DAMASCUS
Shipbuildervessel built by
Walter Hood & Co.
(Shipbuilder, Footdee, Aberdeen 1839 - 1881)
Date1857
Object NameCLIPPER
MediumWOOD
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 208 3/12' x breadth 33 9/12' x depth 20 9/12'
Gross Tonnage: 964 ton
Gross Tonnage: 964 ton
Object numberABDSHIP000345
Keywords
Subsequent Names: MAGNOLIA (1881)
Fate: stranded at Bersimis and became a total loss, 1 September 1893.
Propulsion: Sail
Description: 2 decks (poop deck atop gallant forecastle), 3 masts, ship rigged, carvel built, no galleries, man figurehead.
Owners:
1857: Registered at Aberdeen for subscribing owners;
George Thompson Jnr., William Henderson, Stephen Thompson, 12 St. Helens Place London, all shipowners, 32 shares.
Other Shareholders:
Alexander Alexander, 16 shares; James Buyers, 4 shares; Walter Hood, 4 shares; Richard Searle, 4 shares; Isaac Merchant, 4 shares; Helen Alexander, 16 shares - in 1862
Source: Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives)
1881: Owners D. Svendsen, registered in Christiania
Masters:
1857-59: Master Alexander
1861-66: Master Murray
1867-69: Master R. Boaden
1870-77: Master Taylor
1878: Master J. Pitt
1880-82: Master Laird
Voyages:
1857-80: London - Australia.
General History:
07/04/1859:
DAMASCUS, 964 tons, left Sydney 3 Feb. for London, Capt. Alexander - 24 cabin passengers and 2 servants; 2872½ bales wool, 2 bales cotton, 6036 hides, 786 bags kawi gum, 5 casks hardware, 14 kegs arsenic, 69 boxes black sand and sundries.
(Morning Chronicle)
20/02/1861:
DAMASCUS, freightship, chartered for conveyance of 750 tons of war stores from Royal Arsenal to Mediterranean stations, including large amount 8 in. shot for Malta.
(Morning Chronicle)
21/05/1861:
DAMASCUS, ship, Murray, arrived Sydney 81 days from the downs (3/7/61, departed 2 July for London).
(Sydney Empire)
16/10/1861:
Copy of address presented to Capt. Robert Murray of Aberdeen clipper DAMASCUS, belonging to George Thompson, Jun. & Co:- sense of your judicious, zealous, unwearied attention to safety of ship, especially during unusually arduous passage through the ice over 71 degrees longitude and 6 degrees latitude. You passed 11 whole consecutive nights on deck on watch while by your cheerfulness and energy you gave confidence and courage to us all. Our best thanks to you, your excellent officers and crew. Beg you to accept from us a small purse.
(Aberdeen Journal)
19/12/1861:
Extract of letter from Sir W.W. Barton: - We were 88 days on our passage home, 30 to Cape Horn and for 2200 miles to the Cape were beset by icebergs. Our good captain passed 11 nights consecutively on deck. The cold was extreme. Ladies had to keep to their cabins for a week, but for 2 weeks (missing only 1 day) the children never ceased their play. The icebergs we saw were of a height (one above 170 feet and another 300) and size (like islands) which must have grown over many years. We saw the submerged part of one of these, which was covered with green grass, weed and shellfish. Our captain left at the exact time calculated to have a full moon when in those longitudes, but sleet and mist impeded the moon’s rays. Capt. Murray deserved and received our thankful acknowledgment with a full purse. The ship was abundantly and liberally supplied and we fared as well as on any ship.
(Sydney Morning Herald)
26/04/1862:
Water police court - under merchant shipping act, Robert J. Hughes sentenced to 12 weeks hard labour in gaol for deserting ship DAMASCUS.
(Sydney Mail)
14/03/1863:
James Murphy, seaman, 6 weeks hard labour for desertion from DAMASCUS.
(Sydney Mail)
16/03/1864:
Death on board ship DAMASCUS of Rev. William Robertson when about 6 weeks sailing distance from Sydney. At very urgent request of Mrs. Robertson his body was allowed to remain on board until ship's arrival at destination.
(Caledonian Mercury)
21/10/1865:
DAMASCUS, Murray, loading for London.
(Sydney Morning Herald)
15/11/1866:
DAMASCUS, Boaden, loading for London.
(Sydney Morning Herald)
23/01/1867:
DAMASCUS, Boaden, 86 days from the downs.
(Sydney Morning Herald)
27/03/1868:
DAMASCUS, Melbourne-London, spoken 20 Jan., 14S, 27W. [Off coast of Brazil].
(Sydney Morning Herald)
11/08/1869:
Aberdeen clipper ship DAMASCUS arrived 29 July after excellent passage 85 days the Downs - Sydney heads. Captain Taylor states that he left the downs 4 May. Landing pilot off Portland Bill next day, passed Madeira 15 May and lost NE trades 25 May in latitude 8 N. Equator was crossed 31 May in latitude 29W. SE trades carried ship to latitude 17S, rounded Cape of Good Hope 24 June. Thereafter very unsettled weather as she ran her easting down on latitude of 42S - winds flying round in heavy gales & a fearful sea running, continually filling the deck, precluding possibility of making even ordinary speed. Cape Otway passed 22 July, light winds with unsettled weather prevailing to this port.
(Sydney Morning Herald)
02/02/1870:
Deaths - at London 29 January, John Boaden, late 2nd officer of ship DAMASCUS, of Aberdeen, age 22.
(Aberdeen Journal)
31/08/1870:
DAMASCUS, Taylor, arrived 79 days from the Lizard. (Loading for London 07/10/1870)
(Sydney Morning Herald)
30/01/1872:
Dartmouth, January 28 - ship DAMASCUS (of Aberdeen) from London for Sydney, put in today with steering apparatus broken.
(Glasgow Herald)
15/05/1872:
DAMASCUS, Mitchell, arrived from Deal (Left 5th Feb.)
(Sydney Morning Herald)
18/03/1873:
Dr Inglis of ship DAMASCUS died on outward passage to Sydney.
(Mount Alexander Mai)
17/02/1874:
Boat accident - whilst feeling proud that my efforts were crowned with success, praise should be shared with lad belonging to ship DAMASCUS, who with hearty good pluck swam towards me in the dingy, supporting of his back his drowning mate till I was near enough to lift both in. [Letter to editor]
(Sydney Evening News)
28/04/1880:
About 10:30 this morning a seaman named John Davis, now lying at Cosmopolitan Wharf, met with a severe accident. He was hauling on a chain when a hook slipped, causing him to fall down the hold - injuries 2 or 3 broken ribs & severe shaking.
(Sydney Evening News)
23/03/1881:
Sale of White Star Liner - the full rigged ship DAMASCUS, of Aberdeen, belonging to George Thomson, Jun. & Co., has been sold to Mr. John Robinson Renner, Merchant, Liverpool.
(Aberdeen Weekly Journal)
Notes: changed to barque in Aug. 1875.
Lloyds Classification 1857 - A1. Yellow metal added.
