Daily Event for April 1


A collision off Cape Finisterre, Spain claimed the lives of 59 people on April 1, 1882 when the Spanish steamer
Yrurac Bat rammed and sunk the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company's ship Douro. Douro was on the final leg
of her voyage from Brazil to Southampton and under the control of the 1st officer who did not see the lights
of the Spanish ship until it was too late. Yrurac Bat rammed Douro amidships on the starboard side and it was
clear to the crew she would soon sink.

Seven lifeboats were launched with 112 people, but Douro sank within 30 minuets after the collision taking
Captain E. C. Kemp and twenty-two others, including most of the ship's officers, to the bottom. Within the same
30 minuets the Yrurac Bat also sank with thirty-six still on board, her thirty-two survivors and the one hundred
and twelve from the Douro were picked up by the Hidalgo (possibly of the Wilson Line) shortly after the
disaster.
© 2008 Michael W. Pocock
MaritimeQuest.com




2005 Daily Event
2007 Daily Event