and the Mate was John Richardson. One of the crew members was able–bodied seaman Seraphim Fortes who later became a famous citizen in Vancouver. On October 18, 1884 the ship crossed the Tropic of Cancer heading south. On November 4, 1884 the ship crossed the Equator heading south to Cape Horn.

Robert Kerr

Cover of the log book of the Robert Kerr (Photo from the William Miller collection.)

As shown in the ship’s log entries (September 30, 1884 – October 20, 1885) there was much dissension and violence as the crew fought among themselves and the ship’s officers. On November 12, 1884 John Richardson, Mate, reported to Captain Edwards, "whilst speaking to Eleazer Riley for muttering whenever he got an order to do anything, William Anderson, AB (able–bodied seaman), called out to Riley, AB, to hit me on the head with something". On November 15, 1884 the ship crossed the Tropic of Capricorn about 550 miles off of Brazil heading south. On December 15, 1884 the ship was nearing Cape Horn and was off Staten Island (Isla de los Estados). On December 17, 1884 the Robert Kerr, at 4:00 PM, was about 30 miles south–east of the Hermite Islands where Cape Horn is located on Isla Hornos. At 8:00 PM the ship was now about 30 miles south–east of the Diego Ramirez Islands and had passed Cape Horn. The Diego Ramirez Islands were located 65 miles west–southwest of Cape Horn. On December 18, 1884, John Richardson, First Mate, reported to Captain Edwards, "whilst setting the main topsail William Anderson, AB, threatened twice to hit me on the head with a capstan bar". By December 22, 1884 the ship had completed its transit against the strong currents around Cape Horn and was starting to turn north. On December 30, 1884 John Richardson, First Mate, reported to Captain Edwards, "Benjamin Duncan and Emil August, ABs, whilst taking in the mainsail used very abusive language to me and told me I ought to have my head broken". On January 2, 1885 the first mate, John Richardson, reported in the ship’s log that: "Seraphim Fortes, AB, came aft and reported that William Anderson, AB, had stuck a cotton hook in his cheek". On February 1, 1885 the Robert Kerr crossed the equator near Quito, Ecuador heading north to Panama. On February 18, 1885 John Richardson, First Mate, noted in the ship’s log, "10:00 AM I told Benjamin Duncan, AB, to go to work at the sail on the poop, he said, No Sir. So he has been off duty all day and also has been using abusive language to me". On February 26, 1885 the ship passed near to San Jose Island as it approached Panama City and John Richardson, First Mate, noted in the ship’s log, "8:00 PM Frederick Solomon, AB, came aft and reported that William Anderson, AB, had stuck him with an iron belaying pin and then hit him, in consequence of which F. Solomon has been on the sick list all nightquot;. On February 27, 1885 the ship passed by Pacheca Island and reached Panama City and anchored in the harbour. The Robert Kerr was carrying a cargo of coal for the steam shovels and other equipment being used in the construction of the Panama Canal.

On March 2, 1885 the carpenter, Thomas Jones, was busy making a coal shoot to help unload the cargo and sick crew member Alfred Hollis, went on shore to the hospital. On March 4, 1885 the water boat came alongside and gave the ship 2,600 gallons of fresh water. On March 5, 1885 a barge came along side and the crew started loading it with coal. On March 9, 1885 F. Solomon, AB, came aft and reported that William Anderson, AB, was still using threatening language towards him and that he was afraid for his life. On April 6, 1885 Alfred Hollis, after returning from the hospital on March 25th and being put on the sick list, was discharged from the ship and paid off. This process was repeated until the crew completed unloading the coal from the Robert Kerr on April 21, 1885. The crew was kept very busy taking on stone ballast and trimming it, maintaining, and painting the ship. On May 5, 1885 at 11:00 AM the water boat came alongside and delivered 3,000 gallons of fresh water. On May 6, 1885 the ship got underway at 3 PM and left Panama City to continue North towards Victoria. On May 8, 1885 the ship had reached Cape Mala as they sailed into the Pacific Ocean.

Robert Kerr

Extract from the log book of the Robert Kerr (Photo from the William Miller collection.)

On June 9, 1885 able–bodied seaman Seraphim Fortes was put on the sick list, but by June 16, 1885 he was well enough for look-out duty from 2 to 4 AM. On July 15, 1885, near the latitude of Los Angeles, Captain Edwards became ill and his legs were swollen. On August 6, 1885 the ship passed by Flattery Rocks as it approached the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The Captain became progressively sicker each day and died on August 10, 1885. From the ship’s log on August 10, 1885: "At 9.15 AM Captain died, there was beside him at the time, J. Richardson, Mate; Matthew Greathead, acting 2nd Mate; Manuel Priare, Boatswain; and, W. B. Miller, Steward, everything has been done for him that could be done according to his own instructions. There has been one person continuously in attendance with him for the last 3 days". "The Captain was conscious to the last, and speaking 5 or 6 minutes before he died, he asked for a drink of water, to the best of my belief his complaint was dropsy and inflammation of the kidneys. J.R. Mate<">. Captain Edward Edwards was buried at sea on August 10, 1885 at 8:00 PM, and the First Mate, John Richardson, continued as master of the Robert Kerr. On August 14, 1885 at 1:00 PM a pilot boat was sighted and by 2:00 PM the pilot was on board. By 4:00 PM they were off Callum Bay and by 8:00 PM off Pillar Point. On August 15, 1885 at 11:00 AM the ship was off Secretary Island, and at 8:00 PM anchored in 24 fathoms of water at Royal Roads, offshore of Esquimalt Harbour. On August 25, 1885 the tugboat Alexander towed the Robert Kerr to Victoria Harbour.

