hartlepool history logo
close button

Florence - a general history

Completed March 1872; Official No. 67522.

Owners: 1872 Groves, Maclean & Co, West Hartlepool.

Masters: 1872 Hopkins.

Florence left Cardiff on 4 December 1872 with a cargo of patent fuel & a crew of 22 bound for Civitta Veehia & encountered a gale in the Bay of Biscay & became a complete wreck SW of the Lizard on 10 December 1872. The Shields steamer Edgar managed to rescue the crew. No lives lost.

Having lost all her boats & Florence becoming a complete wreck Captain Charles Smith of the Newcastle-on-Tyne steamship Edgarstood by for two days. When the opportunity arose the lifeboat succeeded in taking off all the crew. By public vote for the gallant rescue Charles Smith was awarded a binocular glass, value £6 6s. The men that manned the lifeboat, J. Johnson 2nd mate, J. Hay boatswain, R. Sinclair able seaman, D. Clark, A. Smith & P. Simpson, all firemen, were given 1s each.

Related items :