Hi Alan and Andy,
Wow, Andy, I can't believe they misspelled it in her home town. Incredible. Thanks for the tip.
Yes, they're the reports I have Alan. It's quite frustrating really. It all seems to be speculation, subtly emphasising that her disappearence couldn't possibly have been anything to do with a problem with the repairs she received in Liverpool and, the possibility that they sent out a vessel that wasn't actually sea worthy. She'd been towed back to Liverpool four months earlier from Bexhill off the south coast by a tug sent by Liverpool Salvage Association (the picture I have seems to have been taken by Lloyds when they went to assess her for damage when the Captain deliberately grounded her - he was subsequently suspended and a new Captain appointed. He's the one who went down with her. Tragic).
I've been trying to find out whether they sent search parties in these circumstances, but I suspect the ocean was just too vast to bother. Gutwrenching when you think of it.
Regards, Ann
Treasure Hunters.
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Ann In the UK
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JohnI
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Hello Ann,
I think you are right about the ship having been sent out to sea in an unseaworthy condition. There seemed to be little consideration about the safety and well being of the seamen at this period. I expect the ship's master was under great pressure from the owners to commence his voyage without any further delay.
I have recently been researching a ship that had a similar fate, but the final outcome was a happier one.
This is a newspaper report on the incident, dated 1 September 1868:
The Oceanica left Liverpool on Saturday last for Miramichi and was left off Holyhead the same night by the steam tug Tartar. Although the vessel was leaking when she left the dock, the captain proceeded on his voyage. By the time she had reached the Irish coast the water gained rapidly, and the master determined on putting back. The Oceanica was doing so when she was sighted by Mandingo, which at once bore up for the distressed vessel. On coming alongside, and while in the act of clearing away a hawser to send on board, the Oceanica gave a plunge forward, and went down instantly, head foremost. By the prompt action of those on board the Mandingo, every person belonging to the ill fated vessel was saved. The crew were eleven in number, and saved nothing but what they stood in, the captain only saved his chronometer. The Oceanica was owned in Belfast by Messers J Lemon and Co and was commanded by Captain Wright. Had the Mandingo not hove in sight at the time, or even had it been dark, it is feared that Captain Wright and his crew would have shared the fate of their vessel.
It is hard to believe that a captain would even contemplate starting a voyage across the Atlantic in a leaking ship.
John
I think you are right about the ship having been sent out to sea in an unseaworthy condition. There seemed to be little consideration about the safety and well being of the seamen at this period. I expect the ship's master was under great pressure from the owners to commence his voyage without any further delay.
I have recently been researching a ship that had a similar fate, but the final outcome was a happier one.
This is a newspaper report on the incident, dated 1 September 1868:
The Oceanica left Liverpool on Saturday last for Miramichi and was left off Holyhead the same night by the steam tug Tartar. Although the vessel was leaking when she left the dock, the captain proceeded on his voyage. By the time she had reached the Irish coast the water gained rapidly, and the master determined on putting back. The Oceanica was doing so when she was sighted by Mandingo, which at once bore up for the distressed vessel. On coming alongside, and while in the act of clearing away a hawser to send on board, the Oceanica gave a plunge forward, and went down instantly, head foremost. By the prompt action of those on board the Mandingo, every person belonging to the ill fated vessel was saved. The crew were eleven in number, and saved nothing but what they stood in, the captain only saved his chronometer. The Oceanica was owned in Belfast by Messers J Lemon and Co and was commanded by Captain Wright. Had the Mandingo not hove in sight at the time, or even had it been dark, it is feared that Captain Wright and his crew would have shared the fate of their vessel.
It is hard to believe that a captain would even contemplate starting a voyage across the Atlantic in a leaking ship.
John
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Ann In the UK
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Hi John and Alan,
Interesting. I wonder how many Captains there were sailing out of Liverpool at that time. The original Master of the the one who grounded her off the south coast and was subsequently suspended, was Captain (born Greenock, c1844. I have his Master's number if you can make a connection)
There are other similarities too. According to Lloyds, the vessel was last heard of as she passed Holyhead.
Regards to both,
Ann
Interesting. I wonder how many Captains there were sailing out of Liverpool at that time. The original Master of the the one who grounded her off the south coast and was subsequently suspended, was Captain (born Greenock, c1844. I have his Master's number if you can make a connection)
There are other similarities too. According to Lloyds, the vessel was last heard of as she passed Holyhead.
Regards to both,
Ann