REINDEER

Shipbuildervessel built by Alexander HALL & Co. (Footdee, Aberdeen)

Date1848

Object NameCLIPPER

MediumWOOD

ClassificationsShip

Dimensionslength 141.5' x breadth 22.7' x depth 15.5'
gross tonnage 328 tons

Object numberABDSHIP001056

Keywords

Aberdeen Built Ships

About MeYard: Alexander Hall & Co.
Yard Number: 168

Fate: Wrecked on a reef in the Solomon Islands, South Pacific, 26 September 1855.

Propulsion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged clipper.

Owner:
1848: McTear & Vining, Liverpool, registered in Liverpool.
'McTear & Vining paid for her, but the eventual distribution of shares was that they jointly owned 16 shares and Jervis R. Wardley owned 48. In May 1849 Wardley bought them out. He owned the ship until she was lost.'
(David R. McGregor, "The Tea Clippers: Their History and Development 1833-1875" 2nd edn (Conway Maritime, London, 1972), pp. 50-1)

General History:
'she had to contend with the south-west mosoon, and her passage of 107 days made against it in 1850 was by far the best of its kind of the period. Her third voyage was not so successful, under Charles H. Hunt as she took 130 days out to Hong Kong from Liverpool in 1850-51 and 140 days to return from Shanghai. She never visited China again but was in the trade to South America. For instance, in 1852 she took 53 days between Liverpool and Rio de Janeiro, 21 December 1852 to 12 February 1853' (McGregor, "The Tea Clippers", pp. 52-3)

10/08/1850:
Clipper ship REINDEER, Capt. Enright, arrived in Mersey from China with cargo of tea after being absent only 8 months. We believe this to be the shortest voyage on record between this port and the celestial empire
(Maitland Mercury) (quoting from Liverpool journal).

22/01/1851:
When compared with an American ship 'ORIENTAL' which made passage between Canton to London in 98 '[...] the 'REINDEER' an Aberdeen clipper, of 328 tons, which sailed from China about the same time, which with her copper hanging loose about her, and carrying 500 tons of cargo, was only beaten five days in the passage from Anjeer...'
(Aberdeen Journal)

18/08/1855:
Hobson's Bay - arrived REINDEER, ship, from Tome (Chile).
(Gelong Advertiser (Victoria))

15/09/1855:
Ship REINDEER from Melbourne to China, spoken off Wilison's Promontory (near Melbourne).
(Sydney Empire)

18/01/1856:
Report by Capt. Edward Storey - report loss of ship REINDEER on reef lat.10S, 155E. At midnight on 26 September [1855]. at 11.30pm Forecastle lookout reported breakers on Lee Bow. Helm was immediately put hard a port. Found she would not weather it. Shortly after she struck with enormous crash and immediately filled to level of water outside. The rollers breaking against weather side, it was impossible for her to stand long. Cut the masts away in order to get boats out. Long boat was only one left. We succeeded in getting her over the side with a little bread, 19 gallons water, a set of instruments and the ship's papers.
At daylight on 27th made out group of rocks about 8 miles to Leeward on North side of reef. We landed on largest of them and rigged a tent with the oars an an old sail. Following morning visited the old ship to obtain a little more bread and water and some old planking to deck boat. We found the ship breaking up fast. After remaining on rock for nine days preparing boat to cross the trades for East coast of Australia, on 11 October, 19 hands in number, we left the reef and stood westward. Found water clear of reef too heavy for boat and immediately threw everything overboard except a little bread and water and one set instruments. Bore away for Trinity Bay on coast of Australia. Served out half a biscuit and half pint water each.
After 28 days living on shellfish and water (procured on islands) we arrived Port Curtis.
18 November scarcely able to walk up beach. Everything the settlement could afford was brought down for our relief (some of crew being almost at death's door). Remained at Port Curtis for 6 weeks until departure of the Sabio Chief for Sydney, where we arrived 8 January. Regret owner of Sabio Chief should have detained remaing effects of a shipwrecked crew for payment of their passage.
(Melbourne Argus)

Notes: Cost at construction, £3,887 (Builder's List in the Lloyd's Library of the Aberdeen Maritime Museum)
Not in Lloyd's Register.