Alhambra (1855) facts for kids
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The Alhambra
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 New South Wales |
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| Name | Alhambra |
| Owner | Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (1855-1862) |
| Port of registry |
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| Builder | Samuda Brothers Cubitt Town, London |
| Launched | 31 May 1855 |
| Completed | 1855 |
| Maiden voyage | 7 July 1855 |
| Identification |
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| Fate | Sank 30 June 1888 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Iron steamer screw |
| Tonnage |
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| Length | 63.8 m |
| Beam | 8.3 m |
| Draught | 5.0 m |
| Installed power | Geared steam engine Humphrys, Tennant and Dykes 140hp (454 ihp (339 kW)?) |
| Propulsion | Single screw |
| Speed | 10 knots (19 km/h) |
The Alhambra was a cool iron steamer built in 1853. It was made by a company called Samuda Brothers in Cubitt Town, London. Sadly, the Alhambra sank after a crash near Newcastle, Australia. This happened on June 30, 1888.
Contents
Building the Alhambra
When the Alhambra was being designed, it had a different name: Cintra. Later, its name was changed to Braganza. But just before it was launched into the water on May 31, 1855, it got its final name, Alhambra. This name comes from Al-Hambra, which means "The Red Palace." It's an old fortress in Granada, Spain, built by Moorish kings.
The Ship's Journeys and Adventures
Early Voyages and Repairs
The Alhambra started its first big trip on July 7, 1855, sailing to Marseilles. It began regular service in Gibraltar in August 1856. The next year, it was getting ready to load goods in London for Portland Bay.
In August 1857, the Alhambra sailed from Port of Geelong to Mauritius. Later, in July, the ship had engine trouble near the coast of Portugal. It had to be pulled by another boat from Lisbon all the way to Blackwall for repairs.
On December 27, 1860, the ship went back to working between Southampton and Lisbon. But then, on July 1, 1862, it was sold to a new company. On September 26, the Alhambra sailed from Southampton to Melbourne, Australia. It became one of the first ships to travel regularly between Melbourne and New Zealand.
Challenges at Sea
In April 1868, while heading to New Zealand, one of the Alhambra's engines broke down. The ship had to go back to port to get a new part. A company called Langland’s Foundry Company quickly made a new, heavy engine part in just five weeks!
In January 1869, the ship faced more trouble. Its screw shaft broke while passing Kent Group. Even though the weather was bad, the captain managed to get the ship safely near land at Cape Howe. Another ship, the Dandenong, then started to tow the Alhambra. But the towline broke again as they were going through a tricky area called The Rip. Luckily, the Alhambra avoided hitting the reef. It anchored safely until the Dandenong could tow it again to Williamstown.
New Owners and Minor Incidents
In 1882, the Alhambra was sold to Nipper & See in Sydney. The next year, Samuel Marsden bought it. He wanted to use the ship to carry sheep to Kimberley. But his plans changed, and he had to sell the Alhambra at a big loss.
On May 19, 1885, the Alhambra crashed into a lightship near Newcastle. This caused the lightship to break free from its anchors. Then, another steamer, the Balmain, ran into the Alhambra. The Alhambra had some damage to its side rails. Both ships were able to continue their journeys safely.
The ship also had a couple of incidents where people got hurt. On July 7, 1885, a seaman named Henry Johnson was thrown over the ship's wheel during a storm and was injured. On December 7, 1886, a worker named John Van Rampan fell into the ship's hold and was also injured.
The Final Journey and Sinking
In June 1888, there was a warning about a broken-down ship floating about eleven miles northeast of Newcastle. This "derelict" ship was a danger to other boats. Captain Summerbell of the Alhambra was hired to remove it.
A week later, the Alhambra had moved one of the derelict's anchors, but the broken ship was still there. On the morning of June 30, the Alhambra was anchored close to the derelict. Another ship, the Tasmania, was also there to help.
The plan was to attach a strong steel rope from the Alhambra to the derelict. A diver was supposed to go down to help tie the ships together. However, the diver couldn't work from where the Alhambra was positioned. So, Captain Summerbell decided to move the Alhambra to a better spot.
Around 4 o'clock in the afternoon, as the Alhambra was moving into position, it accidentally hit the derelict right in the middle. This caused a huge hole in the Alhambra's side. Everyone tried to stop the water from coming in, but it was no use. The ship was sinking fast. The crew quickly got into the lifeboats and safely reached the Tasmania.
The Alhambra sank just a few minutes later. At the time, it was owned by A. Wheeler of Sydney. The ship was worth about £10,000 and was insured for £6,000.
Images for kids
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The Alhambra
