Joseph H. Scammell (ship) facts for kids
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The Joseph H Scammell was a large sailing ship from Canada. It was built in 1884 and sadly, it became shipwrecked in Torquay, Australia, in 1891. After the ship was wrecked, a lot of its cargo washed ashore. This led to many local people taking items from the wreck, which is called pilfering.
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Building a Big Ship
The Joseph H Scammell was built in a small village called Eatonville in Canada. Back in 1884, Eatonville was a busy place for cutting down trees and building ships. The Scammell Brothers ran the shipyard there. They named the ship after an important person in their family.
The ship was launched into the water in September 1884. It was officially registered in Saint John, New Brunswick, which was the closest big port. The Joseph H Scammell sailed under the Canadian flag for its entire time at sea.
The Shipwreck in Australia
On May 7, 1891, the Joseph H Scammell was on a long journey. It had been sailing for 114 days from New York City to Melbourne, Australia. The ship was trying to reach Port Phillip Heads, but the weather turned very bad. Strong winds and rough waves pushed the ship off course.
It ran aground on a reef near Point Danger in Torquay. There were 22 people on board, including Captain J. A. Chapman's wife and daughter. Local fishermen saw the ship in trouble around 11 AM. One fisherman, Felix Rosser, tried to help but the sea was too rough. The next day, when the sea was calmer, the crew managed to get everyone off the ship safely in a small boat.
Because of the accident, Captain Chapman had his master's certificate suspended for 12 months. This meant he couldn't be a ship captain for that time because he was found to be careless with his navigation.
What Happened to the Cargo
After the shipwreck, many items from the ship's cargo washed up on the beach. About 2,000 local people came to take these items. They found things like tobacco, parts for buggies, leather, clothes, and kerosene. By the time police and customs officers arrived, most of the valuable cargo, worth about $120,000, had already been taken.
About a week later, a man from Geelong bought the wrecked ship and what was left of its cargo for $2,628 at an auction on the beach. Interestingly, the ship's deckhouse (a small building on the deck) was bought and used to build the second floor of a house in Torquay.
Remembering the Ship
In late 2014, people in Torquay put on a special performance. It was held on the front beach and told the story of the Joseph H. Scammell and its history.
| History | |
|---|---|
 Canada |
|
| Port of registry | Saint John, New Brunswick, Official Number 8675 |
| Builder | Scammell Brothers, Eatonville, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Launched | September 1884 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Wreck at Torquay, Australia, May 7, 1891 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Full Rigged Ship |
| Tonnage | 1459 Gross Tons |
| Length | 223 feet |
| Beam | 39.2 feet |
| Depth | 22.5 feet |
