KWANG TUNG
Shipbuildervessel built by
Hall, Russell & Company, Limited
(Aberdeen, Scotland, 1864 - 1992)
Date1868
Object NameSCREW STEAMER
MediumIRON
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 220' x breadth 31' x depth 14'
gross tonnage 492 tons
gross tonnage 492 tons
Object numberABDSHIP001144
Keywords
Yard Number: 256
Official Number: 60681
Fate: Wrecked in Japan [exact location unidentified], 16 April 1876.
Propulsion: Steam
Description: iron screw steamer, 2 decks, 3 masts, brig rigged, round stern, clencher built, no galleries, no figurehead.
Owners:
1868: Registered at Aberdeen for subscribing owner;
Douglas Lapraik Esq., "The Oaks", Acton, Middlesex, 64 shares.
Vessel wrecked 19th April 1876 near Osaka.
(Source: Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))
General History:
The first vessel to be built by Hall Russell & Company.
30/04/1868:
Report of trials of KWANG TUNG under command of Capt. Campbell in Aberdeen Bay. After several initial runs covered "measured distance" in 4 mins 27 sec., "giving speed of 13 1/2 miles per hour [...] considered highly satisfactory to those particularly interested".
(Dundee Courier)
05/06/1876:
HONG KONG—April 19: With respect to the loss of the steamer KWANGTUNG. the following particulars are furnished by the steamer SUNDA, which arrived here from Yokohama this morning. It appears that about ten minutes past one o'clock on the afternoon of April 17, when near the Ockseu group [sic, location unidentified], the SUNDA observed the KWANGTUNG ashore on the south-east and extreme end of the largest island. She had signals of distress flying, and was firing guns to attract notice. The SUNDA at once wont to her assistance, and learned that the KWANGTUNG went on shore on the 16th at 1 30 during a dense fog. Hopes were at first entertained of getting her off, but at night a rock went right through her engine room, immediately filling her, and rendering all hope of saving her out of the question. It was feared she would soon break up. About twenty minutes past four on the 17th the SUNDA left the wreck, having first taken on board the specie of the KWANGTUNG, and her chief engineer, Mr. Clark who came on to obtain assistance here. At 10 30 on the morning of May 18, the steamer AMOY, bound north, hove in sight, and stopped to communicate with the SUNDA. Mr. Clark at once went on board the AMOY, the captain intimating that he would proceed at to the wreck. The SUNDA arrived off this port at midnight on the 18th, but owing to thick weather had to stand off till daylight this morning. The Weather up the coast has been very foggy for some days past. All hopes of saving the KWANGTUNG have been given up. The master, passengers, and crew were all saved, and had obtained shelter on the island when the SUNDA left.
(Liverpool Journal of Commerce )
[Please note that these excerpts quote pieces of the time and thus reflect their prejudices and opinions]
04/07/1876:
A few days ago the Universal Circulating Herald recorded what was said to be a Chinese version or explanation of the late disaster to the steamer KWANGTUNG. The Chinese it says, have an opinion that the ourang-outang which was a passenger in this ill-fated vessel proved to be the Jonah of the present unfortunate trip. The animal was first of all shiped on the NAMOA, but she broke down on her way to Foochow, and all her cargo including the said ourang-outang, was transferred to the KWANGTUNG with results known to all. The superstitious Chinese believe that the ill-omened occurrence was due to the presence of this monster, and it should have been thrown overboard, like his Jewish prototype of old.
(London and China Telegraph)
Note: Contract cost £21,358 (Builder's List held in the Lloyd's Library of the Aberdeen Maritime Museum)
Engines by Hall, Russell & Co. Inclined 2 cylinders of 48" diameter, with 33" stroke, expected horsepower 170.
Unusually, the Lloyd's entries for this steamer do not give the names of any masters.
August 1826
