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Mark Baber
Moderator
Username: mab
Post Number: 3491
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Saturday, June 6, 2009 - 12:53 am: | 
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MAB Note: Royal Standard was not a White Star ship in the same sense as the other ships discussed in this subtopic. She belonged to a White Star Line which preceded the creation of Thomas Ismay's Oceanic Steam Navigation Co. in 1869; in 1864 that White Star Line was operated by H. T. Wilson & Chambers, a partnership consisting of Henry Threlfall Wilson and brother-in-law James Chambers. (Wilson was a member of all three partnerships that operated the pre-Ismay White Star Line: Pilkington & Wilson, Wilson & Chambers and Wilson & Cunningham.) When this last went into liquidation in 1868, Ismay purchased its trade name and house flag for £1,000. This first White Star Line, then, although a different entity, was the source of the name of the Ismay Line and its familiar burgee; its history is discussed to some degree or other in virtually every history of White Star; and there's an entire chapter of Eaton & Haas' Falling Star devoted to Royal Standard's maiden voyage. Thus, this article.
The Times, 6 June 1864
COLLISION WITH AN ICEBERG---The screw steamer Royal Standard sailed from
Melbourne on the 21st of March for Liverpool, under the command of
Captain T. H. Dowell (her former commander, AlIen, having died on the
outward passage), with a large number of passengers, a full cargo of
wool, and upwards of 20,000oz. of gold. From the extract of the log of
the Royal Standard it will be seen that on the morning of the 4th of
April, in lat. 54 S., long. 105 27 W., the ship suddenly entered a dense
fog, and immediately afterwards came in collision with a very large
iceberg. The ship's safety is mainly owing, under Divine Providence, to
her great strength (being constructed of iron) and to the fact of her
having auxiliary steam power. Being completely disabled by the loss of
her spars, &c., the screw was lowered, and the vessel gradually steamed
clear of the ice:---"Left Melbourne for Liverpool March 21, and, though
experiencing light and variable winds, made good progress for the first
fortnight, the machinery when required working admirably. On the morning
of the 4th of April, at 11a.m., in lat. 54 40 S., Ion. 145 27 W., with
screw triced up, royals and mizentopgallant sail stowed, the ship
suddenly ran into a dense fog, at the same moment the lookout sung out,
'Broken water ahead !' The next moment saw a large iceberg upwards of
600 feet high close under the starboard bow. We did all that human power
could to prevent a collision but the ship was too close on it to clear
it altogether. The helm was immediately put hard a starboard, called all
hands and braced the yards sharp up, bringing the ship parallel with the
berg on its weather side. The ship would not lay high enough to clear
the berg; to stay her was impossible; the sea gradually settled her down
upon it, and as the sea on the port side knocked her against the berg,
so the rebound of the sea knocked her hull away from it by going under
her bottom, thus bringing the yards in contact with the berg. Before
they broke the yards struck the berg several times, bringing down large
masses of ice on the deck. At last the main and mizentop mast snapped at
the cap, bringing down all the yards, masts, and gear belonging to them
and breaking the truss-heads of the lower yards; the ship forging
slightly ahead the foretopgallantmast, jibboom, foretopsailyards,
stunsailboom then went, and all their gear, damaging all the sails more
or less. The resistance having gone from aft brought the ship's upper
works into contact with the berg, smashing starboard, lifeboat, and
davits carrying away bumkin, stove in starboard quarter in several
places, smashing in the captain's room, seriously damaging the ship's
chronometers and instruments, lifting the poopdeck beams a foot, and
damaging the entire cabin. Another heavy crash split one upper plate
amidships At the moment destruction seemed inevitable; but as the ship
slowly forged ahead under her main and fore sails, hope still remained.
At last the end of the berg came in view, and we forged clear.
Immediately ordered the pump to be sounded in all the compartments, and
found that the ship was not making any water; ordered steam up and the
screw to be lowered, which was done in less than three-quarters of an
hour. The berg appeared entirely enveloped in a dense fog and about 600
feet high; in its immediate vicinity and surrounding the ship were
several others, apparently of equal size and magnitude. Proceeded under
steam and jury-rig, and arrived at Rio de Janeiro on the 9th of May."
The Royal Standard will only wait to take a fresh supply of coal there,
and would leave again for Liverpool on the 12th of May. The rumour of
the Royal Standard being overdue or of their [sic] being any anxiety
about her safety is entirely unfounded.-Liverpool Paper.
-30-
MAB
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OceanicSteamNavigationCo/
http://www.greatships.net/
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Mark Baber
Moderator
Username: mab
Post Number: 3691
Registered: 12-2000
| | Posted on Thursday, October 15, 2009 - 1:10 am: |
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MAB Notes: 1. See the note above. 2. This ad relates to the same trip as the story immediately above, although the sailing date actually turned out to be 23 November.
The Times, 15 October 1864
AUSTRALIA---The WHITE STAR STEAM and SAILING CLIPPERS---Packet of the
20th November, the auxiliary screw steamer ROYAL STANDARD, 1,963 tons
register, 500-horse power indicated, Capt. DOWELL. This magnificent steamer
was built in 1863 expressly for the Australian passenger trade in connexion
with this line, she combines in an eminent degree the elements of great
sailing speed with large auxiliary steam power, and is one of the handsomest
and most completely equipped steamers afloat. The Royal Standard has now
three spacious and handsome saloons, including ladies' boudoir, all
elegantly furnished and provided with piano, library, baths & c.; the state
rooms in poop and main deck are roomy, with unusually large ports for light
and ventilation. A cow is carried for the use of saloon passengers, who are
also found with linen, bedding, and every necessary for the voyage. Has very
superior accommodations for second cabin, intermediate and steerage
passengers. For terms of freight and passage apply to the owners, H. T.
Wilson and Chambers, 21, Water-street, Liverpool; or to Wilson, Bilbrough,
and Co., 27, Leadenhall-street, London.
-30-
MAB
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OceanicSteamNavigationCo/
http://www.greatships.net/
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