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Launch of HMS Princess Charlotte
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Peter



Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Posts: 105
Location: Gosport, Hampshire

Post Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:46 am    Post subject: Launch of HMS Princess Charlotte Reply with quote

Launch of HMS Princess Charlotte

The launch of any large ship in Portsmouth dockyard was a major spectator attraction, what is sad about this launch is things went drastically wrong when the dock gates burst open.

Wednesday being the day appointed for this magnificent spectacle, the whole neighbourhood was in motion at an early hour. For several days previous the towns had been filling with company, and on Tuesday evening it was difficult to procure a bed, which obliged many families of distinction to resort to Havant and other places for accommodation. - By half past eleven it is calculated that nearly 30,000 persons were assembled in the Dock-yard. The harbour was littered covered with vessels of every description, many of which were decorated with numerous colours including those of various nations; the ships of war in commission and in ordinary were crowded with spectators ranged on platforms on the decks; every tower, roof and quay was covered, and steam packets from Ryde, Southampton, and other places continued to arrive during the forenoon. A few minutes before twelve, salutes from the Platform Battery proclaimed the embarkation of the Prince Saxe Cobourg, who advanced up the Harbour in the Admiral’s barge, adorned with the Imperial Standard of England, accompanied by Admiral Sir George Martin, Commissioner the Hon. Sir George Grey, Bart. and Capt. C. Inglis, the Victory, the Ganges, and other line battle ships manning yards, cheering and firing Royal salutes, presenting a scene so truly and national and imposing that words are altogether inadequate to the description. Amid the thunder of artillery, the strains of martial music, and the deafening shouts of thousands, the Princess Charlotte with the Imperial Standard, the Naval flag, and the Union, moved from the stocks which she had been raised by nine years incessant labour, and rode in majestic splendour on the ocean. As the figure head (a colossal statue of the late lamented Princess, in a dress of white satin, a robe of peach-colour, and a crimson scarf, with head dress, necklace and bracelets, and ornaments, glittering in the sun – a most exquisite likeness) came in sight, an extraordinary sensation was conveyed to the assembled multitude. In a few minutes the magnificent ship advanced towards the basin, for the purpose of being coppered.

At one o’clock another launch took place, of the Myrtle, of 10 guns, which went off in good style, and from the circumstance of her having to make a descent over the sea wall, created a proportionate degree of interest.
The Prince heard of the intended launch only the day preceeding, and immediately determined to manifest his respect for the memory of his departed Princess by being present at the ceremony, and at five o’clock in the morning left Claremont, for that purpose, not withstanding he had invited a large party to dinner. Before however, the Royal Barge could be placed in a desirable position to observe a view, the ship had taken to the water, and was completely afloat. After the launch his Royal Highness was rowed round the Princess Charlotte, and up the Harbour. He then landed, and immediately proceeded on his return to Claremont.
Under the covering constructed for building the Princess Charlotte, three spacious booths were erected, for the particular friends of the Port Admiral, the Commissioner, and the Lieutenant-Governor, by which judicious measure about 800 distinguished individuals obtained an admirable view of this majestic ceremony.

Happily would it have been could we here conclude our report of the proceedings of the day; but it is our painful duty to record one of the most painful and melancholy and distressing accidents which ever occurred in the neighbourhood, the fatal effects of which will be long remembered by many bereaved families, not only in the immediate vicinity but in various parts of the kingdom. It being intended that the Princess Charlotte should be received into the south-east dock, situated in the front of the offices of the Clerk of the Cheque, preparations had been made the previous day for this purpose, when between 300 and 400 men were employed in clearing the dock and laying the blocks. On the morning of the launch, the caissoon which stops the communication between the Harbour and the great basin, was floated, to admit the new ship, and consequently as the tide rose the whole pressure was upon the flood gates of the several dry docks, if which there are four, communicating with the basin, and over each bridges are placed, removable at pleasure, forming the principal thoroughfare from the entrance of the Yard to the spot where the ship was built.

