Friday April 7th 1855
Loss of the steamship NATAL
Southampton April 5th
We regret to announce the loss of the General Screw Steamers Co’s steamer NATAL, intelligence reached Southampton today by the steamship EUXINE, last from Gibraltar.
The NATAL was one of the companies small vessels, being only 650 tons burden, 120 hp. For the past 2 yrs she has been employed in running between the Cape of Good Hope and Natal, from which station she returned due to the abandonment of the service on 6th Feb last. After a thorough refit she was chartered by the French Government for the conveyance of troops and military stores, and sailed from Southampton on the 15th March for Marseilles to load at the port for the Crimea.
It was while prosecuting the voyage under the command of Capt BOXER, that the disaster occurred. On the night of the 29th ult, at 9.30 pm she went ashore at Conil on the coast of Spain.
On the news reaching the British Consul at Cadiz, assistance was immediately sent to the wreck. According to the latest accounts the greatest part of the stores could be saved but the vessel will become a total wreck.
All hands were saved with the exception of one person, John STEWART, Fireman, who drowned. Full details will be received by the steamer IBERIA expected at Southampton in a few days.
Copyright 2002 / To date