Wasdale

Official Number
65921

The Wasdale was a full-rigged iron ship built in February 1872 by the Whitehaven Ship Building Company for the Dale Line. She left the Mersey on the 31st March, bound for Melbourne under the command of Capt.William Baillie, and carrying a mixed general cargo. She arrived at Melbourne on the 2nd July (93 day passage).

The Wasdale made a fast passage from Liverpool to Melbourne in 1875, leaving the Mersey on the 6th August, crossing the Line on 4th September and finally anchoring in Hobson's Bay on 20th October, a passage of 74 days. In 1876, under Capt. Baillie, she was prevented by weather from rounding Cape Horn and had to run east, making Australia via the Bass Straight in 136 days.

The Wasdale was sunk by collision off Cape Horn in 1877, without loss of life. She was under the command of Capt.Chellew, 65 days out from Liverpool bound for San Francisco.

The Times, Wednesday, 24th October 1877, page 9;

" COLLISION AT SEA - Advices have been received in Liverpool of the arrival at Valparaiso of the British barque Scythia, Captain Peter Simon, with part of the crew of the Liverpool ship Wasdale, which foundered after collision with the British barque Craigmullen. The collision occurred on the 21st of August, about noon, during fine weather, and the Wasdale remained afloat till the 22nd, when the wind freshened and she went down. All hands were saved. The captain, his wife, and two children, the first, second, and third officers, carpenter, sailmaker, steward, and helmsman proceeded home on board the Craigmullen, and the remainder of the crew were taken to Valparaiso by the Scythia and the Rosy Morn. The Craigmullen, which belongs to Messrs.W.Killey and Co., of Liverpool, was fallen in with by the Scythia on the 24th August, in lat.54 S., long.79W. "

The Wasdale was still owned by the Dale Line at the time of her loss. In 1881 a replacement Wasdale was built for them by the same shipbuilders at Whitehaven.

Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
Wasdale
1872
1284 
227.7 
36.3 
22.0 
 
 
100 years A1, Special Survey

Sources :

  1. First voyage reported in detail in the Argus newspaper, 3rd July 1872, together with full details of cargo.
  2. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1874-5: Wasdale, iron ship, 1284 grt, 1220 nrt, official number 65921, signal letters KVTC, built at Whitehaven in February 1872, owned by J.D.Newton, registered at Liverpool, master Capt.Baillie.
  3. The 'Cambrian' newspaper, published in Swansea, dated 14th September 1877, reports the wreck and names the master of the Wasdale as Captain Chellew - information provided by Jeff Coleman from the Cambrian Newspaper Online Index. Some other newspapers name the master as Capt.Blegg.
  4. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1877-8: Wasdale, iron ship, same details as 1874, except master Capt.Blegg.