Daily Event for April 28, 2015

The 232' long Smyrna was built at Walter Hood & Company in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1876 for the Aberdeen White Star Line. An iron clipper of 1,372 tons she was mostly used in the wool trade between London and Sydney, Australia. She also carried emigrants to Australia and seems to have been a somewhat popular ship for the long journey with a capacity of over 400 passengers.

On April 28, 1888 Smyrna was outbound to Sydney in the English Channel, sailing through fog about 21 miles south by west of Chale, Isle of Wight. At the same spot the steamer Moto was inbound for Newcastle when the ships met. Between 10 and 11 a.m. Capt. Digman of the Moto sighted the Smyrna under full sail off his port bow. He reversed his engines and came almost to a dead stop in about four minutes, but it was not soon enough. Smyrna scraped against the ships port bow causing Moto to strike her near the main rigging. The schooner sank within a few short minutes.

Digman launched three boats and moved his ship toward the spot where Smyrna had gone down and began to pick up survivors. Nineteen men were recovered from the water, but twelve had perished, including the master and the pilot.

Digman remained in the area searching for survivors, but no more were seen or heard so a little more than an hour later Digman set course for Southampton. His bows were stove in, but the watertight bulkhead kept the ship afloat. Moto arrived at port later that morning without further incident.
© 2015 Michael W. Pocock
MaritimeQuest.com



Roll of Remembrance
In memory of those who lost their lives in
Smyrna
"As long as we embrace them in our memory, their spirit will always be with us"

Name
Rate
Notes
Alexander, William
Carpenter
Bain
Able Seaman
Colby, Golditt
Civilian
Pilot
Fowler
3rd Mate
Hamblin
Able Seaman
Hare
Cook
Horton
Able Seaman
Nelson
Able Seaman
Short
Able Seaman
Stirling
Able Seaman
Taylor, Thomas
Master
Turner
Able Seaman


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