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Official Number
70978 |
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Official Number
70978 |
The Cassiope was a ship built in July 1875 by the Whitehaven Ship Building Company. In 1883 she carried the first elephant to Australia !
From the Cumberland Pacquet and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser, 6th July, 1875, page 2 ;
" SHIPLAUNCH AT WHITEHAVEN - On Saturday last No.18 on the books of the Whitehaven Shipbuilding Company was launched from the company's premises, the christening ceremony being performed by Mrs.Heap, daughter of Mr.Joseph Heap, of the firm of Messrs.Heap and Sons, Liverpool, for whom the vessel has been built. This latest edition to the fast increasing fleet of iron ships launched at Whitehaven is named the Cassiope. Her dimensions, &c., are :- Length, 240 feet; moulded breadth, 39 3/4 feet; depth, 24 feet; register tonnage, about 1,550 tons. She is classed in the double A class at Lloyd's, and is as fine specimen of a sailing ship - combining strength with carrying capacity - as has been turned out by the same builders. After leaving the ways the Cassiope was taken in tow by the Prince of Wales, and berthed alongside the Sugar Tongue, where she will be 'finished'and then leave for the Mersey. From Liverpool she will proceed to Melbourne with general cargo, thence to Calcutta with horses, and home with grain. The Cassiope is sister ship to the Parthenope, which was built for the same owners, and which left Liverpool about a month ago."
The Cassiope was believed lost with all hands in a cyclone in March 1884, whilst carrying a rice cargo from Rangoon to London (see Source 5). She left Rangoon with a cargo of rice on the 23rd February 1884, bound for Falmouth or Queenstown for orders, and after being posted overdue was listed as "missing" at Lloyds on the 15th October 1884 (see Source 6). Her master was Capt.Henry Lambert (see Source 7).
The Argus newspaper, Monday, 5th March 1883, p4.Shipping Lists
Cassiope arrived 5 / 3 / 1883 - schooner 1559 tons
Captain - William Wither sailed from Calcutta on 31st Dec. 1882
Passengers -: Cabins - Mrs. Wither, Miss Wither, Mrs. Hodges, Misses Minnie & Loretta Hodges, and three in steerage.
Jas. Henty & Co. - Agents
Cargo - 1778 chts., 6430 half chts., 141 quarter chts., 111 boxes, 9502 bags rice, 1200 bls. Wool pack, 500 bls. Corn sacks, 303 bls. Gunnies, 332 bls. Potato bags, 269 bags coir yams, 109 bls. Fibre, 325 bls. Jute, 341 bags myrabolan, 125 bls. Cutch, 135 bags linseed, 40 pkts gambier, 35 chts shellac, 10 chts button lace, 68 cases chutney, 25 cases condiments, 19 cases taraminds, 1 case whips, 1 package.
The Argus newspaper, 5th March 1883." The iron clipper ship, the Cassiope, has completed her round voyage hence to Madrid and Calcutta with horses and back with rice, jute and tea. The tea is the largest shipment which has been brought here in one bottom. The Cassiope left here in October last and has had a fair runup. The trip was also successful, only nine of the horses having been lost.
On the return voyage the Cassiope was less fortunate in the matter of winds and weather, especially at the commencement and the close. Captain Withers reports leaving Sand Heads at 10pm on December 31st. The ship was becalmed soon after however and was in sight of the eastern channel lightship for three days. Light easterly winds and calms were met with all the way to the equator which was crossed on 13th January - longitude 93 E. The wind freshed south to south-east until reaching 30 S. For the five degrees of southing the winds were light from the north-east and variable and then a gale from the south-east was experienced for two days - Feb. 7th & 8th. There was a continuance of light south-easterly winds afterwards until Feb. 17th and south-west winds from that date to Feb. 20th. The winds were subsequently light from the south-east and sou’south-east until making Cape Otway on Feb. 27th. At 6:00 pm next day just as the pilot, Mr Draper, was taken on board the wind came away suddenly from the south-west as if it had been shot through a funnel and it was with the utmost difficulty that the pilot schooner’s boat got back.
The ship at the time was under lower fore and maintopsail and foretopmast staysail. At 10:00 am she was struck by a terrific gust which blew the maintopsail and the foretopmast staysails to ribbons. The ship was almost overborne by the sheer pressure of the winds and lay over with the rail under water. The ship was blown away through the straits to within 30 miles of Wilson’s Promentory and 39 miles off Curtis Island. The wind raged with hurricane violence until midnight of Feb. 28th when it moderated to a fresh gale at south-west, the ship at the time standing to the southward. By the gale taking off in time the Cassiope was able to reach the heads on Saturday . On deck the Cassiope has some animals for The Acclimatisation Society. The ship is in first class order. Captain Withers claims no notice was taken of his signals off Cape Otway, although he was close in and kept them flying for a couple of hours. He also signalled a steamer from Launceston in the straits but no mention was made in her report of the circumstances."
The Age newspaper, Monday 5th March 1883." The ship Cassiope which arrived yesterday morning from Calcutta, has brought out a number of animals at the insistance of the Acclimatization Society of Victoria. Amongst these are an elephant about six years old and between six and seven feet in height, a dozen small monkeys and nine mongoose out of a total of sixteen which were shipped, the remainder having died on the way. The survivors seem to be in a perfectly healthy condition."
The Daily Telegraph newspaper , 5th March 1883" The ship Cassiope which arrived in the bay yesterday morning from Calcutta brought a number of animals for the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria. There were nine species of mongoose out of the sixteen that were shipped, the remainder having died on the passage. There is also an elephant on board. The animal is only six years of age but between six and seven feet in height. It is described by its caretaker as a most playful creature and perfectly tame . Twelve small monkeys complete her collection. "
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