The S.S. Ilex

The S.S. Ilex, a 694 ton motor driven steel ship, owned by A. Wareham & Sons of Spencer's Cove, was gutted by fire at Kingman's Cove in Fermeuse Harbour, on Wednesday night October 27th 1948. Her master, Capt. A. Rodway, and crew of twelve landed safely in Kingman's Cove. The Ilex left St. John's on Wednesday morning with a part cargo of fish; to load further cargo at Harbour Buffett. On the way along the shore a storm sprang up and the captain put into Kingman's Cove for shelter, anchoring in the harbour about 2 gunshots from the shore. About 4 p.m. the chief engineer reported to the captain that the engine had back-flashed and the engine room was alight. The fire gained rapid headway and the captain ordered a lifeboat launched. So fierce was the blaze that the crew in abandoning the ship had no time to save their belongings. The Ilex, which had 100 tons of fuel oil in her bunker was engulfed in flames. With a high wind blowing and all the wood-work burned nothing could be done to save the ship. After the fire had burnt out, the ship was a total loss.