Spanish Steamer Sinks SS Northfleet
Gravesend, Kent The 22nd of January 1873 AD
The English Channel has seen many shipwrecks, but the sinking of the Northfleet is remembered for the callousness of those in charge of the vessel that sank her.
The Northfleet, built in the town of that name in 1853, was a sturdy sailing ship, a 3-masted barque. Bad weather forced her to anchor in the Channel off Dungeness after leaving Gravesend, bound for Hobart in Tasmania where many emigrants on board and her cargo of rails were to help in building a railway.
At about 10.30pm on January 22 1873 the Northfleet was rammed by a steamer, which then reversed engines and left the area, leaving the stricken sailing ship to sink in less than 30 minutes. Only two lifeboats made it to safety. The death toll was horrific: there had been 52 children on board, just two lived; only two of the 42 women survived; and 203 of the crew and male passengers perished too. In September 1873 the Spanish steamship Murillo and her crew was arrested off Dover – it was the Murillo which had left the Northfleet helpless, not even signalling other ships to come to her aid.
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Comment
From Stella Smith on 21st November 2012
If Simon Riley or Jean Evans read my comment i would love to hear from them. I am doing family history research, to hear from them would be great.
From Stella Smith on 20th November 2012
John and Lucy Sturgeon were also my great grandparents.There daughter Emily was my grandma. My auntie also has the oringinal newspaper about the North Fleet. John and Lucy did have tripe shops and a stall in the market hall in Rotherham. They lived in Masbro until they died, which is where i grew up.Reading the article below i am wondering if Jean Evans could be daughter to Hilda, her grandma Lucy Sturgeon.
From Stella Smith on 20th November 2012
Regarding to my last post about the Sturgeons any body who knows any further information could you please contact my email address. Thanks
d.f1994@hotmail.co.uk
From Michael Smith on 4th November 2012
I read this article with great interest and would love to be able to contact Jean Evans who posted a comment January 2012. John and Lucy Sturgeon are my great-great-grandparents and for many years I have been trying to connect with my relatives and my research lead me to this article.
From Simon Riley on 20th February 2012
Jean
Lucy and John were my Great Great Granparents, making Harriet my Great Grand Mother. My uncle had told me of this story some years ago, he actually has an oringinal newpaper about the story and had one of Harriets shoes from when she was on the Northfleet
From jean Evans on 23rd January 2012
I read this article with great interest..as my great grandparents were on board..and the only complete family unit to be saved...John and Lucy Sturgeon..and their baby.
They eventually ended up in a sailors home after losing all their belongings..but finaly settled in Rotherham..South ykshire..where they opened a tripe factory and became quite prosperous.
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