Aigburth
Official Number
86222

Like the Grassendale and Garston, the Aigburth was built by R.Williamson & Son at Workington for the Liverpool firm of R.W.Leyland & Co. She was launched in October 1882 and was an iron full-rigged ship, equipped with royals over single topgallant and double top-sails.

The Aigburth wrecked on an uncharted reef off Rook Island, New Guinea, on the 2nd August 1904. She was bound from Newcastle, Australia to Sourabaya, island of Java, her master being Capt. John Reid. The crew abandoned ship in four boats, three of which eventually reached safety. The fourth boat was lost, with the loss of the second mate and seven others (from Source 1, but see Source 2 for contradictions).
 

Name
Year Built
Gross Tons
Length (feet)
Breadth (feet)
Depth (feet)
Masts
Figurehead
Stern
Lloyd's Classn.
Aigburth
1882
1838 
266.7 
39.0 
23.6 
 
 
 

Sources :

  1. Maritime History Virtual Archives, citing from "Champion of Sail - R.W. Leyland and his Shipping Line" by David Walker, pub. Conway Maritime Press, London, 1986.
  2. The Times newspaper, 3rd August, 16th August and 22nd August, 1904 - gives voyage as Newcastle to Samarang, and states that the master and seven men were brought to Brisbane by the steamer Prinz Sigismund, and that 16 seamen were picked up by the German warship Moewe and the New Guinea Government steamer Seestern, and that this accounted for the whole of the crew.
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