Lufra - a general history

Official No. 67529: Code Letters LHBT.Masters: 1878 Periam: October 1879 Johnstone: November 1879 Henry Beane.

Bound from Newcastle-on-Tyne for Genoa with a cargo of 1773 tons of coal, 198 tons of bunker coal & a total crew of 21 Lufra was abandoned & sank in the Bay of Biscay in 47.00N/8.50W on 28 November 1879.

Wreck Report:

‘Lufra had discharged a cargo of grain at Bremerhaven & with a crew of 21 all told, proceeded to Howden Dock on the Tyne & took on a cargo of 1,773 tons of coal & 198 tons of bunker coal. As there was not enough water for her to pass the sill of the dock the after-ballast tank was pumped out but this gave her a list so the tank was refilled. At midnight on 23 November 1879 at the mouth of the river the pilot left the vessel. She then proceeded to Genoa. On 27 November there were very strong gales & at 4am on 28 November the chief engineer saw water coming into the engine-room. They put all the pumps into action but the water was gaining rapidly. A heavy sea then struck her astern & carried away the after wheel & smashed the companion & cabin doors. The vessel was labouring & the water was still gaining. At 9am the port after boat was washed away & an hour later the starboard after boat was stove & later the port lifeboat was smashed to pieces. By 5pm the starboard fires were put out & the vessel now had a strong list to that side. On the morning of 29 November the vessel was lying on her beam ends.  The crew patched up the starboard lifeboat & put it over the side & along with provisions & the ship’s papers they all got in. Almost immediately the boat capsized & they were all thrown into the water. They managed to get back aboard Lufra although some were injured. They then bailed the vessel & some of the crew began to fashion a raft. On 30 November an English barque, rather aptly named Gratitude, bore down on them, took them aboard & landed them at Gibraltar. The Giuseppe of Italy then landed the master & the crew of 10 at Cowes in the Isle-of-Wight on 26 November 1880. The Court of Inquiry found that the loss of the vessel had been due to her instability because of being over-laden, having regard to the season of the year & the nature of her intended voyage; & that having regard to the construction of the ship; her high center of gravity, & her consequent lack of stability, she was not qualified to carry a full cargo, or indeed such a cargo as she had on board. In this case the main deck aft was level with the water. The poop was 142 feet long & the clear side measured in front of that. The strain had caused her to spring a leak in the main covering board. Neither the master nor the officers were found to blame. No lives lost.’

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