Loch Sloy facts for kids

Loch Sloy
Quick facts for kids History
United Kingdom
Name	Loch Sloy
Owner	Loch Line
Builder	D. and W. Henderson and Company, Glasgow
Launched	August 1877
In service	1877
Out of service	24 April 1899
Fate	Wrecked 24 April 1899
General characteristics
Type	Clipper
Tons burthen	1,280 tons
Length	225 ft 4 in (68.68 m)
Beam	35 ft 5 in (10.80 m)
Depth of hold	21 ft 2 in (6.45 m)
Propulsion	Sail
Sail plan	Barque
Complement	26 crew

The Loch Sloy was a Scottish sailing ship. It was a type of ship called a barque. This ship traveled between Great Britain and Australia. It sailed from the late 1800s until 1899. The ship got its name from Loch Sloy. This is a freshwater loch, or lake, in Scotland.

The Loch Sloy had several captains over the years. These included James Horne, John McLean, Charles Lehman, James R. George, and William J. Wade. Its last captain was Peter Nicol.

In the early morning of April 24, 1899, the Loch Sloy crashed. It hit rocks near Maupertuis Bay on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. The ship was trying to find the light from Cape Borda. But it sailed too far and hit the rocks. Out of 34 people on board, only four survived. One of these survivors later died from injuries and being very cold.

History of the Loch Sloy

Building the Ship

The Loch Sloy was built in 1877. It was made by D. and W. Henderson and Company in Glasgow, Scotland. This company built many ships. The Loch Sloy was made for the Glasgow Shipping Company. This company was also known as the Loch Line.

The Final Voyage

Captain Peter Nicol was the ship's last captain. The Loch Sloy was sailing from Glasgow to Adelaide and Melbourne. It carried a mix of goods and seven passengers. The passengers included two women.

On April 24, 1899, the ship faced a disaster. It was near Kangaroo Island in South Australia. The ship was trying to spot the lighthouse at Cape Borda. But it was too close to the shore. The tall cliffs hid the light.

In the dark morning, the ship hit a reef. This reef was about 300 yards from the shore. It was near the Casuarina Islets in Maupertuis Bay.

The Shipwreck

When the ship hit the rocks, the crew and passengers climbed into the rigging. This is the ropes and masts of the ship. But one by one, the masts broke off. They fell into the rough waves. Many people were thrown into the water.

It was very hard for anyone to save themselves. The ship had hit far from the shore. Only four men managed to reach the land. These included one passenger, two sailors, and one apprentice. None of them remembered how they got to shore. They just remembered the crash and being tossed by the waves.

Crew Members

The Loch Sloy had a crew of 26 people. This included officers, specialists, apprentices, and sailors.

Ship's Officers

• Captain: Peter Nicol, 38 years old.
• First Officer: John MacMillan, 25 years old.
• Second Officer: Geoffrey J. Twidale, 24 years old.
• Third Officer: Thomas Allan Cleland, 21 years old.

Ship's Specialists

• Carpenter: Hugh McBride, 25 years old.
• Sailmaker: Robert Birnie, 22 years old.
• Chief Steward: William M. Hardinge, 48 years old.
• Second Steward: John A. Browne, 26 years old.
• Cook: John Chisholm, 34 years old.

Apprentices There were five young apprentices learning to be sailors. They included William Simpson, George Youden, Thomas Leach, Robert Milligan, and Frederick Lyons.

Able Seamen Many experienced sailors worked on the ship. They included Peter Cleland, John Buchanan, John Finlayson, Johan Olsson, Paul Blasznowski, John Terry, William Mitchell, Duncan McMillan, George Caclard, and Bernard Sterne.

Ordinary Seamen Younger sailors also worked on the ship. These included Archibald Martin, Robert Smith, and William Cummings.

See also

• List of shipwrecks of Australia