When the crew had shore leave in Victoria their spending was such that the following notice appeared on August 27, 1885 in the Victoria Daily Times: "British Bark Robert Kerr From Panama – Neither Capt. Richardson nor the Hastings Sawmill Co., Agents of the British bark Robert Kerr, will be responsible for any debts contracted by the crew of said vessel." On August 30, 1885 William Petit joined the ship as Mate. On September 6, 1885, while being towed to Burrard Inlet by the tugboat Pilot, she grounded in heavy fog on San Juan Island at 12:50 PM, damaging her forefront and keel. At 1:50 PM the ship came off the rocks and was taking on some water, but was able to continue being towed. At 8:30 PM the ship had reached Active Pass. On September 7, 1885 at 7:45 AM made Passage Island; at 8:35 AM off Point Atkinson Lighthouse, and at 10:30 AM the Robert Kerr entered Burrard Inlet and dropped anchor off Hastings Sawmill after arriving from Victoria with 18 men, John Richardson, Master. On September 12, 1885 the steam tug Pilot towed the Robert Kerr to an inner anchorage where a diver started to survey the ship’s bottom. On September 14, 1885 the diver completed his inspection and said the damage could not be repaired while the ship was in the water. On September 28, 1885 the crew complained about being worn out with fatigue pumping and Seraphim Fortes was placed on the sick list. On September 29, 1885 it was announced that the bark Robert Kerr, has been carefully inspected by Captain McPhee, the commander of another vessel, the property of the same owners, and was condemned.

On September 30, 1885 able–bodied seaman (AB), Seraphim Fortes, was discharged from the ship by William Petit, Mate. The first person he met when he came ashore was Calvert Simons, the storekeeper at the Hastings Saw Mill Company. Seraphim Fortes, was later known as the famous Vancouver lifesaver Joseph Seraphim Fortes (later known as Joe Fortes) who died in 1922. On October 2, 1885 one year had passed since the bark Robert Kerr had sailed from Liverpool, England. On October 15, 1885 eight men were employed half a day shipping stores, sails, etc. on board a steamer going to Victoria. On October 17, 1885 William Soule came on board with 8 men to move the ship out to 400 yards off shore and clear the anchor. On October 20, 1885 William Petit, Mate, was the last crew member discharged by Captain John Richards. Also on October 20, 1885 in Liverpool, England the Liverpool Mercury newspaper reported that the "Robert Kerr has been condemned, and will be sold at Burrard Inlet."

Robert Kerr

Newspaper advertisement for the sale of the Robert Kerr (Photo from the William Miller collection.)

Captain William Henry Soule went to sea at the age of 15 in 1848 and sailed to ports all over the world, including Bangkok and China. He later came to Granville at Burrard Inlet in 1871 and later started the British Columbia Pioneer Stevedore Company, where he managed loading and unloading at the Hastings Saw Mill Company. On October 5, 1885 it was announced that the condemned British bark Robert Kerr, now afloat in Coal Harbour, Burrard Inlet, will be sold by public auction on Friday, October 23, 1885 at 11:00 AM, by auctioneer Joshua P. Davies at the Canadian Pacific Navigation Company’s wharf in Victoria. Captain Soule had always wanted a ship of his own and had the accountant, Mr. J.L. Raymur, purchase the bark Robert Kerr on his behalf at the public auction for $1,000 on October 23, 1885. Captain Soule then beached her on the shore beside the Hastings Saw Mill wharf and repaired her. On June 13, 1886, the bark Robert Kerr, anchored off shore in the Burrard Inlet, was a refuge for almost 300 persons who fled the great Vancouver fire in small boats to reach the ship. During the fire Mrs. Emily Eldon was able to make it to the beach where she met others. They were rescued by Captain Butler’s yacht and taken to the Andy Linton’s floating wharf, where they got a boat to row them out to the Robert Kerr. The ship’s caretaker refused to lower the rope ladder until two loggers in the boat told him they would throw him overboard. He lowered the ladder and they stayed on the deck of the Robert Kerr until 11:00 AM the next morning. There was no room for Captain Soule and his family so he found shelter, together with Captain Cox’s family, on the German bark Von Moltke that was loading lumber at the Hastings Saw Mill.

