Bayard (ship) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
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| Owner | Hall Line |
| Builder | T. Vernon and Son, Liverpool |
| Launched | 1864 |
| Acquired | Sun Shipping Company, 1868; Foley and Company, 1881 |
| Fate | Ran aground 6 June 1911 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 1,028 |
| Length | 67 m (220 ft) |
The Bayard was a large sailing ship built in 1864 in Liverpool, England. It had three masts and was about 67 metres (220 feet) long. The ship weighed 1,028 tons.
It was first owned by the Hall Line. Later, in 1868, it was sold to the Sun Shipping Company. In 1881, Foley and Company became its new owners.
Early Voyages
The Bayard traveled to many places around the world. It often carried people who had agreed to work in a new country for a set time. These people were called indentured labourers.
On August 20, 1883, the Bayard arrived in Suva, Fiji. It brought 494 Indian labourers from Calcutta. Before this, the ship had also carried similar workers to the West Indies.
The Iceberg Incident
Ships sometimes face dangers at sea. On May 6, 1885, the Bayard hit a large iceberg. This happened about 55 kilometres (34 miles) south of Cape Race.
The ship was on a journey from Marseilles to St. Pierre. The collision caused serious damage. The Bayard lost its stern (back part), bowsprit (a pole sticking out from the front), and parts of its masts.
Even with all this damage, the brave crew managed to keep the ship going. It reached its destination on May 23, though it was leaking a lot.
Final Resting Place
Later in its life, the Bayard was used in South Georgia. It became a coaling ship for a whaling station. This meant it stored coal to refuel other ships.
On June 6, 1911, a very strong storm hit Ocean Harbour. The Bayard broke free from its moorings at the pier. It was pushed onto the rocks on the southern side of the bay.
The ship ran aground and became a shipwreck. The wreck of the Bayard is still there today. It has become a special home for blue-eyed shags, which are a type of bird. They use the old ship as a place to breed their young.
See also
- Indian indenture system
- Indian indenture ships to Fiji
- Indians in Fiji
