Abana (barque) facts for kids
Abana, wrecked at Blackpool.
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Quick facts for kids History |
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| Name | Abana |
| Builder | Built at New Brunswick, Canada |
| Launched | 1874 |
| In service | 1874 |
| Homeport |
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| Fate | Wrecked 22 December 1894 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 1,257 tons |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Barque |
| Crew | 17 |
The Abana was a large sailing ship called a barque. It was built in Canada in 1874. Sadly, the Abana was wrecked in a big storm near Blackpool, England, on December 22, 1894.
The Abana's Journey
The Abana was built in 1874 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. For many years, its home port was Saint John. By 1894, the ship was sailing under the Norwegian flag. It was a large ship, weighing 1,257 tons. The Abana was powered only by its sails and had a crew of 17 people.
The Storm and Shipwreck
On December 22, 1894, the Abana was sailing from Liverpool, England, to Savannah, Georgia, in the United States. It got caught in a terrible storm in the Irish Sea. Around 3 PM, people saw the ship drifting. Its sails were completely ripped apart by the strong winds.
The crew made a big mistake. They thought Blackpool Tower was a lighthouse. The ship was first seen struggling near North Pier. It then drifted further north. By 5 PM, the Abana was completely wrecked off Little Bispham.
The Rescue Mission
When the ship was in trouble, flares were fired to signal for help. The local lifeboat crew was called out. The alarm was first raised by the owner of the Cleveleys Hotel.
Because of the very bad weather, the Blackpool lifeboat, named Samuel Fletcher, could not be launched directly from Blackpool. The crew had to pull the lifeboat about 7 miles (11 km) overland to Bispham. From there, they could finally launch it into the rough sea.
The lifeboat had a crew of 16 brave people. They managed to rescue all 17 crew members from the Abana. Even the ship's dog, which belonged to Captain Danielson, was saved!
On the way back to shore, the lifeboat got stuck on a sandbank. But some of the strong crew members pushed the boat free. Everyone made it safely to shore. They were all taken to the Red Lion Inn to rest and recover from their difficult experience. The Abana's ship's bell and the rescued dog were given to the Cleveleys Hotel owner, who had first called for help.
What Remains Today
You can still see parts of the Abana's remains at low tide off Little Bispham. It's a reminder of the powerful storm and the brave rescue. The ship's original bell now hangs in St. Andrew's Church in Cleveleys.
On January 31, 2008, another ship, the Riverdance, also got stuck on the beach. This happened very close to where the Abana was wrecked over a hundred years earlier.
