Bellaport

Official Number 79121

The iron barque Bellaport was built at the Harrington shipyard of R.Williamson & Son, and was launched in July 1878. She was one of their final vessels, being succeeded only by the Oakhurst, Oweenee and the paddle tug Florence. She was owned by Thomas Williamson and was registered at Workington.

The barque Bellaport, of Workington, was wrecked on rocks at the mouth of the bay at Iquique, Chile, on the 12th August 1889. She had departed that day, loaded with nitrate and bound for Rotterdam under the command of Capt.Stephens. Becalmed before she could clear the bay, she drifted onto rocks and sank. Boats from the East Lothian were sent and rescued fifteen of twenty crew. Two apprentices (Booker and Polney), the German cook (Arnholy) and two seamen, a German and a Norwegian, who both tried to swim to shore, were lost. Three of the saved apprentices (Watson, Walker and Seymour) and the steward, George Stephens, were later brought home to Plymouth by the steamship Aconcagua. The master of the East Lothian, Capt.W.Ross, was awarded a Sea Gallantry Medal (in bronze) for his part in the rescue.

Sources :

1. Not listed in "Shipbuilding at Workington - a Checklist" by Harry Fancy, pub. Whitehaven Museum (1985). Possibly launched under another name, like the Oweenee?
2. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1878-9 (Supplement): Bellaport, iron barque, 1065 grt, built by Williamson at Harrington in July 1878, owned by T.Williamson, registered at Workington, master Capt.E.G.Tate.
3. Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1889-90: Bellaport, iron barque, 1065 grt, built by Williamson at Harrington in July 1878, official no.79121, signal letters RTSD, owned by T.Williamson, registered at Workington, master Capt.C.Stephens - annotated "Lost".
   
4. Wreck described in the Times newspaper, Tuesday, 15th October, 1889, page 10.

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