Loss of the Marianna 1852

Southport Visiter

March 26th 1852

The loss of the Australian War steamer MARIANNA

The Vienna correspondent of the times gives the following details of the loss of the MARIANNA :-

“When at seven in the morning of the 4th, the Emperor was about to leave Vienna for Trieste, the most experienced pilot at Maro Mocco strongly protested against the departure, 'it being next to impossible to reach Trieste in the teeth of such a violent bora.' Instead of following the council of the veteran sailor the military men forming the suite of the Monarch held a council of war at which it was determined to put to sea forthwith.

The SEA MOEVE [SEE MEW] led the way and was soon followed by the VOLTA and MARIANNA. The VOLTA on board which was the emperor and his suite, soon separated from the other vessels, and only succeeded in reaching Rovigno at 9am on the 5th.

His Majesty, the Archduke Charles Ferdinand, the Duke of Parma, Count Grune and General Wimpffen, the commander in chief of the navy, landed at Rovigno, and made the best of their way to Trieste.

The other members of the suite were have to have gone by sea, but, fortunately for them, the plan was subsequently changed.

The SEA MOEVE was in port but was in a most dilapidated condition, and the Lloyd’s still holds hopes that the crew of the MARIANNA has escaped, through the St LUCIA which was sent out in search for her, and reported she had seen fragments of wreck tossed about, and 40 bodies have been found near Chiogga.

A naval officer witnessed from Trieste, that he fully believes, not a soul has escaped, and adds that the stern-gallery of the MARIANNA, formerly the PIO NONO, had been drifting near Ancona.

He gives the number of persons on board as being 105, of these, 90 sailors, 5 officers and 10 other persons.

The indignation of the public at what is considered a wanton sacrifice of human life, is so great that it for the moment it overcomes the dread of the military courts.

1 o’ clock, “I have just heard a telegraphic despatch has been received with the news that the crew was saved off the Albanian coast, I do not believe it.”

April 2nd 1852

The loss of the Austrian Mail steamer MARIANNA still occupies the public mind. The cause of the deplorable occurrence remains unknown. It is most probable that the steamer was destroyed by fire and the explosion of the gunpowder store-room, none of the 60 persons on board have survived to tell the tale. Several bodies blackened and mutilated have been identified as those of the crew.

Shipwreck off the coast of Cork

Skull, March 25th - The NUOVO ZILANTE, 211 tons, an Austrian brig, commanded by Giovanni CIPOLOVICH and manned with 10 men, was bound from Galatz to Queenstown, for orders, loaded with a cargo of Indian corn. On the night of the 21st inst, it blowing a heavy gale from the south, the sea running high and the weather thick with rain, the vessel got embayed in Ballydivillin Bay and was driven on the rocks close to Turf Island, about 11pm, when she immediately sank, breaking in the centre and both masts falling over the side.

5, crew, Giovanni LIDOVICH, Mate, Stefano DOGO, Seaman, Giovanni GIOVANOVICH, Giacomo di VALOSCO and Lucca VECALICH persevered in getting on one of the rocks, 3 were washed off during the night, and the remaining 2 about 8am on Monday, the entire 5 meeting a watery grave in the presence of the others who had clung to the wreck. About 11am the gale abated and a boat came to the assistance of the survivors still clinging to the wreck, all were saved except for one, Christofero LONZO, who died from fatigue immediately on landing.

Two of the bodies have been washed ashore and interred at Castlepoint, and Christofero LONZO, who died on landing is interred in the churchyard here.

MAIN PAGE

Copyright 2002 / To date