Hardwick 1873-1880

Built by Matthew Pearse, Lockwood, Stockton-on-Tees: Yard No. 127: completed July 1873: Official No. 67543: Code Letters MGRC: two tier one deck; iron screw steamer; 978g; 619nt; 220 x 29 x 16.6; 4 bulkheads; engine 98hp C.2.Cy 25½ & 51½ -33 65lb; Blair & Co, Stockton-on-Tees.

Owners: 1873 Thomas Appleby, Ropner & Co; 1874 Thomas Appleby & Co, West Hartlepool.

Masters: 1874 Robinson; 1874-80 James Dewar.

Hardwick left Odessa on 21 August 1880 bound for Bristol with a cargo of barley & a crew of 19 all told. On 23 August she reached Constantinople & then Malta on 27 August. The wind began to blow from the east & the vessel began to list to starboard. A heavy sea then struck her & she foundered in the Mediterranian 35 miles east of Gibraltar on 1 September 1880. One survivor was picked up by the Spanish Carmen Juanito & landed at Gibraltar. 18 lives lost.

Wreck Report 8 December 1880.

‘In the matter of the formal investigation held at West Hartlepool on the 8th of December 1880, before H. C. Rothery, Esquire, Wreck Commissioner, assisted by Captain White, R.N., and Captain Harland as Assessors, into the circumstances attending the foundering of the Steamship "HARDWICK" of West Hartlepool, about 35 miles East of Gibraltar on the 1st of September 1880, whereby 18 lives were lost.
The Court, having carefully inquired into the circumstances of the above-mentioned shipping casualty, finds, for the reasons annexed;
1. That the loss of the vessel was due, partly to the empty ballast tanks in her bottom, partly to the light and bulky character of the cargo, partly to her low freeboard, and partly to her well-deck; which rendered her liable to take, and to capsize if she took, water on her deck.
2. That there is no reason to think that, when she left Odessa, she was not in good and seaworthy condition, so far as her hull was concerned; but that the shifting boards were not carried sufficiently low, and that if not overladen, she was at all events very deeply laden.
3. That looking to the construction of the vessel, as a well-decked vessel, the height of her empty ballast tanks, and her low freeboard, she had not sufficient stability.
No application was made for any order as to costs.’