Spartan

Completed January 1862; Official No. 43988; Code Letters TRGL.

Owners: Pile, Spence & Co, West Hartlepool (Fleming & Austinfriars, agents) (chartered by British Government to carry stores to troops to Canada).

Masters: 1862 Joseph Wiggins (C.N. 10137 Newcastle-on-Tyne 1854).

After completion the Spartan was brought up to the Thames then proceeded to Deptford Dockyard where it shipped a large quantity of stores, ammunition & shells. She left Falmouth on 2 February on her first voyage for Halifax & St John’s, NB with four passengers, Captain Hand of the 63rd Regiment, his wife, child & a servant girl. Nothing more was heard until the London agent for the owners received a telegraphic message saying the vessel had been lost in the Atlantic Ocean.

On 10 February a fierce gale was encountered & the following day, while all hands were taking in sails, a heavy sea broke over her taking everything before it including some of the crew. Some were washed aboard again but the mate & two seamen were drowned. The cargo shifted to leeward, both lifeboats were swept away as was part of the bridge. The stokehole was swamped & the port fire was put out. The saloon was completely destroyed with the passengers, Captain Hand, his wife & child, dying within the wreckage. The servant girl escaped being crushed but was to die on 21 February of exposure. On 12 February the engines broke down & the vessel was leaking badly & completely at the mercy of the sea. By 14 February it was obvious the vessel was going to sink & those on board could only pray for rescue. On 17 February their prayers were answered when the William Fotheringham came in sight. In semi-darkness & extremely dangerous conditions the passengers & crew were transferred from their sinking wreck & two hours later they watched her disappear beneath the waves. The survivors were eventually landed at Havre.

Stockton & Hartlepool Mercury 12 March 1862:

‘From the time of the steamer leaving the Channel there was nothing heard of her until Friday when the London agent for the owners received a telegraphic message from the master of the Spartan to the effect that she had been lost in the Atlantic. As far as could be learned it appeared that the unfortunate ship encountered the full fury of the terrific gales which have occasioned so much havoc amongst the vessels traversing the Atlantic, & after the most fearful rolling & straining, she sprang a leak & at length the crew were compelled to take to the boats & abandon her. This took place on 16th February but for several days the ship had been in the most critical position, & on the 11th she was struck by a heavy sea, which crushed in the saloon where passengers Captain Hand, his wife, child & servant were, & they all perished by drowning, it is supposed with the exception of the servant. About the same period the chief officer & two seamen were washed overboard & drowned. As before stated, the remainder of the crew took to the boat, & must have suffered much from exposure. The poor servant girl, who escaped death when the cabin was crushed in, is reported to have died on the 21st. How long they were out in the boats has not transpired, but they were picked up by the ship William Fotheringham, & a telegram from Havre on Friday afternoon announced their safe arrival at that port. The ship & freight were insured to the extent of £30,000, the bulk of which was effected at Lloyds. The cargo of stores was valued at £30,000.’