ALTO
ALTO
Years Active: 1826-1870
Vessel Type: 3-masted wooden Barque
Barque
Nationality: American
Wrecked after striking Jason West Cay, in pitch darkness, during an eclipse of the moon in July 1870.
Main Use:
Whaling
Years Active:
1826-1870
Power:
Sail
Built:
1826
Size:
236 Gross, 213 Net tons
(length, breadth, depth) metres
Design/Build:
Tiverton, Rhode Island, USA
Main Use: Whaling
Built: 1826
Power: Sail
Design/Build: Tiverton, Rhode Island, USA
Size: 236 Gross, 213 Net tons
News of the sinking of the ALTO came from the Cranmer missionary station on Kepple Island north of West Falkland on the 14th July 1870. A Mr J Lewis wrote: “We were much excited today, at 12:00, by the sight of boats under sail making for the station, they were four large whale boats.They proved to be from the Barque ALTO, a whaler, Captain White, of New Bedford, United States. Twenty-six hands all safe, returning home from a thirty-seven-month cruise, having sent home 600 barrels of sperm oil, and having on board when wrecked 475 barrels of whale and 500 of sperm oil.” Mr Lewis also gave details of how the ALTON ran aground on 12th July at Jason West Cay, about 12 miles to the West of Steeple Jason: “They struck at about 18:00 during an eclipse of the moon; they happily were enabled to take to the boats and pulled for Steeple Jason then Carcass Island. They were directed to Cranmer Station.”The ALTO’s crew left Keppel Island on the 18th July and arrived safely in Stanley on the 23rd.
News of the sinking of the ALTO came from the Cranmer missionary station on Kepple Island north of West Falkland on the 14th July 1870. A Mr J Lewis wrote: “We were much excited today, at 12:00, by the sight of boats under sail making for the station, they were four large whale boats.They proved to be from the Barque ALTO, a whaler, Captain White, of New Bedford, United States. Twenty-six hands all safe, returning home from a thirty-seven-month cruise, having sent home 600 barrels of sperm oil, and having on board when wrecked 475 barrels of whale and 500 of sperm oil.” Mr Lewis also gave details of how the ALTON ran aground on 12th July at Jason West Cay, about 12 miles to the West of Steeple Jason: “They struck at about 18:00 during an eclipse of the moon; they happily were enabled to take to the boats and pulled for Steeple Jason then Carcass Island. They were directed to Cranmer Station.”The ALTO’s crew left Keppel Island on the 18th July and arrived safely in Stanley on the 23rd.
