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Whittington | Official Number
54537 |
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Whittington | Official Number
54537 |
The Whittington was a full-rigged ship built by the Lune Shipbuilding Company at Lancaster, launched in January 1866.
The Preston Guardian newspaper, Saturday, 27th January 1866:
" LAUNCH OF A VESSEL - The first vessel built in Lancaster for the recently formed Shipowners' Company was launched from the
yard of the Lune Shipbuilding Company on Saturday. The vessel, which is
intended for the merchant and passenger service, and which is about
2,000 tons burthen, was named the Whittington, the ceremony of
christening being performed by Mrs.Greene, wife of T.Greene, Esq., of
Whittington Hall, the late member for Lancaster. The launch was very
successful until the vessel had got fairly into the water, when, owing
to the strong wind which prevailed, she suddenly veered round, and got
aground almost close to the banks adjoining. She was, however, got off
on Sunday afternoon with very little difficulty. After the launch, a
dejeuner was provided by the owners; the guests numbered about 150. A
variety of toasts were drunk, including success to the Whittington. It
was incidentally stated that since the introduction of the Ship and
Waggon Building Companies into the town, employment has been found for
600 additional hands, and both companies were in a promising condition."
The Whittington was posted "overdue" at Lloyds in April 1880, having departed Philadelphia for Queenstown, Ireland, on the 12th December 1879. Details of the loss were discussed at a Court of Inquiry held at Westminster on the 24th July 1880. The Whittington was still owned by the Lancaster Shipowners Company (managing owner William Herron, 17, Tower Buildings, North Water Street, Liverpool) at the time of her loss. She left Philadelphia on the 9th December 1879 with a cargo of 39,401 bushels of Indian corn in bulk, 15,140 bushels of Indian corn in bags, plus 16 tons dunnage. She was never seen again after the pilot left her, and the Court concluded that she was lost "during the very violent and tempestuous weather which we know to have prevailed in the Atlantic during the months of November and December last". The Court examined a number of questions prior to reaching its decision. The vessel was considered to be in good and seaworthy condition, was not overloaded and had sufficient freeboard. Her crew consisted of 16 hands, only 8 of whom were rated as able seamen, and all of these being foreigners. The Court considered the general rule that vessels of 1,000 tons should have an average of 2 hands per 100 tons, meaning that the Whittington should have carried 20 crew, of whom 10 should have been A.B.'s. Nevertheless, the Court did not feel that this degree of undermanning would have contributed to her loss.
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