Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

British Paddle Driven Packet Steamer, 1850

Monument Types

• WRECK (Post Medieval - 1850 AD to 1850 AD)

Full description

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This paddle driven packet steamer left Cork on 27-MAR-1850, touching at Plymouth, where she landed horses and cattle, taking on board 12 passengers. On Saturday evening 30-MAR she was seen from the shore steaming up Channel in very heavy weather. At about 7pm she was sighted ashore on the Tongue Sand, firing signals of distress in rapid succession. The pilot that reported her stranding, Charles Gillman, stated that he was bringing a barque into Gravesend and that the sea was so rough it was not possible for them to render any assistance. The barque also sent up rockets, hoping to attract attention from the shore, but in thick weather these were not seen. The gale did not abate until afternoon on Monday, by which time the packet had broken in two and been lost with all hands. This shipwreck caused the Margate boatmen to place an order with J Samuel White of Cowes, for their first lifeboat which was named HANNAH AND ANGELA. Year Built: Circa 1840 Engine HP: 140 Propulsion: Paddle driven, 2 cylinder compound engine Owner: Dublin Steam Packet Co Master: J Batty Crew: 24 Crew Lost: 24 Date of Loss Qualifier: A (1) " From her position on the sand, divers ascertained that both her boilers had large holes in them as if they had exploded. It is supposed that the quarter of the vessel was blown out and the Captain ran her upon the sand as a last resource". The position of the wreck is given as 1 mile from the Tongue Sand lightship. The loss of the ship occurred in gale force winds, SE force 9, weather cloudy. All 206 passengers and crew on board are given as lost. This source gives the number of crew as 25. The vessel was described by Lloyds as appearing "to be old and defective." (2) Additional sources cited in United Kingdom Shipwreck Index: The Sound of Maroons, Biggs 1977 p20; To The Bottom of The Sea, Protasio 1990 p213; DOD.1990 Ed. p600

<1> United Kingdom shipwreck index, Page Nos. N/a (Bibliographic reference). SKE6340.

<2> Board of Trade Casualty Returns, 1850, Page Nos. N/a (Bibliographic reference). SKE6357.

Sources and further reading