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SS Celtic (1872)
Encyclopedia
SS Celtic was a steamship built for the White Star Line
by shipbuilders Harland and Wolff
of Belfast
.
The Celtic (later the Amerika), the first of two White Star ships to bear the name, was the second of two Oceanic
-class liners commissioned by White Star, following the success of their first four steamships (the Adriatic
being the earlier of the new pair). The new ship was originally supposed to be named the Arctic, but since the American Collins Line
had had a paddle-wheel steamer
with that name which had sunk
in 1854, the White Star management changed their minds, and settled on the name Celtic.
In 1880, a young officer named Edward Smith, who later became the Line's most celebrated Captain, and the Captain of Titanic, joined the crew of Celtic as her Fourth Officer.
On 19 May 1887, at about 5:25 in the afternoon, the Celtic collided with the White Star liner Britannic
in thick fog about 350 miles (563.3 km) east of Sandy Hook, New Jersey
. The Celtic, with 870 passengers, had been steaming westbound for New York City
, while the Britannic, carrying 450 passengers, was on the second day of her eastward journey to Liverpool
. The two ships collided at almost right angles, with the Celtic burying her prow 10 feet (3 m) in the aft port side of Britannic. The Celtic rebounded and hit two more times, before sliding past behind Britannic.
Six steerage
passengers were killed outright on board Britannic, and another six were later found to be missing, having been washed overboard. There were no deaths on board Celtic. Both ships were badly damaged, but Britannic more so, having a large hole below her waterline. Fearing that she would founder, the passengers on board began to panic and rushed the lifeboat
s. Britannic's captain, pistol in hand, was able to restore some semblance of order, and the boats were filled with women and children, although a few men forced their way on board. After the lifeboats had launched, it was realized that Britannic would be able to stay afloat, and the lifeboats within hailing distance were recalled. The rest made their way over to the Celtic. The two ships remained together through the night, and the next morning were joined by the Wilson Line's Marengo and the British Queen of the Inman Line
, and the four slowly made their way into New York Harbor
.
The Celtic was sold in 1893 to the Thingvalla Line
. In 1898, the year that Thingvalla was absorbed into the Scandinavian American Line
, the Amerika was scrapped.
White Star Line
The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British shipping company, today most famous for its ill-fated vessel, the RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of Titanics sister ship Britannic...
by shipbuilders Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff
Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a Northern Irish heavy industrial company, specialising in shipbuilding and offshore construction, located in Belfast, Northern Ireland....
of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
.
The Celtic (later the Amerika), the first of two White Star ships to bear the name, was the second of two Oceanic
RMS Oceanic (1870)
RMS Oceanic was the White Star Line's first liner and an important turning point in passenger liner design.-Design and construction:Oceanic was built by Harland and Wolff in Belfast, and was launched on 27 August 1870, arriving in Liverpool for her maiden voyage on 26 February 1871...
-class liners commissioned by White Star, following the success of their first four steamships (the Adriatic
SS Adriatic (1871)
SS Adriatic was the first of two White Star Line ocean liners which carried this name.-History:The White Star Line's first four steamships met with great success in the trans-Atlantic market, and the line decided to build two more...
being the earlier of the new pair). The new ship was originally supposed to be named the Arctic, but since the American Collins Line
Collins Line
The Collins Line is the common name for the American shipping company started by Israel Collins and then built up by his son Edward Knight Collins...
had had a paddle-wheel steamer
Paddle steamer
A paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
with that name which had sunk
SS Arctic
The SS Arctic was a 3,000-ton Paddle steamer in the Collins Line steamships. A sister-ship to the SS Pacific that went into service in 1852, the ship was at the time the largest and most splendid of the line and was in operation in the Liverpool packet...
in 1854, the White Star management changed their minds, and settled on the name Celtic.
In 1880, a young officer named Edward Smith, who later became the Line's most celebrated Captain, and the Captain of Titanic, joined the crew of Celtic as her Fourth Officer.
On 19 May 1887, at about 5:25 in the afternoon, the Celtic collided with the White Star liner Britannic
SS Britannic (1874)
SS Britannic was the first of three ships to sail with Britannic name. All were part of the White Star Line, famous for Titanic and other ocean liners....
in thick fog about 350 miles (563.3 km) east of Sandy Hook, New Jersey
Sandy Hook, New Jersey
Sandy Hook is a barrier spit, approximately 6.0 miles in length and varying between 0.10 and 1 miles wide in Middletown Township in Monmouth County, along the Atlantic Ocean coast of eastern New Jersey in the United States. The barrier spit encloses the southern entrance of Lower New York Bay...
. The Celtic, with 870 passengers, had been steaming westbound for New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, while the Britannic, carrying 450 passengers, was on the second day of her eastward journey to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. The two ships collided at almost right angles, with the Celtic burying her prow 10 feet (3 m) in the aft port side of Britannic. The Celtic rebounded and hit two more times, before sliding past behind Britannic.
Six steerage
Steerage
Steerage is the act of steering a ship. "Steerage" also refers to the lowest decks of a ship.-Steerage and steerage way:The rudder of a vessel can only steer the ship when water is passing over it...
passengers were killed outright on board Britannic, and another six were later found to be missing, having been washed overboard. There were no deaths on board Celtic. Both ships were badly damaged, but Britannic more so, having a large hole below her waterline. Fearing that she would founder, the passengers on board began to panic and rushed the lifeboat
Lifeboat (shipboard)
A lifeboat is a small, rigid or inflatable watercraft carried for emergency evacuation in the event of a disaster aboard ship. In the military, a lifeboat may be referred to as a whaleboat, dinghy, or gig. The ship's tenders of cruise ships often double as lifeboats. Recreational sailors sometimes...
s. Britannic's captain, pistol in hand, was able to restore some semblance of order, and the boats were filled with women and children, although a few men forced their way on board. After the lifeboats had launched, it was realized that Britannic would be able to stay afloat, and the lifeboats within hailing distance were recalled. The rest made their way over to the Celtic. The two ships remained together through the night, and the next morning were joined by the Wilson Line's Marengo and the British Queen of the Inman Line
American Line
The American Line was a shipping company based in Philadelphia that was founded in 1871. It began as part of the Pennsylvania Railroad, although the railroad got out of the shipping business soon after founding the company...
, and the four slowly made their way into New York Harbor
New York Harbor
New York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental,...
.
The Celtic was sold in 1893 to the Thingvalla Line
DFDS
DFDS is a Danish shipping company. It is one of the world's largest ferry operators. The companies name is an acronym of Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab DFDS is a Danish shipping company. It is one of the world's largest ferry operators. The companies name is an acronym of Det Forenede...
. In 1898, the year that Thingvalla was absorbed into the Scandinavian American Line
DFDS
DFDS is a Danish shipping company. It is one of the world's largest ferry operators. The companies name is an acronym of Det Forenede Dampskibs-Selskab DFDS is a Danish shipping company. It is one of the world's largest ferry operators. The companies name is an acronym of Det Forenede...
, the Amerika was scrapped.