FELIS
FELIS
Years Active: 1866-1883
Vessel Type: 2-masted wooden Schooner
Schooner
Nationality: Falkland Islands
Presumed sunk sometime in 1883, location and cause unknown.
Main Use:
Coasting and Settlement support
Years Active:
1866-1883
Power:
Sail
Built:
<1866
Size:
36.075 Gross and Net tons
16.00 x 4.65 x 1.42 metres
(length, breadth, depth) metres
Design/Build:
Main Use: Coasting and Settlement support
Built: <1866
Power: Sail
Size: 36.075 Gross and Net tons
Dimensions: 16.00 x 4.65 x 1.42 metres
It is assumed the FELIS sank in 1883 because when the vessel’s Official Registration was cancelled the sole entry reads “Lost in 1883”. No clues as to location or cause. The FELIS’s claim to fame is revealed in a book by Frederick C. Matthews, “American Merchant Ships”, regarded as a classic account of the golden age of sail: “Captain Henry Libby, in the TRIUMPHANT in 1877, fell in with the very small schooner FELIS, when off Cape St. John. The schooner was flying distress signals and when the TRIUMPHANT’s boat was sent to her, it was found that she belonged to Port Stanley, where she was bound, with seven passengers, mostly women and children. FELIS, 21 days at sea, blown off her course, lost her principal sails, was leaking badly, besides being entirely out of fresh water and provisions. One woman passenger had jumped overboard and drowned. The Board of Trade conveyed the thanks of the Falklands Government to Captain Libby who was awarded a binocular glass for his services.”
It is assumed the FELIS sank in 1883 because when the vessel’s Official Registration was cancelled the sole entry reads “Lost in 1883”. No clues as to location or cause. The FELIS’s claim to fame is revealed in a book by Frederick C. Matthews, “American Merchant Ships”, regarded as a classic account of the golden age of sail: “Captain Henry Libby, in the TRIUMPHANT in 1877, fell in with the very small schooner FELIS, when off Cape St. John. The schooner was flying distress signals and when the TRIUMPHANT’s boat was sent to her, it was found that she belonged to Port Stanley, where she was bound, with seven passengers, mostly women and children. FELIS, 21 days at sea, blown off her course, lost her principal sails, was leaking badly, besides being entirely out of fresh water and provisions. One woman passenger had jumped overboard and drowned. The Board of Trade conveyed the thanks of the Falklands Government to Captain Libby who was awarded a binocular glass for his services.”
