CLEOPATRA
DateApril 1876
Object NameBARQUE
MediumWOOD
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 139' x breadth 28' x depth 18 5/6'
gross tonnage: 408 ton
gross tonnage: 408 ton
Object numberABDSHIP001709
Keywords
Official Number: 77440
Fate: wrecked, Ponta de Pedras, state of Pernambuco, Brazil, 23 or 24 March 1878.
Propulsion: Sail
Description: Barque rigged, 1 deck with 2 teirs.
Owners:
1876-77: Richard Connon, registered at Aberdeen. (Builder's list in Aberdeen Maritime Museum)
1878: T. Anderson, registered at Aberdeen (Lloyd's)
Masters:
1878: Master F. G. Milne
General History:
26/12/1877:
Barque CLEOPATRA, which was the last vessel built by Messers Humphrey & Co, Aberdeen, left this port for London in charge of Captain F.G. Milne. She belongs to Messers Richard Connon & Co, Aberdeen.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
30/03/1878:
According to a telegram from Lloyd's agent in Pernambuco, the new Barque CLEOPATRA, which left London towards the middle of February with general cargo for Port Philip, has gone ashore at Ponta Pedras, the eastermost point of Brazil and has become a wreck. It is expected that part of her cargo will be recovered. Later telegram states crew were saved and recovering cargo. [Ponta do Seixas/Cape Branco is the easternmost point, Ponta de Pedras is not far south of it]
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
27/04/1878:
12 of crew of Barque CLEOPATRA landed in Liverpool. Barque went ashore near Pernambuco, she afterwards capsized and crew narrowly escaped. About 60 natives armed with knives boarded the stranded vessel, plundered cargo and robbed crew, whom they threatened.
(Daily News)
25/08/1878:
Papers from naval courts held at Pernambuco re loss of CLEOPATRA have been issued. On 6 April Mr Walker, British Consul, reported the wreck to board of trade - after wrecked natives began to plunder the vessel. Captain Prothero appeared two days after, saying he had been detained by the natives. Twice he refused to attend a naval court martial. When officers were sent to apprehend him he barricaded his door and evaded capture for several days. When finally brought to trial the Captain behaved in a very eccentric manner, snapping his fingers at President of Court Martial. Finally court found him guilty of neglecting to attend to his work, of delaying to pay off and discharge crew and of contempt of court. Charge of drunkenness was found not proven. Assessory remarked that during trial he behaved ''as only a man suffering from great mental excitement or monomania would do''. Court suspended master's certificate for 12 months and imprisoned him until the mail steamer sailed. Board of Trade subsequently returned Master's certificate because of doubts about jurisdiction of Court Martial.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
