German mines sink ship off Tory Island

Fourteen lives lost as Admiralty warns ship owners

A ship en route to America struck a German mine and sunk in less than seven minutes.

The sinking of the Manchester Commerce took place off Tory Island, Co. Donegal shortly after 3pm yesterday afternoon.

A contact mine, similar to those used by the Germans. The box contains the weight which hold it in position, while the cylinder contains the explosive. (Image: Irish Life, 11 Sept 1914. Full collection of Irish Life is available from the National Library of Ireland.)

The captain of the ship and thirteen members of the crew were drowned with the ship. A further 30 people on board were recused by the City of London trawler. They had been in a small boat for 12 hours before being picked up.

A series of announcements from England have warned all shipping to avoid Tory Island.

An official notice has been issued, reading: ‘Minefield reported 20 miles north of Tory Island; extent unknown. In and outward bound vessels to make Skerryvore Lighthouse before going westward.’

[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]