DOUGLAS
Shipbuildervessel built by
Alexander HALL & Co.
(Footdee, Aberdeen)
Date23 November 1865
Object NameSCREW STEAMER
MediumIRON
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 242' 7" x breadth 28' x depth 19' 9"
tonnage 615 tons
tonnage 615 tons
Object numberABDSHIP001132
Keywords
Yard Number: 244 (see note)
Official Number 53246
Fate: wrecked 5 miles ENE of Nan'ao island, Guangdong Province, China, 29 July 1872.
Propulsion: Steam
Description: Iron screw steamer, barque rigged, 2 decks, 3 masts, barque rig, round stern, clencher built, no galleries, shield figurehead.
Owners:
1866: Registered at Aberdeen for owner;
Robert Ellis Baker, London, master mariner, 64 shares.
26/01/1867: sold all 64 shares to Douglas Lapraik, 126 Piccadilly, London, merchant.
01/08:1872 registration cancelled, vessel wrecked near Swatow, China.
(Source: Aberdeen Shipping Registers (Aberdeen City Archives))
General History:
29/11/1865:
LAUNCH OF AN IRON STEAMER. We have very great pleasure in recording the launch, on Thursday, from the yard of Messrs Hall, Russell, & Company, of a finely-modelled, iron screw steamer. The steamer will be barque rigged, and fitted with a pair of direct acting engines, of 165 horse- power, nominal. She is 250 feet in length, 29 feet 6 inches bearn, and 21 feet 6 inches moulded depth. Her tonnage is 900 tons B.M., or 873 register, gross. All preparations being completed, the launch took place at 3.30, P.M., in presence of a large number of spectators; and, as the ship moved into the water. Miss Baker stepped forward, and gracefully gave her the name "DOUGLAS" The launch was very successfully accomplished, and the appearance of the "DOUGLAS" in the water, with her beautiful lines, is very fine. She has been built to the order of Messrs James Morrison & Co., London, and is owned by Douglas Lapraick, Esq., Hong-Kong, and several gentlemen in this country recently returned from China. The "DOUGLAS" will be commanded commanded by Capt. Baker, who has had great experience on the coast of China, where the vessel is intended to be employed. The fitting up of the vessel is, altogether, very superior; the cabin accommodation is ample, and the furnishings all in the most tasteful and elegant style; and in the construction of both ship and machinery, all the most modern improvements have been included. Several practical and scientific men from China, who had examined the ship, and were present at the launch, expressed themselves very favourably as to her capabilities and adaptation to the China trade. The launch of the "DOUGLAS" is an event of unusual interest, as being the first launch of an iron vessel at Aberdeen for fully twenty years - the "QUEEN" formerly belonging to the Leith and Clyde Co., being, we believe, the last iron steamer built here.
(Aberdeen Journal)
15/02/1866:
Screw steamer DOUGLAS, just finished for Captain R. E. Baker by Messrs Hall Russell & Co. and intended for trading in the China seas, was on Tuesday put on her final trail trip. She is propelled by 2 direct acting inverted engines of effective horsepower 700. Vessel left our docks at 10:30am under the special command of Captain Campbell, harbour master, having on board several nautical gentlemen, including Captain Baker, Captains Duthie, Urquhart and Main, Mr. J.C. Couper, Mr William Hall, Mr Russell, engineer, etc. She proceeded to sea, where a heavy groundswell awaited her, through which she passed in gallant style, not only proving the efficiency of the engines, but also the capabilities of the ship as a sea boat. The vessel's head was turned northwards to the bottom of our bay & on coming south she ran the measured mile in 4 mins. 25 sec., an average of 12 and 1/2 knots an hour. On going south of the harbour, and on returning along the land, speed was proved to be 13 knots. Vessel in every respect has been declared to be to entire satisfaction of the owners, and we congratulate the builders on the resuscitation of a branch of business in our quarter which is destined to supersede the more ancient propulsion by sails alone for which, hitherto, they have been favourably known in the nautical world. The internal fittings of the DOUGLAS are unique of their kind, and will amply repay a visit while at the quay here. Her departure direct for Hong Kong is fixed for 20th February and we will watch with anxiety the time she occupies on her voyage to China.
(Dundee Courier)
13/03/1866:
Gibraltar. Screw steamer DOUGLAS, Capt. Bayer, from Aberdeen for Hong Kong, has put in with shaft broken.
(Dundee Courier)
13/03/1868:
Launch by Hall, Russell & Co. of iron screw steamer QUANTUNE for Douglas Lapraik & Co., Hong Kong - is intended as consort for screw steamer DOUGLAS, built in same yard some time ago, and which has given great satisfaction on the coast of China for the accommodation she affords to passengers, her speed, economy of fuel & carrying power.
(Dundee Courier)
20/08/1872:
OFFICIAL INQUIRY. LOSS THE DOUGLAS (SS). A Naval Court was held at Hong Kong, on the 31st May, before C. May, First Police Magistrate, H. G. Thomsett, R.N., Harbour Master, &c., Geo. F. Maclean, Justice of the Peace, W. M. Gillson, and W. B. Andrews, Masters Mercantile Marine, to inquire into the loss of the DOUGLAS (SS). The following was the finding of the Court:—
1st. We find that the British steamer DOUGLAS, Official Number 53,246, of Aberdeen, whilst on her voyage from Swatow to Amoy, on the 29th ultimo, did, at about 8 15 p.m. of that run on the Dioyu Rocks, situated about five miles E.N.E. of the North Point of the Island of Namoa [Nan'ao] and was there totally lost. 2nd. find that, from position off bay Island to a position determined by cross bearings of Difficult Island and Fort Head, a distance of about eight miles the DOUGLAS had been set one mile to the south of her course. 3rd. We find that, from the last mentioned position was steered a course to the eastward, scarcely allowance made to counteract the effect of the current which had been experienced 4th. We find that the ship, on an evening represented as being very dark and hazy, was going over the ground at a high rate of 11 knot, an hour, a speed which the Court considers a most imprudent one under the circumstances
(Shipping and Mercantile Gazette)
Notes: This ship is in the Builder's list for Alexander Hall's yard and has a yard number accordingly, but it appears that she was actually built by Hall, Russell.
Not in Lloyd's Register.
Contract cost £23,651 (Builder's list in the Lloyd's Library of the Aberdeen Maritime Museum)
Engines: By Hall, Russell & Co. Aberdeen, Length of engine room 17ft, 2 cylinders, 160 horsepower.
