LUFRA
Shipbuildervessel built by
Alexander HALL & Co.
(Footdee, Aberdeen)
DateJanuary 1870
Object NameCLIPPER
MediumCOMPOSITE
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 179'7" x breadth 31'1" x depth 17'9"
gross tonnage 704 tons
gross tonnage 704 tons
Object numberABDSHIP001153
Keywords
Yard Number: 265
Official Number: 62437
Subsequent Names: LETIZIA (1897)
Fate: broken up at Naples, August 1905.
Propulsion: Sail
Description: Ship rigged clipper, 2 decks, iron frame planked.
Owners:
1870-74: Anderson & Co., registered at Banff.
1875-94: A. McGregor & Co., registered at Hobart, Tasmania.
1896: A. E. Risby, registered at Hobart, Tasmania.
1897-1905: L. Castellano, registered at Naples.
Masters:
1871-75: Master J. Hodge
1875-77: Master R. Copping
1877-94: Master J. A. Rogers
1894-96: Master H. Boon
1897-98: Master D. Cacace
1900-03: Master R. Menua
1905: Master F. Mastellone
Voyage (Lloyd's):
1871: Aberdeen - China
1872-73: London - Australia
General History:
09/07/1874:
Ship LUFRA sold to a Captain Alexander McGregor, of Hobart, Tasmania for £11,000 (Hobart Mercury)
(He ran her as the Tasmanian Line, very successfully, between Hobart and London for two decades)
08/08/1874:
'Ship LUFRA has on previous voyages discharged har cargo satisfactorily, but on present occassion much merchandise damaged irreparably by rats, there was great anxiety during voyage when vessel was found to be making water. On discharging cargo it was found that the mainmast was saturated and rats had eaten through the upper scupper, when this was submerged a torrent of water was poured into the hold. Had she experienced tempestuous weather it would have been impossible to keep the ship afloat.'
(Glasgow Herald)
25/08/1874:
'To the Editor from 'A Tasmanian Shellback' - Re. para concerning ship LUFRA, I think your reporter rather exaggerated her merits. We are all aware that she is a remarkably fine ship, but it is going too far to say she is the finest and handsomest vessel in the world or which has entered our waters. We all know that Tasmania is rarely visited by ships of any note, but still I think there are some lying at our wharves which might compete for looks and good qualities even with the LUFRA.'
(Hobart Mercury (Tasmania))
23/07/1889:
'During violent gale on Sunday two ship wrecked crews were landed at Deal by a lugger from barque LUFRA, Capt. Rogers, of Hobart, and barque ERAGEROE (Norwegian). Crew of LUFRA state their ship left London docks Wednesday with general cargo for Tasmania when off Isle of Wight in severe weather they fell in with the Norwegian barque. During the gale the two ships collided. The Norwegian vessel was struck in stern and binnacle light exploded, setting fire to her. LUFRA had large quantity of gunpowder amongst her cargo and as she was close to the burning ship LUFRA's captain ordered crew to take to the boats and they pulled to a safe distance. After Norwegian vessel sank Capt. Rogers and 12 of his crew pulled back to the LUFRA, but other boats were unable to reach her because of the gale. After three hours men in one of LUFRA's boats (and the Norwegian crew) were picked up by another Norwegian vessel, however, LUFRA's remaining boat with three men, drifted off into the darkness. They had oars but no rowlocks. It is hoped that they will be able to keep afloat till another vessel falls in with them. Men from LUFRA's rescued boat report water was breaking over it and they were up to their waists in water.'
(Morning Post (London))
"She was the last composite built sailing ship to be constructed by A. Hall & Sons, bearing their yard number 265. She was built for Anderson & Co. Banff. She began life as a full-rigged ship with a single topsail on the mizen. She made two voyages to China and then three out to Adelaide. In 1874 she was bought by Alexander McGregor & Co., Hobart and was reduced to a barque. She was placed in the Hobart to London trade for the next 23 years and proved to be a fast vessel. Her average time on the passage to London was 89 days and for the passage to Hobart the average was 90 days. In 1876 she had a close race out to Tasmania with the "WAGOOLA": both vessels sailing from London, left England on the same tide - 20 July - and reached Hobart on the same tide on 25 October - 97 days out.
The "LUFRA" was sold to L. Castellano of Naples in 1897 for £1,250 and was renamed "LETIZIA". She was broken up in 1905".
(David R. MacGregor (1983 edn) "The Tea Clippers: Their History and Development 1833-1875" (Conway Maritime, London), pp. 216-17 (illustration on p. 216))
08/1905: Broken up at Naples.
(Lloyd's Casualty Returns, 1 July - 30 September 1905, p. 9)
Notes: Contract cost £10,097 (Builder’s List held in the Lloyd’s Library of the Aberdeen Maritime Museum)
1874: re-rigged as a barque
The State Library of Tasmania has images of this vessel ( https://librariestas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/library/search/results?qu=lufra&qf=LINC_TAS_AVAIL%09Availability%09Online%09Online&qf=PUBDATE%09Year%098-1896%098-1896&qf=FORMAT_LINCTAS%09Format%09photograph%09photograph )
(Information courtesy Mr S. Ross, Tasmania and State Library of Tasmania)
1862
1818
