Cornelia Voyage History

Official No. 67520: Code Letters KTPC.

Owners: 1872 Herskind & Gray, West Hartlepool: 1874 Fritz Herskind, West Hartlepool: 1884 Herskind & Woods, West Hartlepool: 1889 JM Gunn & Co, Cardiff: 1897 Cornelia SS Co Ltd (Guthrie, Heywood & Co) Cardiff: 1900 William Munroe, Cardiff: 1902 William Munroe, West Hartlepool

Masters: 1874 Petersen: 1886-90 EK Stonehouse: 1891 MF Nielsen: 1892-96 MF Paulsen: 1899 NP Nielsen: 1900-02 MF Paulsen: 1905-07 EG Ronbeck: 1907-09 J Anderson: 1913 D Thomas.

Royal Cornwall Gazette Friday 14^th December, 1883:
Messrs. Herskind and Co., of West Hartlepool, have received information from the captain of the steamer Cornelia, which has just arrived in the Tyne from Pomaron, that while off the Portuguese coast, on the passage home, she sighted a large balloon and car, the latter floating on the sea. The balloon was got on board, but no-one was found in charge of it. The car contained seven articles of male attire, two national flags of Portugal, and some money of that country. Little doubt exists but that in attempting to lighten the car the aeronaut has been drowned.

Cornelia was captured & sunk by gunfire from German submarine (UC-43 Erwin Sebelin) nine miles WNW of the Skelligs in 51.47N/10.43W on 6 March 1917. No lives lost.

This section will, in time, contain the stories of more than 450 merchant ships built or owned in the Hartlepools, and which were lost during the First World War. As an illustration of the truly global nature of shipbuilding, these ships were owned by companies from 22 different countries, including more than 30 sailing under the German flag at the outbreak of war.

Fritz Herskind owned ships from the early 1870's. Herksind & Woods was formed in 1884 between Fritz and Peter Herskind and James Jabez Woods. The partnership was dissolved by mutual consent on the 20th August 1892. On 31st August 1892 the Company became known as Herskind & Co. with the main shareholders Fritz and his father Peter.

Five of Fritz's early ships were built by Matthew Pearse and two by Ropner. All of his subsequent ships were built in West Hartlepool and all appear to have been purchased new.