The Clipper ‘Hurricane’ was a 3 masted, iron sailing ship with raised decks. She was one of the very first iron clippers to be built and also reported to be one of the fastest ships on the Australian run – completing the journey from England in around 80 to 90 days. She was designed to carry both passengers and cargo.
She was built on the River Clyde, Kelvinhaugh, Scotland by Alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd in Front Yard 3, and, was launched on the 26th April 1853.
Gross Tonnage: 1,110
– Shipping registers note an increased gross tonnage from 1,110 to 1,198 c 1867.
Net Tonnage: 980
Length: 214 ft 9 in (65.46 m)
Beam: 30 ft 7 in (9.32 m)
Draft: 20 ft (6.10 m)
The ‘Hurricane’s’ first owners were registered on the 12th May 1853 as Clyde & Australian Shipping Co (Potter, Wilson & Co – Managers). Her subsequent owners being:
1855 – G Swayne & G Borill, London
1858 – Martin & Co, London
1867 – John Hilton Lockett, Liverpool
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22 Apr 1869 – the Clipper ‘Hurricane’ – yet another Victim of ‘The Rip‘ . . .
” . . . The list of marine casualties which have occurred in Port Phillip received a notable and somewhat unexpected addition yesterday, by the foundering of the ship Hurricane, which arrived off Cape Otway on Tuesday, and entered the Heads yesterday morning about eight o’clock. The occurrence, although disastrous enough to all concerned, has happily been unattended by loss of life . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘Argus’ (Melbourne, Vic) – Article “Loss of the Ship Hurricane” – published 23rd April 1869
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” . . . The ship is now lying in Capel Sound in a perfectly upright position, with seven feet of water above the deck . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘Mercury’ (Hobart, Tas) – Article “Wreck of the Ship Hurricane in Port Phillip Bay” – published 27th April 1869
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The following map shows the location of ‘Capel Sound’ along the north-eastern shores of the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria:
” . . . On Thursday at 9 a.m. it was announced that the ship Hurricane, from Liverpool, had passed through the Heads an hour previous, and was proceeding up towards Hobson’s Bay by way of the South Channel, with a fresh northerly breeze, but in somewhat less than two hours the startling Intelligence came that she was seen to founder in Capel Sound in about six fathoms of Water. Messrs Norton and Graham’s steam tug Titan was then at Queenscliff, and at once proceeded to the vessel with Mr. Keone, the Custom House officer and his boat’s crew. On arrival, the vessel had gone down, and some of the passengers and crew were in the two boats that had been lowered, and the remainder in the ships rigging . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘Leader’ (Melbourne, Vic) – Article “Foundering of the Ship Hurricane” – published 24th April 1869
For the full article, which includes the ship’s manifest at the time of the incident – click here
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” . . . After leaving Liverpool the ship was exposed for twenty-one days, in fact until reaching Madeira, to a constant succession of heavy south-westerly gales. The winds in the latitude of the N.E. trades were very light, and the equator was not crossed until the thirty-ninth day out. Light winds prevailed in the tropics and all through the S.E. trades, and the meridian of the Cape of Good Hope was not passed until the seventy-second day out. In running down the longitude, however, favourable winds were experienced, and the ship made some very good running. Cape Otway was made at noon on the 20th inst., and the pilot, Mr. Chas. Kennedy, was taken on board at six p.m. on the 21st. Port Phillip Heads were entered at eight a.m. yesterday, and Captain Johnston states that on passing Point Lonsdale it was felt that the ship twice grazed the bottom, but so very slightly that little or no notice was taken of the matter. As a necessary measure, however, the pumps were sounded, but no water was found. Shortly after, on passing up the South Channel, it was noticed that the ship was drooping by the head. The forehold was again sounded, and six-feet water was found in it. Both Captain Johnston and the pilot though that by shortening sail and anchoring the vessel the forehold might be freed of water, as a great deal was coming in through the hawse-pipes. Sail was accordingly shortened and the anchors let go, but in a very few minutes the ship went down by the head in about five fathoms and a half of water . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘Argus’ (Melbourne, Vic) – Article “Loss of the Ship Hurricane” – published 23rd April 1869
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” . . . Pilot Kennedy states : I have to report that I took pilotage charge of the ship Hurricane at half-past 5 o’clock p.m. on the 21st inst., wind being from the northward. Remained outside all night. At 6 o’clock a.m. commenced to work in. At half-past 7 o’clock was abreast of Point Londsdale, standing in on the port tack, with the wind verring from north to N.N.E. fresh, the tide being at the last quarter flood. When abreast of Point Lonsdale, and the Beacon on Swan Island showing clear of the Bluff, and outside Point Lonsdale Rock, the ship grazed agains something which at first we took to be something floating. The pump was then sounded, and no increase of water found in the ship. Hove the ship to for health officer, and, after being cleared, proceeded up South Channel, under all plain sail. When about five miles up the South Channel, I oberseved the ship drooping forward, and I immediately called the Captain’s attention to it. The captain then expressed his opinion that this was caused soley by the water coming into the hawse pipes, and that by shortening sail and coming to an anchor the ship could be easily pumped out. According to his wish I ran the ship into Capel Sound, and came to anchor in a good position. We then discovered that the ship was sinking fast by the head, and seeing no chance of slipping the cables in consequence of their being under water, the ship’s hawse pipes and windlass being on the main deck, we immediately gave all our attention to getting the passengers and crew in safety to the boats, which we accomplished . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘Mercury’ (Hobart, Tas) – Article “Wreck of the Ship Hurricane in Port Phillip Bay” – published 27th April 1869
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Interestingly, the SS ‘Edina’ was to encounter the same reef within a week:
” . . . Only a week before, the ship Hurricane, 1198 tons, built in 1853, was passing through the Heads and she too touched a submerged rock, apparently the same one as the Edina grazed. When the Hurricane was off Dromana it was noticed that she was sinking by the head, and when the holds were sounded much water was discovered. The crew and passengers took to the boats and others to the rigging before the ship sunk near Arthur’s Seat. Apparently she had taken a piece of the rock, and when it was dislodged she began to sink . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘Portland Guardian’ (Vic) – Article “Romance of the “Edina” – World’s Oldest Screw Steamer” – published 30th June 1941
Remnants of the wreck can still be found, though greatly scattered, due to the Port Phillip engineers of the late 1960’s deeming her a ‘navigational hazard’, and hence blasting the wreck . . .
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