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On the 13th October 1832, when the Escape was approaching Holyhead, the bulwark on the starboard side was smashed by heavy seas, and tragically washed Captain Skinner and his mate through the port bulwark. Their bodies were not recovered for some weeks. When Captain Skinner's body was discovered, it gave reason to suppose that it had been found some time before, when valuables had been removed before casting him back into the sea. He was 70 years old, and had been in public service for 59 years.
So much and so sincere was the grief in the town of Holyhead, at the tragic loss of Captain Skinner, that an obelisk to his memory was erected by public subscription on a dominating crag of rock overlooking Holyhead harbour .
It bears the words:-
"This monument was erected by his numerous friends to the memory of John Macgregor Skinner, R.N., and for 33 years captain of one of the post office packets on this station, in testimony of his virtues, and their affectionate remembrance of him in his public capacity. He was distinguished for zeal, intrepidity and fidelity. In private life he was a model of unvarying friendship, disinterested kindness and unbounded charity. MDCCCXXXII."
It was revealed that Captain Skinner had died because of the neglect of the Post Office, who were impervious to any lesson and incapable of grasping the needs of the time. Sea Service did not improve, and nothing was done to introduce modern paddle steamers on the Holyhead route and just the opposite was true of the land service.
An inquiry was held in 1836 due to the blatant mismanagement of the Post Office ships, and it revealed a loss in every station but a particularly great one in Holyhead.
At last a decision was finally made to transfer the packets to the Board of admiralty and in 1837 the six Holyhead Packets were transferred and renamed Zephyr, Doterel, Otter, Sprightly, Cuckoo and the Gleanor.
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