SAMOA
Shipbuildervessel built by
Alexander HALL & Co.
(Footdee, Aberdeen)
DateAugust 1868
Object NameBARQUE
MediumWOOD
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 106' x breadth 24.5' x depth 13.5'
gross tonnage 200 tons
gross tonnage 200 tons
Object numberABDSHIP001146
Keywords
Yard Number: 258
Official Number: 60877
Subsequent Names: JOHN WILLIAMS (1874); KASHGAR (1896)
Fate: missing sailing from Lyttelton, New Zealand to Sydney, Australia, 20 April 1896.
Propulsion: Sail
Description: Barque rigged
Owner:
1868-96: London Missionary Society, registered at London.
1896: B. Young, registered at Sydney
Masters:
1870-73: Master W. Williams
1874-94: Master R. Turpie
1894-96: Master T. Mitchell
1896: Master B. Young
Voyages:
1870-73: Aberdeen - Australia.
General History:
29/11/1878:
A Cruise in the South Pacific.—The mission barque JOHN WILLIAMS arrived in the Port of Sydney on the 9th of October, after absence of six months, which had been employed in visiting London Mission stations in the South Pacific Ocean, and supplying them with stores. Twenty-three islands were visited, and the barque brought with her to Sydney 14 native teachers from the native colleges in the islands. These teachers were to proceed immediately to New Guinea. Captain Turpey, of the JOHN WILLIAMS, reports “During the cruise through the Ellice Group immense quantities of pumice stone were sailed through, and the shores of all the islands in that group were thickly lined with it. Numerous trees were met with which had been torn violently up by the roots, some of them bring not less than 80 feet or 80 feet in length, and of each sort is is net produced in the low coral islands. Some of those passed would prove dangerous to vessel coming in contact with them high rate of speed. It would be interesting to know whence they have drifted; are the pumice stone and these immense trees from New Britain its vicinity, has there been some submarine eruption to account for the pumice stone? and if so whence are the trees? From examination I should not suppose the pumice stone to have been afloat for more than three or four months.
(Shipping and Mercantile Gazette)
20/04/1896: KASHGAR Sailed from Lyttelton on 20th April 1896 not since heard of. Cargo: Wheat. Destination: Sydney N.S.W.
(Lloyd's Casualty Returns, 1 July - 30 September 1896, p. 10)
Notes: Contract cost £5000 (Builder's List in the Lloyd's Library of Aberdeen Maritime Museum)
Photographs of this vessel are availiable in the collections of the National Library of Australia.
