SS Nile (1850)
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SS Nile
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| History | |
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| Name: | Nile |
| Owner: |
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| Operator: |
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| Port of registry: |
 Liverpool (1850–53), Dublin (1853–54) |
| Builder: | Alexander Denny, Dumbarton |
| Yard number: | 15 |
| Launched: | 1850 |
| Fate: | Struck The Stones off Godrevy Head and sank with all hands, 30 November 1854 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | |
| Length: | 162.2 ft (49.44 m) |
| Beam: | 25.3 ft (7.71 m) |
| Depth: | 15.4 ft (4.69 m) |
| Propulsion: | Two-cylinder single-screw engine, 150 nhp |
| Speed: | 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h) |
| Crew: | 24 crew and about 16 passengers |
The SS Nile was an iron-hulled cargo steamship. She is best remembered for her sinking in bad weather on 30 November 1854, most likely after colliding with The Stones, a notoriously dangerous reef off Godrevy Head in Cornwall, with the loss of all hands.
The Nile, an iron-hulled screw steamer, was built at Dumbarton in 1850. She was first operated by the Moss Line of Liverpool and inaugurated the line's Mediterranean service. In 1853 her ownership passed to James Stirling of Dublin and her operations to the British and Irish Steam Packet Company.
On her last voyage, Nile was travelling from Liverpool to London, calling at Penzance, Falmouth, Plymouth and Portsmouth en route. She was carrying a cargo of heavy merchandise and could also accommodate passengers at low rates, though due to the late time of year few people would have taken such a roundabout route. She had been due to leave Liverpool on Sunday 26 November but due to bad weather had to delay her journey for two days. She left Liverpool on the evening of Tuesday 28 November and was last seen about 40 miles (64 km) from the Longships Lighthouse on the evening of 30 November, making her way through rough seas and high winds.
The following day, a ship sailing from Hayle to Penzance spotted oil floating on the water. Later on 1 December it became apparent that an accident had overtaken the Nile when papers addressed to the captain, spars, empty casks and other debris were washed ashore at Portreath. The ship's stern was spotted a day or two later and several bodies, five of which were female, were washed ashore at Tehidy. One of them was identified as the stewardess of the Nile.
The cause of the disaster was not definitively established. It is likely that the captain, W.F. Moppett of Dublin, drifted off course by about 18 to 20 miles in the bad weather, resulting in the ship hitting The Stones. The Nile may have managed to back away from the rocks but foundered in 12 to 14 fathoms of water. Those aboard were either unable to escape due to the ship's rapid disintegration or were overwhelmed by the waves when they tried to launch the lifeboats. The ship was thought to have struck the rocks around 2 or 3 am shortly after the flood tide, judging by the disposition of the wreckage in St Ives Bay.
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Wikipedia