Elizabeth (East Indiaman)
Encyclopedia
The Elizabeth was a 650-ton cargo ship chartered by private merchants (and thus not technically an East Indiaman) to sail to Madras and Bengal
with a cargo of metals, beer glass and trade goods as well as a substantial number of passengers and lascars
. On the 28 December 1810, she was wrecked on the Dunkirk brake.
The ship had departed London
, aiming to meet up with the annual East India fleet on the 26 October, but had met with such strong gales during the passage down the English Channel
, that she was forced to stay in Cork Harbour
for almost a month. Upon leaving the Irish city, she was again caught by a gale and dragged right back up the Channel, before managing to anchor on the 27 December off South Foreland
.
Unfortunately, under the strain of the wind and the constant exertion of the past two months, the cables broke, cauing the ship to drift towards the French coast, unable to hold her movement. She fired off numerous guns and flares, but those watching on the French shore were powerless to assist due to the powerful waves and wind which would have doomed any rescue attempt. Near Calais
she lost her rudder on a rock, and sprang several leaks, leaving her totally at the whim of the sea, which dragged the ship further down the coastline, before crashing her into the outer banks of the Dunkirk brake, where her masts tumbled overboard, smashing the boats, leaving only three, one of which was swamped within moments of launching. Two other boats brought 22 survivors to shore, but there was no chance of a return mission, as the sea had become even more formidable. During the ensuing storm, the ship broke into pieces and was scattered all along the coastline, along with its entire remaining crew, who were killed.
There was no consensus about the numbers of dead, as the ship's records were either lost in the wreck or incomplete, especially with regards to the lascars. It is known that at least 380 persons were aboard upon leaving Cork, and it is thought that the number may have been as high as 400, including at least eight women, all of whom perished. Amongst the survivors were six Britons and 15 lascars, including two of the ships crew. France later exchanged these men for French prisoners in accordance with the custom of the time.
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
with a cargo of metals, beer glass and trade goods as well as a substantial number of passengers and lascars
Lascars
See also Lashkar, LaskarA lascar and was a sailor or militiaman from the Indian Subcontinent or other countries east of the Cape of Good Hope, employed on European ships from the 16th century until the beginning of the 20th century...
. On the 28 December 1810, she was wrecked on the Dunkirk brake.
The ship had departed London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, aiming to meet up with the annual East India fleet on the 26 October, but had met with such strong gales during the passage down the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
, that she was forced to stay in Cork Harbour
Cork Harbour
Cork Harbour is a natural harbour and river estuary at the mouth of the River Lee in County Cork, Ireland. It is one of several which lay claim to the title of "second largest natural harbour in the world by navigational area" . Other contenders include Halifax Harbour in Canada, and Poole Harbour...
for almost a month. Upon leaving the Irish city, she was again caught by a gale and dragged right back up the Channel, before managing to anchor on the 27 December off South Foreland
South Foreland
South Foreland is a chalk headland on the Kent coast of southeast England. It presents a bold cliff to the sea, and commands views over the Strait of Dover. It is northeast of Dover and 15 miles south of North Foreland...
.
Unfortunately, under the strain of the wind and the constant exertion of the past two months, the cables broke, cauing the ship to drift towards the French coast, unable to hold her movement. She fired off numerous guns and flares, but those watching on the French shore were powerless to assist due to the powerful waves and wind which would have doomed any rescue attempt. Near Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
she lost her rudder on a rock, and sprang several leaks, leaving her totally at the whim of the sea, which dragged the ship further down the coastline, before crashing her into the outer banks of the Dunkirk brake, where her masts tumbled overboard, smashing the boats, leaving only three, one of which was swamped within moments of launching. Two other boats brought 22 survivors to shore, but there was no chance of a return mission, as the sea had become even more formidable. During the ensuing storm, the ship broke into pieces and was scattered all along the coastline, along with its entire remaining crew, who were killed.
There was no consensus about the numbers of dead, as the ship's records were either lost in the wreck or incomplete, especially with regards to the lascars. It is known that at least 380 persons were aboard upon leaving Cork, and it is thought that the number may have been as high as 400, including at least eight women, all of whom perished. Amongst the survivors were six Britons and 15 lascars, including two of the ships crew. France later exchanged these men for French prisoners in accordance with the custom of the time.