More information : The British cargo ship ESPARTO sank after a collision with the French steamship NOEL on 28.11.1897, off the Royal Sovereign Light Vessel, en route from "Bonell" to Barcelona carrying a cargo of coal. Five of her crew were lost. (3)
Vessel sank following a collision with the SS NOEL of France, captain and two crew landing at Gravesend from the SS CASTLEMORE, a further ten crew being rescued by the ALBATROSS. (4)
'TERRIBLE COLLISION. VESSEL ALMOST CUT IN TWO. FOUR MEN DROWNED.
'A collision occurred on Sunday morning at four o'clock off the Royal Sovereign Lightship, near Hastings, between the steamer NOEL, of Dunkirk, and a four-masted vessel, name unknown. The sailing vessel was struck amidships, and cut nearly in two. She sank almost immediately, and it is feared that all on board were lost. The NOEL lies grounded off Dungeness, where she was towed by the tug GLADIATOR. A terrific gale was blowing all night, and it is feared she will break up. She has a cargo of wine and grain, and must in any case be lightened before floating.
'The vessel with which the NOEL came into collision was the ESPARTO, belonging to the London and Edinburgh Shipping Company. It is now reported that, so far as known, four of the crew were drowned, 15 being saved, so that the loss of life is not so great as at first supposed. The ESPARTO was on a voyage from Bo'ness to Barcelona with coal, and had a crew of 19, with, it is said, a passenger named Burness. (6)
'COLLISION OFF BEACHY HEAD.
'SUPPOSED LOSS OF A LARGE STEAMER AND ALL HANDS.
'THE COLLIDING STEAMER A WRECK.
'THE CREW IN GREAT DANGER.
'Our Correspondent, telegraphing from Dungeness last night, says: An exciting scene has been witnessed here to-day, owing to the fact that the crew of the steamship NOEL, of Dunkerque, which was run ashore here last night after collision, are still imprisoned on the wreck. Throughout the day the seas, which have frequently swept clean over her, have been so terrific that it has been impossible for any assistance to be sent off. Those on board, in all about thirty, include the wife of the captain. The Dungeness Lifeboat No.1, went off to the vessel's assistance, but was unable to get near enough to rescue anyone. A Dover tug has also been in the bay throughout the day, but has been powerless to render any assistance. The vessel is wrecked on a sandbank or bar almost immediately in front of Littlestone, but about a quarter of a mile at sea. The wind blew with hurricane force up till the middle of the afternoon, and the vessel at times lurched fearfully, as if she must capsize, in which event there would be little or no hope of saving any of the crew. When the steamer was towed ashore by a London tug yesterday in a sinking condition, Mr. Anderson, the local agent of Lloyd's Shipping Agency, went out to her when the wind had abated a bit, but the gale has raged so heavily ever since that there has been no chance for him to leave the wrecked steamer, although a boat's crew has been kept standing by the shore ever since, on the orders of Mr. William Grant, the superintending agent of Lloyd's, from Dover. Mr Grant has made several efforts to get off to the wrecked vessel, but unsuccessfully; the only information obtainable, therefore, is by means of signalling, and so far as can be ascertained the NOEL was in a double collision. In the first case the NOEL appears to have been in collision with a three-masted sailing vessel, and subsequently with a large four-masted steamer, early on Sunday morning near the Royal Sovereign Lightship off Beachy Head. The captain of the NOEL, according to the information signalled, fears that the steamer with which he collided must have received extensive damage. A boat was lowered from the NOEL notwithstanding the very heavy sea, and two men were sent to give any possible assistance. Nothing more has been heard of these men, and it is feared that the other steamer has gone down with all hands, as a quantity of wreckage was seen drifting up Channel yessterday. As the NOEL lies on sand she looks a hopeless wreck; the water never leaves her at any state of the tide, and the fear is that unless the wind abates she may go to pieces before those on board of her can be rescued. The NOEL must have received a fearful blow, for at low water it can be seen that her bows are completely torn away, exposing the whole of the forepart of the ship, which is entirely submerged, having apparently settled over the bank. The stern stands fairly high out of the water, and it is supposed that the crew are stowed away in this part of the ship.' (7)
Built: 1880 (1)(3)(4) Builder: S & H Morton & Co.(1) (3)(4) Where Built: Leith (1)(4) Propulsion: screw-driven, 3 cylinder triple expansion engine (1)(3)(4) HP: 127 (3); 130 (1)(4) Boilers: 2 (1)(4) Master: T Parrott (1)(4) Crew: 19 (1)(4)(6) Crew Lost: 4 (1)(4)(6); 5 (3) Passengers Lost: 1 (1)(4) Owner: London & Edinburgh Shipping Co. (1)(3)(4)(6)
Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss
Additional sources cited in Shipwreck Index of the British Isles: R Gilbert, 1988, p57-8 EG 01.12.1897 LR 1893-4 No.475(E) LCR 1897 p6(d) |