Alpha

Official Number 14603

The Alpha was built by Charles Lamport at Workington in 1851, for Thomas Ainsworth, a Cumberland coal merchant. She was steam-powered and her hull was constructed of wood before the mainmast, and of iron behind. She was an unsuccessful experiment, and her engines were replaced twice, the second time by Alfred Holt, founder of the Blue Funnel Line. In this period the Alpha was commanded by Capt.Isaac Middleton, of Maryport. The Alpha first appeared in Lloyd's Register in 1856, by which time her engines had been removed and she was a simple schooner. She was required to be surveyed annually, but nevertheless was sailing to the Mediterranean. The Alpha had a long career despite her unusual construction.

The Liverpool Mercury, 21st September 1891;

" ATTEMPTED MURDER AT WHITEHAVEN - On Saturday morning an Austrian seaman named Angelo Lazerio, belonging to the schooner Alpha, of Whitehaven, was found lying in a pool of blood in that town, stabbed in the neck, and his head battered in with an iron bar. A negro on the same vessel, named Prince Lord Thomson, belonging to Texas, is accused of the deed. He sprang overboard and escaped for a time, but was captured in the evening, after an exciting chase. Lazerio was taken to the infirmary, and lies there in a critical condition."

The Alpha was still listed in Lloyd's Register in 1900, owned by W.R.Kelly and registered at Whitehaven.

Sources :

1. “Imitations of God’s Own Works: Making Trustworthy the Ocean Steamship”, by Smith, C., Higginson, I., & Wolstenholme, P., in History of Science, vol.41, p.379-426.
2. An advertisement in the Liverpool Mercury, Friday, 23rd June 1854 refers to the "screw-steamer Alpha, Capt.W.F.Middleton", sailing in the coal trade between Whitehaven and Cardiff.
   
3. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1856-7: Alpha, schooner, 158 tons, built at Workington in 1851, owned by J.Peile, registered at Workington, master Capt.T.Moore, voyage Liverpool - Mediterranean - annotated "stern part iron, part wood, subject to annual survey".
   
4. Mercantile Navy List 1857: Alpha, 158 tons, official no.14603, signal letters LNTK, registered at Workington - not listed as a steam-powered vessel.
   
5. Clayton's Register of Shipping 1865: Alpha, barque, 161 tons, built 1851, registered at Workington, owned by J.Reile (sic), master Capt.J.Cane.
6. Mercantile Navy List 1867: Alpha, 161 tons, official no.14603, signal letters LNTK, registered at Workington, owned by Joseph Peile, sen., of Workington.
   
7. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1870-1: Alpha, brig, 158 tons, built at Workington in 1851, owned by J.Peile, registered at Workington,  masters Capts.J.Halloway & J.Williams.
   
8. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1881-2: Alpha, brig, 158 tons, built at Workington in 1851, official no.14603, signal letters LNTK, owned by W.R.Kelly, registered at Whitehaven, master named as Capt.J.Fisher.
9. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1893-4: Alpha, wood brigantine, 151 tons, built at Workington by C.Lamport in 1851, official no.14603, signal letters LNTK, owned by W.R.Kelly, registered at Whitehaven.
10. In the Times report of the attempted murder, the Alpha is described as a brigantine (The Times, 29th Sept.1891, page 4). Prince Lord Thompson was convicted and sent to Durham Prison, where he was photographed on the 30th December 1891 (Ref No. P/ 14/6(81) at Durham County Record Office).
    
11. Mercantile Navy List 1900: Alpha, brigantine, 123 tons, built at Workington in 1851, official no.14603, signal letters LNTK, registered at Whitehaven, managing owner Wiliam R.Kelly, of Douglas, Isle of Man.
12. Register closed in 1901 (The National Archives, ref. BT 110/93/23).

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