ARETHUSA
ARETHUSA
Years Active: 1869-1889
Vessel Type: 3-masted full-rigged Ship
Full-rigged
Nationality: English
Presumed sunk after her crew abandoned ship near the Falkland Islands after her cargo of coal caught fire in 1889. Four would die from frostbite.
Main Use:
Cargo
Years Active:
1869-1889
Power:
Sail
Built:
1869
Size:
1,339 Gross, 1,272 Net tons
69.34 x 10.94 x 6.80 metres
(length, breadth, depth) metres
Design/Build:
Robert Steele & Co. at Cartsburn Yard, Greenock, Scotland
Main Use: Cargo
Built: 1869
Power: Sail
Design/Build: Robert Steele & Co. at Cartsburn Yard, Greenock, Scotland
Size: 1,339 Gross, 1,272 Net tons
Dimensions: 69.34 x 10.94 x 6.80 metres
On 29th September 1889, while about 100 miles east of Beauchene Island, the southernmost of the Falkland Islands, the fully-rigged ARETHUSA’s cargo of coals caught fire. Captain Hamilton and his crew of 22 tried to fight the fire, before taking to two lifeboats; one commanded by the captain and other by the First Mate. The weather turned “very dirty” and the boats lost touch. Seven days later the captain’s boat arrived in Stanley harbour. All in it had suffered frostbite. Captain Hamilton died two days later and an apprentice had his feet amputated. The second lifeboat was picked up hundreds of miles away, 10 days after the fire. It had run out of water after five days at sea. The cook lay dead in the bottom of the boat and the mate, and a boy, were in “a dying condition”. The mate died the following night and the boy two days later. Five of the remaining ARETHUSA crew were in hospital for several weeks.
On 29th September 1889, while about 100 miles east of Beauchene Island, the southernmost of the Falkland Islands, the fully-rigged ARETHUSA’s cargo of coals caught fire. Captain Hamilton and his crew of 22 tried to fight the fire, before taking to two lifeboats; one commanded by the captain and other by the First Mate. The weather turned “very dirty” and the boats lost touch. Seven days later the captain’s boat arrived in Stanley harbour. All in it had suffered frostbite. Captain Hamilton died two days later and an apprentice had his feet amputated. The second lifeboat was picked up hundreds of miles away, 10 days after the fire. It had run out of water after five days at sea. The cook lay dead in the bottom of the boat and the mate, and a boy, were in “a dying condition”. The mate died the following night and the boy two days later. Five of the remaining ARETHUSA crew were in hospital for several weeks.
