Large Sailing Ship – Captain R. Nicholson. General Cargo. 15 miles S by W Anvil Point, Swanage. LARN sank following a collision with the CITY OF LUCKNOW of Glasgow. Refs. BOT: Wk Rtn. 1884 Appx Pt. I-VI p132 & Lloyd’s Register: 1883-4 No. 639(S)
lives were lost. The ships in collision were the Simla and the City of Lucknow. The Simla was a four-masted sailing ship of 2,300 tons, belonging to Messrs. Davitt and Moore, and was nine days out from London with a general cargo for Sydney. She was commanded by Captain Nicholson, and had a crew of about forty-five all told, and bad also on board two passengers. About ten minutes past eight on Friday night, being then ton miles W.S. W. off the Shambles Lightship. the captain, second officer, and pilot being on deck, as well as the usual watch, and having all her lights brightly burning, she sighted a large sailing vessel on her starboard beam. There was a strong wind blowing and a tolerably heavy son running. The City of Lucknow was a full rigged ship of 1,200 tons bound from Adelaide to London, and commanded by Captain Macdonald. The Simla burnt blue lights to warn the other ship to alter her course, and she did so, for her red port light was observed, and she then showed her green light; but afterwards the red light became visible.
A collision then appearing to be inevitable, Captain Nicholson ordered all hands on deck. The City of Lucknow struck the other ship abaft the starboard main rigging, starting two planks of her deck. She then rebounded, and came on a second time with such force as to carry away the two mainmasts. The falling wreckage smashed the whole of the six boats belonging to Captain Nicholson’s ship. The two vessels were together for about twenty minutes, and it was then reported that the Simla was sinking. the captain, the first, third, and fourth officers of which ship, and some of the crew, including eight apprentices, scrambling on board the City of Lucknow, which presently let slip her anchor chain, which had fouled the other vessel, and she cleared. The carpenter of the City of Lucknow reported seven inches of water in the hold, and some of the Simla’s crew took to the boats, and wore picked up about ton minutes
Two life boats were lowered from the City of Lucknow, and a number of men were told off in charge of them; but it was speedily evident that they could not live in such a sea. Rockets were fired and blue lights burned, which happily attracted the attention of the Guernsey. There were about twenty-three on board, including, it is believed, one of the two passengers, The boat hailed them to jump overboard by the stern, promising to pick them up; but declined to do this, and the crew of the boat for they their own safety, then went on board the Guernsey. Simla then had eight feet of water, which increased to ten in as many minutes, and as after a squall nothing more was seen of her it is feared she foundered. The twenty The three men of the Simla’s crew were saved, by a Greek steamer, and on Monday landed at Dunkirk. The City of Lucknow arrived in the East India Docks the same afternoon, after a perilous voyage, in which Beachy Head was skirted by only a few yards.
Day of Loss: 25
Month of Loss: 1
Year of Loss: 1884
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