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Christina - a general history

Completed  February 1857; Official No. 18192; Code Letters MKSR.

Owners: John Pile, Hartlepool; March 1857-70 Michael Spartelli & Co (Liverpool) London; Weymouth.

Masters: 1857-63 Walter Mansfield (C.N. 2481 London 1852); 1866 Byrne; 1869 Osborne; 1870 Joy.

Voyages: 8 February 1857 arrived Gravesend from Charente; 7 November 1859 assisted off the beach at Shingle-end & towed into Ramsgate; 1860 from Liverpool for Constantinople & Smyrna.

She sailed from Liverpool on 12 October 1870 for Antwerp with a cargo of salt & a total crew of 27. The following day she encountered tremendous seas when near the Formby lightship in the River Mersey. When she sent out signals of distress the tug Royal Saxon went to her assistance & the mate climbed aboard to attach a tow line when, without warning, Christina sank taking the mate with her. The remaining crew got away in the ship’s boats. Her masts were removed the following day by the Mersey Docks & Harbour Board & later her cranes, cables, davits & anchors.

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