After the Vancouver Fire Captain Soule and his family lived on board the Robert Kerr and made it their home until September 1887. On July 31, 1886 it was announced that diver, T. Harmon, had inspected the bottom of the bark Robert Kerr and reported it sound. On September 29, 1886 Captain Soule announced that the Robert Kerr would be sold at public auction on Thursday, October 28, 1886 at noon in the sales office of auctioneer Captain W.R. Clarke on Yates Street, Victoria. On October 28, 1886 Captain Soule tried to sell the bark Robert Kerr, lying in Coal Harbour, at a public auction but no bids were received. In September 1887 the Soule family moved to their new home at Dunlevy Avenue and 340 Powell Street and the ship lay unused.

On July 1, 1887 Captain Soule had planned to raffle off the Robert Kerr by offering 70 chances for $100, with a prize of the vessel or $6,000 cash, but the raffle was not held. Instead, the Robert Kerr was engaged to carry coal from Nanaimo to Vancouver for coaling the Canadian Pacific Railway’s ships chartered from the Guion Line for trans–Pacific travel, the Parthia, Abyssinia, and Batavia. On July 6, 1887 the Robert Kerr was towed by the tug Pilot from Nanaimo to Vancouver, with over 1,100 tons of Wellington coal for the Canadian Pacific Railway steamship Parthia. Captain Soule had sold the Robert Kerr to the Canadian Pacific Railway for $7,000. The committee organizing the 1889 Dominion Day celebrations had got permission from the C.P.R. to use the Robert Kerr as a platform from which to set off $500 worth of fireworks on July 2, 1889. Captain Jack Cates and his brother Charles were in charge of the Robert Kerr, but the poorly trained fireworks men who came aboard almost set the ship on fire.

On May 3, 1892 the Canadian Pacific Railway Company advertised for tenders for the repairs necessary to be done to the Robert Kerr. On May 23, 1892 the coal hulk Robert Kerr was towed to Departure Bay by the steamer Active, for repairs by a Mr. Purdy, who got the contract from the C.P.R. For many years the ship continued to be used as a coal barge to bring coal from the Nanaimo area to supply vessels leaving Vancouver.

On November 27, 1903, in a dense fog, the Robert Kerr struck heavily on the rocks at Ballinac (now Ballenas) Islands while being towed to Union Bay from Vancouver by the tug Escort No. 2, but was able to be beached for temporary repairs. On January 8, 1904 the Robert Kerr was launched after completing extensive repairs that began on December 21, 1903 at the British Columbia Marine Railway yard in Vancouver, including building a full length false keel, to repair the damage it received after grounding on the Ballinac (sic) Islands (Ballenas Islands) in November 1903.

In 1906 Captain William Anderson re–entered the services of the Canadian Pacific as master of the barge Robert Kerr, which carried bunker coal from the Island to Vancouver for the Empress—class ships. On February 13, 1906, very early in the morning, the Robert Kerr was being towed by the Etta White to Union Bay in a thick fog and they both grounded on gravel near Ship Point in Baynes Sound. The tugs LeRoi and Czar were dispatched, but both the Robert Kerr and the Etta White came off undamaged of their own accord at high tide.

On November 14, 1908 the Robert Kerr was hauled out at Noon on the cradle of the B.C. Marine Railway in the east end. An inspection of the ship is proceeding and depending upon the repairs needed, she may be on the cradle for up to two weeks. On December 15, 1910 the Robert Kerr was brought across the Gulf in record time. The deep–sea tug Lorne left Ladysmith with the Robert Kerr in tow at 1:00 PM and was anchored in English Bay at 4:00 PM. On March 4, 1911, north of Thetis Island, the Robert Kerr, after being towed onto the rocks by the tugboat Coutli, was severely damaged and could not be refloated. The work of recovering the coal is being done by the dredging barge Skookum. On the stern of the Robert Kerr a Buffalo emblem, signifying her original name, could still be seen. The wreck of the Robert Kerr is still identifiable and now a popular dive site.

The Author – Bill Miller, Ph.D., P. Eng. is a retired professional engineer living in Windsor, Ontario. During a visit to Vancouver he ate at the Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House and decided to learn about Joe Fortes. Bill learned that Joe fortes had arrived in Granville in September 1885 aboard the three–masted bark Robert Kerr and this was the basis for his interest in the vessel. He says, " I am not related to W.B. Miller, the Steward onboard the Robert Kerr. I was interested in the history of Joe Fortes and that lead me to search for his 1884–1885 voyage on the Robert Kerr. William H. Soule bought the Robert Kerr on October 23, 1885 at public auction for $1,000 and came into possession of the ship’s log book. Captain Soule’s daughter, Estella Budding Soule, donated the log of the Robert Kerr, in June 1941, to Vancouver’s City Archivist, Major James Skitt Matthews, to be preserved in the City of Vancouver Archives. I ordered a copy of the Log Book from the Archives."


To quote from this article please cite:

Miller, William (2022) The Robert Kerr (1866–1911). Nauticapedia.ca 2021. http://nauticapedia.ca/Gallery/Robert_Kerr_logs.php

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