 |
|
Official Number
54544 |
|
|
|
Official Number
54544 |
The Clara was a barque, built in 1866 by Duncan at Garmouth. She was bought new by James Fisher of Barrow and was owned by him until her sale in 1882 to W.Woodside of Lancaster.
On the 15th June 1870 the Barrow Times reported that the Clara had loaded a cargo of steel rails from the Barrow Haematite Co. and was bound for New York.
The following report appeared in the Barrow Times, 15th October 1870:
The barque ‘Clara’ of Barrow in an Atlantic HurricaneNote: The position is about 50 nm S of Nantucket Island, and the ship was probably a day or so out of New York.The following is an extract from the log of the barque ‘Clara’ showing the fearful character of the storm she encountered in the Atlantic, and which she fortunately survived, owing to the exertions of her captain, officers and crew - Sept 3rd 1870:
1pm - commenced with a strong gale and very heavy rain, furled the foresail and foretopmast stay sail and hove the ship to under close reefed topsails;
2pm - gale still increasing, furled the foretopsail;
4pm - blowing a hurricane with heavy rain and heavy sea running, the ship laying on her beam ends, washing away bulwarks and everything moveable from the decks.
5pm - gale still increasing, forced to cut away the maintop-gallant mast and foretop mast for safety of ship, cargo and lives;
5.30pm - gale still increasing, forced to let fly maintop sail sheets to ease the ship, and it was blown to pieces, set the mizen staysail to try and keep the ship to sea and wind, but before it was set it also went to pieces, loosed the spanker, but before it was set it also went to pieces, got a new gaff topsail sent down and bent it on to the mizenmast to keep the ship head to wind and sea;
6pm - and still blowing terrific, ship still lying on her side, all hands employed cutting away the wreck;
6.30pm - the wreck being clear of the ships side, carried away jib-boom and sprung the bowsprit, all hands to the pumps and it took 2 hours pumping before she could be made to suck, the ship labouring very heavily and carrying away much of the bulwarks;
8pm - gale at its height;
10pm - gale decreasing a little, got the mizen topmast staysail sent down and got it set;
midnight - gale decreasing fast and the sea going down. wind went from ENE to NNW lat 40º2 N long 70º W
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sources :
|
|
|
|