SS Lion (1867)

SS Lion was the first wooden-wall steam ship in Newfoundland and Labrador, constructed in 1866. The ship's main purpose was to head back and forth within the sealing industry from the ice of Labrador to St. John's, Newfoundland. On January 6, 1882 the ship left St. John's to prepare for the upcoming seal hunt. Under the command of Captain Patrick Fowlow of Trinity, Newfoundland, the ship started to make its way to Trinity. Carrying passengers and a load of coal, the ship was soon lost in the middle of the night, near Baccalieu Tickle, despite fair weather conditions. Most believe the ship exploded due to insufficient water in the boilers. The loss claimed the lives of all passengers, crew and captain. All that was found was a small amount of debris and the body of a young women from St. John's.[1] [2] [3]

History
Name: Lion
Owner: John Reddick
Operator: Walter Grieve & Co
Launched: Greenspond, Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland
Completed: 1866
In service: 1867–1882
Out of service: 6 January 1882
Fate: Lost
Status: sunk
General characteristics
Tonnage: 292 short tons (265 t)
Length: 140 ft (43 m)
Depth: 16 ft (4.9 m)
Decks: 2
Installed power: Steam/Sail
Capacity: 75 hp (56 kW)
Crew: 10

Flag

Lion flew a blue ensign with large white letters that read “No Confederation.”

Captains
  • Capt. Francis Ash
  • Capt. Alexander Graham (1870)
  • Capt. Patrick Fowlow (1882)

Information

In 1871, Lion brought home the crew of SS Wolf after that ship had been cut in two by an iceberg in Green Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador.

References
  1. Jarvis, Dale (23 April 2007). "Strange tales surround the loss of the SS Lion". The Telegram. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  2. http://www.newfoundlandshipwrecks.com/Lion/Documents/loss_of_the_ss_lion.htm
  3. http://www.newfoundlandshipwrecks.com/Lion/Documents/mysterious_loss_of_the_ss_lion.htm
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.