A few minutes before twelve, the tide having risen almost to its full height, acquired a momentum, which overpowered the resistance and the gates burst inwards with frightful devastation. A scene of the most appalling and terrific description ensued. In an instant every soul on the bridge was hurled into a foaming abyss, occasioned by the rush of water into an empty dock. It is impossible to ascertain the number of people on the bridge at that moment; but it is conjectured not less than forty. In about a quarter of an hour nine persons were taken out, and conveyed to the Dock-yard surgery, seven of whom were fortunately recovered, although very severely bruised, these being the whole that rose to the surface after the agitation of the water had subsided. The tremendous crash carried all before it, and rent the timber to pieces, parts of which must have fallen on the unfortunate people, and caused almost certain death.
The report of the accident spread through the towns with the utmost rapidity, and for a considerable time the utmost consternation and terror were strongly depicted in every countenance, there being scarcely a family which had not some persons absent to witness the launch.
Since the catastrophe the most active measures have been resorted to for the recovery of the bodies, and 17 have been taken out, but the full extent of the calamity, in all probability, will not for some time be known. The following are the persons who have already been taken from the basin, upon whom inquests have been held, by Mr. F. Howard, coroner: -
Mr Thomas Deering, Mate of the Victory.
John Stanfield, an Officer of the Customs – has left three children.
Lazarus Hart, aged 50, and his daughter, residing in Oyster Street, Portsmouth; also a boy, aged six years of the name Nathan, in his company.
A man named Showers, who resided at Butcher-st, Portsea.
A female named Froggett.
A boy in the employ of Mr Ayling, hatter Queen Street, Portsea, whose parents reside in Pud’s-Lane.
Two sisters, named Knight; one servant to Mrs Maton, Queen Street, and the other to a person in Butcher Street, Portsea, whose child, two years, was with her, and drowned.
Taylor, an errand boy to Mr Winsom, pork-butcher.
Two young ladies, who came from Chichester with a child – the latter saved. The bodies have been sent to Chichester.

Mrs Kelly dress, dress-maker, Common Hard, was taken out insensible, but afterwards recovered. Mr Sabben, an aged gentleman, residing in St.George’s square, Portsea, was among the number saved, but lies in a precarious state.

Among the numerous persons who exerted themselves in behalf of the sufferers, we must not omit to notice the conduct of a Mr Seagrove, a man’s mercer, of Common Hard, who suceeded in saving the life of a lady, by diving twice into the basin during the confusion occasioned by the accident.
By the prompt exertions of Mr Porter, Mr Martell, and many others of the faculty, the lives of six individuals were preserved. No praise can do justice to the unwearied attention of the Medical gentlemen.
Such was the pressure of water against the gates that they were literally wrenched from the stonework, and the heavy timbers that formed them snapped asunder in an instant. It was observed by many that some of the sufferers had reached the bottom of the dock before the water, had made its full entrance; but pieces of planking, and blocks of wood were dashed against them, and the whole hurried to and fro in violent agitation. When the water has assumed a surface, an infant in long clothes was seen quite buoyant, which was soon taken out without the least injury, and restored to its astonished mother, who was so frightened at the dreadful sight she witnessed, that she dropped her child into the water.

A subscription is already commenced for the relief of the unfortunate sufferers.

We are informed it was the intention of His Royal Highness the Prince of Cobourg to have performed himself the ceremony of christening the Princess Charlotte, had he arrived in time; and that he felt the disappointment keenly. We are enabled to state, with certainty, that his Royal Highness was not aware of the sad calamity previous to his departure.

The basin has sustained considerable damage, and the gates of the Dock, in which Hibernia now is, have been forced five inches from their position.
No more bodies have as yet been recovered from the basin, but there is a list upwards of twenty missing, independent of strangers. The body of a female has this day been washed on shore, but in so mutilated a state as to be impossible to distinguish the features.

Source: Hampshire Chronicle, 17 September 1825.



Last edited by Peter on Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:09 pm; edited 1 time in total
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alexlitandem



Joined: 27 Mar 2007
Posts: 129

Post Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 12:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Peter,

That's a most evocative piece of journalism: one can readily picture the scene and the excitement on the day - and then the chaos and panic as news of the tragic event spread far and wide!

Just imagine, 30,000 people in that dockyard!

Just to prove I'm attentive, not being critical in any way, but should the year not be 1825 rather than 1823?

The database here shows the launch as September 1825 - but the article is dated September 1823.

Was the Ship formally launched in 1823, then fitted out over the next couple of years or so? How did it all work `in those days'? Was there an official launch, fitting out, sea-trials, refits etc., that explains the two dates, or is one of them simply a `typo'?

(What a lucky baby! What a lucky and astonished mother!)
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Peter



Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Posts: 105
Location: Gosport, Hampshire

Post Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes you are quite right, it should have read Saturday 17th September 1825. The type setter has put in a three instead of a five. It reads Saturday Sep 17, 1823. I have a copy of the page from the newspaper in front of me.

I have checked the year and 1823 was either a 13th or a 20th. But in 1825 Saturday was a 17.

Which data base are you referring to?

I use Ships of the Royal Navy by JJ Colledge, revised by Ben Warlow. Agrees that the launch took place in 1825

Normally the ship was launched down a ramp, or flooded up in a dry dock, and then it was taken to another part of the dockyard for fitting out. Warships that were built at the shipyards, ie, Bursledon on the River Hamble, were rowed or towed to the Royal dockyard at Portsmouth and then fitted out.

There were quite often problems at launching, very often deaths as already indicated.

There was not a lot going on in those days so a launch was always a spectacular event. A good hanging at Portsmouth followed by drawing and quartering would attract a crowd of 100,000.

In view of your attentiveness I think you should go to the top of the class and give out the pencils.
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