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Blengfell | Official Number
74512 |
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Blengfell | Official Number
74512 |
The Blengfell was an iron full-rigged ship built by the Whitehaven
Shipbuilding Company at Whitehaven in March 1876. She was registered at
Liverpool and was owned by J.Edgar & Co. of Liverpool. The Blengfell made her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Sydney, departing on the 6th July and arriving on the 5th October.
In October 1878 and in January 1881 the Blengfell, Capt.Peter McCulloch, arrived at Sydney from Liverpool.
The Manchester Guardian, 19th December 1896, page 11;
" STRANGE AFFRAY AT SEA - The Melbourne Argus publishes the
following message from Brisbane, dated November 8: - A sensational affray
on the high seas is reported by the master of the ship Blengfell,
which arrived from New York this afternoon. During the voyage one of the
hands, named John Godfrey, an American negro, was taken ill, and from August
1 was unable to work. On August 15 the captain visited him, and inquired
as to the state of his health, the reply being that he was still ill and
in about the same condition. On the same evening the captain was called
out of his cabin, and on going into the saloon met two seamen, J.Silva
and H.Wicks, bleeding profusely from wounds. Upon questioning them they
declared that Godfrey had shot them. The captain states that he went on
deck with his revolver. He then heard Godfrey say, from some part of the
forecastle, "You'll shoot me, will you?" and at the same time a shot was
fired at him. He did not return the fire, but ordered everyone aft, whereupon
the second mate reported that Samuel Lewis, a seaman, was lying on deck
shot. This man died ten minutes later. As Godfrey refused to come up, a
lookout was set for him. An examination was then made of the injuries received
by Silva and Wicks, who were discovered to have several bullet wounds in
their body, though none of them were serious. They reported that they were
asleep in their bunks at night when Godfrey fired at them. At a later hour
further efforts were made by the master and the officers to capture Godfrey,
but without success. Several shots were fired by him, and one of them just
grazed the boatswain's cheek. Early next morning, August 16, the crew were
going forward with their revolvers when Godfrey walked out of the forecastle
into the open, and fired on them. Shots were exchanged, but without effect.
The ship Maria Hackgedd then hove in sight, and was signalled to
ask if the captain could let them have firearms, but he replied in the
negative. More shots were fired during the day, but no injury was done.
On the following day Godfrey was neither seen nor heard, and on the 18th
it was decided to go forward at all risks. A rush was made into the forecastle,
which, however, was empty. In Godfrey's bunk was found a written confession,
stating that he intended to shoot the two seamen, and asking that his effects
might be thrown overboard after him. He had evidently committed suicide
by jumping overboard."
The Blengfell was travelling from New York to London with a cargo variously described as naphtha or petrol when she was lost off North Foreland (English Channel, near Margate) on the 17th October 1898. The vessel caught fire, exploded and sank, and nine lives were lost, including that of Capt. J.Johnston.
The New York Times, 18th October 1898, page 1;
" NINE LIVES LOST AT SEA - The British Ship Blengfell, Carrying Naphtha
from New York, Completely Wrecked by Explosion. -
MARGATE, England, Oct.17.-The British ship Blengfell,
Capt.Johnson, from New York on Sept.19 for London, was destroyed by a sudden
fire off this place, early this morning. Nine of her crew, including the
Captain, his wife and child, the First and Second Mates, and a pilot, perished.
The survivors were landed here and at Dover.
The Blengfell was passing here, in tow, on her
way to London, at about 6.30 A.M., and was about four miles off the coast.
Suddenly she was enveloped in flames, and smoke poured from her hatchways.
Two lifeboats immediately put off to her assistance, but before they were
able to reach the burning vessel her masts fell, and she was burned to
the water's edge. Her hull eventually drifted upon the Goodwin Sands.
The Blengfell had a quantity of naphtha on board,
which smelled strongly during the voyage, especially aft, so much so that
the officers of the ship had to shift their quarters yesterday evening.
An explosion occurred just as the Captain of the Blengfell had engaged
the services of a tug, which saved the survivors. The vessel burned so
quickly that her crew had no time to lower the boats.
The Blengfell was an iron vessel, built at Whitehaven
in 1876. She registered 1,117 tons, hailed from Liverpool and was owned
by J.Edgar & Co. The Blengfell carried as cargo 329,300 gallons
of naphtha, shipped from here by the Standard Oil Company.
Balfour, Williamson & Co., agents for the vessel
in this city, said yesterday that they had received two dispatches. One
announced the destruction of the vessel, and the second that six of the
crew had been saved. The Captain had, besides his wife, two children with
him."
The Sea Gallantry Medal was awarded to the following crew of the tug Simla
for their part in rescuing survivors from the Blengfell : J.C. Hood,
master, F. Webb, mate, W. Baldock, engineer, G. Wells, W. Maltby, OS, S.
Perry, C. Jeffrey, F. Funnell, stokers, E. Cullis, cook.
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