Herald of the Morning facts for kids
Herald of the Morning was a large sailing ship with three masts. It was built in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, around 1854. This ship was specially made to travel to Australia. People in Melbourne at the time called it a "fine ship" that weighed 1292 tons.
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
| Canada | |
| Name | Herald of the Morning |
| Owner | George King and John Storm James Thompson |
| Builder | Storm and King, Saint John, New Brunswick |
| Launched | 1854 |
| Out of service | 1859 |
| Fate |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Al |
| Tons burthen | 1292 tons OM, 1108 tons NM |
| Length | 195.3 Feet |
| Beam | 35.3 Feet |
| Draught | 22.0 Feet |
| Propulsion | Sail |
| Sail plan | Ship, square rig |
Journeys Across the Sea
The Herald of the Morning made several long trips across the ocean. Its main route was from Liverpool, England, to Melbourne, Australia.
Some of its known voyages include:
- From Liverpool to Melbourne on 19 December 1854.
- Another trip from Liverpool to Melbourne in 1857.
- A journey from Liverpool to Sydney, New South Wales, on 25 June 1858.
- A trip from Melbourne to Callao, Peru, on 9 August 1858.
- Its final voyage from Liverpool to Melbourne on 5 November 1859.
The Day the Ship Caught Fire
On 15 November 1859, the Herald of the Morning was anchored in Hobson's Bay, Australia. It had just finished its second trip to Australia, carrying 419 people who were moving to the country.
Around 12:45 PM, the ship's captain woke up to someone shouting "FIRE!" The fire quickly spread all over the ship. People tried to sink the ship by cutting holes in its side near the water. However, as the ship burned, it became lighter. This made the holes rise above the water, so the ship would not sink.
An attempt was made to move the ship by letting go of its anchor chains. But the intense heat stopped the crew from doing this. Finally, the chains were cut from the outside. Two tugboats, named Lioness and Sophia, then pulled the burning ship to shore at Sandridge (now Port Melbourne). The ship was left there to burn.
What Happened to the Wreck?
Later, two other tugboats, Sophia and Hercules, moved the ship's remains to a beach between Sandridge and Williamstown. The ship continued to smolder there for some time.
Part of the ship's cargo included iron pieces meant for the Hawthorn Bridge. These pieces were saved, but the fire had damaged them. They were later sold and used to build the trusses for the Mia Mia Bridge at Redesdale.
The burnt ship, or "hulk," stayed on the beach for many years. Around 1889, it was finally removed and sunk at the end of Donaldsons jetty.
