searching for a ship

[elizasutton]

Hi,
 My great great grandfather John Cattel Morton  1843-1886 was in the Merchant navy. He died at sea aboard the 'SS Tangier' Pettapollium, Madras, India. I found his death in the GRO deaths at sea and in the local paper both state he died in India yet the national probate calender has his death in Ipswich.
I have searched high and low for some information on this ship to no avail, I belive there was an article in the London Illustrated news about the explosion on board the ship in which he - The captain  and a few crew mates died but have been unable to find this paper on line, I have searched through 'the Times' but found nothing.
 I would very much like to find a picture of this ship and maybe some information about the voyage.
any hints as to where I should look now would be much appreciated,
Thanks, Liz

[esdel]

Hi Liz

The site Mighty Seas is an excellent one (more than 1000 ships).
Find it by Google search.
Lots of other sites there too.
It would help if you guessed where the ship was built, or registered
Good luck
esdel

[elizasutton]

thanks for that, shall have a look.
He lived in ipswich so I am guessing that is where the ship was from, although it is only a guess.
I know what happened to the ship after it was wrecked:

The Straits Times: 21 may 1886 The British India Steam Navigation Company ltd appear to have purchases in Calcutta for $500 the S.S Tangier which was wrecked in December last off Puthypakum near covelong a few miles south of madras

although this does contradict his recorded death date of january 1886

[esdel]

The death was recorded in Ipswich only after the news trickled back home?

[blodwen]

Not sure if this helps much, have a look at this page:

http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/bisn.html

It gives a bit of information about the voyages that these ships did.

Viv

If you scroll down to Umballa, youwill see that is was previously the SS Tangier.

[seaweed]

TANGIER official number 81645
Launched11/5/1880 completed June 1880
Built by Raylton Dixon and Co Middlsborugh yard number 169
For Angier Bros London
Home port London
269.7 ft X 35.2 X 24.5 1908 tons
Sold to British India SN co. 1886 renamed UMBALLA
Broken up in Bombay 11/3/1896

She left Madras late December 1885 for Coconada and London
She beached at Covelong, Coromandel Coast  on 1/1/1886. Her cargo was removed and after several unsuccesful attempts to repair her in situ she was towed to Calcutta, arriving April 1886.

Her crew agreement for 1886 which should also have details for 1885 is available from the Memorial University of Newfoundland search via official number.

http://www.mun.ca/mha/holdings/searchcombinedcrews.php

This may tell you of his demise it should also tell you. Name, age, where born, last known address, last ship, NOK, where signed on/off and when, and wages accrued.


Her registration papers are in TNA, these should give information on her change of ownership and any modifications she underwent as the result of the alleged explosion on board.

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATID=-5566490&CATLN=7&Highlight=%2C81645&accessmethod=0

[elizasutton]

thanks everyone,

Seaweed, thats fantastic, lots of things to follow up now,
Your hard work and time is appreciated

Cheers!
Liz
 

[Dave Francis]

The Times, Wednesday, Mar 17, 1886; pg. 8; Issue 31709; col C

"Disasters at Sea"

"Among the passengers on board the P and O steamer Rosetta, which arrived in Plymouth Sound yesterday, were four of the crew of the steamship Tangier, of London, 1,908 tons register, which ran ashore off Madras in December last. The Tangier was bound from Madras for London, and shortly after leaving encountered very heavy weather. On December 18 the Tangier sighted a large foreign steamship of about 4,000 tones, named the [Caraplania?], ashore and signalling for assistance. The Tangier proceeded, and in attempting to tow her off damaged her rudder, and, becoming unmanageable, she was driven by the heavy sea on some rocks. She was subsequently got off but found to be so seriously damaged that she was run ashore on the beach. Her crew were then employed in repairing the ship, which was loaded with hides and caster oil seed, but the ship having leaked so freely the cargo got seriously damaged and in time the stench was abominable. Early in January the captain went into the hold with a European diver and a native for the purpose of examining the damage done, when they were suffocated by the fumes. The captain was subsequently buried on shore."

[elizasutton]

Dave Francis, I cannot thank you enough, that is wonderful, I guess I did not look hard enough.

Many thanks
Liz