The Ocean Monarch, an emigrant ship, left Liverpool for America on 24 August 1848. Six miles off Great Orme's Head, North Wales, a passenger was discovered lighting a fire which quickly got out of control. Many emigrants took refuge in the bows and rigging of the foremast, which snapped hurling them in to the sea. Several nearby vessels assisted in the rescue but of the 322 people on board, 178 were lost.
One of the most dramatic marine disasters of the 19th century. "The Ocean Monarch, an emigrant ship, left Liverpool for America on 24 August 1848. Six miles off Great Orme's Head, North Wales, a passenger was discovered lighting a fire which quickly got out of control. Many emigrants took refuge in the bows and rigging of the foremast, which snapped hurling them in to the sea. Several nearby vessels assisted in the rescue but of the 322 people on board, 178 were lost."
I had 4 members of my family on that ship that fateful day. They were: My Great-Great-Grandmother, Mrs S. NEESOM - 44, and great-cousins: Sarah, 16, Edward and Jane NEESOM, 17.
They were leaving Leeds Yorkshire I assume to visit the United States. I haven't found any evidence as to whether they were going to visit family there or just on holiday. My Great-Great-Grandfather, Joseph NEESOM and my Great-Grandfather; Edwin NEESOM did not travel with them. Shortly after the fire, my Great-Grandfather left Leeds to live in Manchester.
The following is taken from several different sources.
"Flames were bursting with immense fury from the stern and centre of the vessel, so great was the heat that the passengers crowded to the fore part of the vessel. In despair women jumped overboard with their offspring in their arms, and sank to rise no more. Groups of men, women and children precipitated themselves into the water in the hope of self-preservation.
No pen can describe the horrible scene, as flames continued to rage with increased fury. In a few minutes the mizenmast went overboard a few minutes more the mainmast shared the same fate.
As the fire made its way to the fore part of the vessel passengers made their way to the jibboom, they clung as thick as they could pack, one lying over another. At length the foremast went overboard, snapping the fastening on the jibboom, which, with its load of human beings fell into the water. Amidst the most heart-rendering screams of those in the water and those still on board, some poor creatures were able to reach the vessel again, some clung to spars, but, many met a watery grave."
"The fire broke out about 12 o' clock. One of the passengers had made a fire in a wooden ventilator on the 3rd deck, which ran through the Captain's state room, he had mistaken the ventilator for a chimney. The captain gave immediate orders to extinguish the fire, but, alas, it was too late, the flames began to spread. Once the fire gained mastery there was little chance of extinguishing it."
"Brazilian steam frigate Affonso, which was out on a trial trip, came up. She anchored immediately to windward, and close to the burning vessel. She got a rope made fast to the Ocean Monarch, and by the use of the said rope her boats were enabled to go backward and forwards to the burning vessel with great facility, and by this means a large number of persons were saved. The Prince of Wales steamer, which was on her passage hence to Bangor, came up shortly afterwards, and with the New World packet-ship, bound for New York, sent boats to the rescue of the passengers, and were the means of saving a large number. The Affonso rescued in all about 160 persons, including thirteen seamen. The Prince of Wales steamer must have rescued some and taken them on with her to Bangor."
"Seeing the disaster, the Queen of the Ocean, yacht, owned by Mr. Thomas Littledale, of Liverpool, with a party of his friends on board, lowered her boat, and the crew, with indefatigable exertions, were the means of saving the lives of 32. The Queen of the Ocean remained alongside till three o' clock, and when she had done all that was possible to do, set sail for Liverpool. "
In 1848 nearly 200 passengers were lost when the "Ocean Monarch" bound for America from Liverpool, caught fire and sank within sight of Llandudno. Bodies were washed ashore and were buried alongside some of the 128 victims of the "Rothsay Castle" which broke up and sank, also within sight of the Great Orme in 1831.
http://www.llandudnolifeboat.org.uk/page2.html
-Women and children too terrified to make any such attempt were rescued by Frederick Jerome, a British crew member of the nearby American sailing packet NEW WORLD
-The hulk remnants still lie on the seabed northeast of the Great Orme
"The captain of the Ocean Monarch did not leave until the crew had gone."
ALLEGED CAUSE OF THE FIRE
From 'The Illustrated London News'
One of the seamen who escaped from the burning ship thus explains the cause
of the fire: - "Edward Jenkins, a seaman on board, was seen going into the
lazarette with a lighted candle, at about 8 a.m., and, in 20 minutes after,
came up again without the candle. About 12 o clock a smoke was seen issuing
from under the cabin which is above the lazarette, and the door was broken
open, when the place was found to be on fire. A seaman on board afterwards
asked Edward Jenkins where the candle was? He said that he had put it in
his pocket to grease his shoes. There was some wine, spirits and straw in
the lazarette at the time."
From: "tony dalton"
http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/Mariners/2002-04/1017733729
Ocean Monarch Wreck Location Location: Place Name: Liverpool Bay Lat / Long : 53 ° 25 ' 40 '' North - 3 ° 35' 37'' West Type : American passenger liner Built : 1843 Hull material : wood Size : 1301 tonnes Length : 55 m Sunk : 1848.08.24 Cause : fire Notes : This wreck is extensively broken up, and there is pottery to be found
Information Provided by Tom Wylie
http://www.ukdiving.co.uk/wrecks/wreck.php?id=259
Ocean Monarch was launched in July 1847, and sailed under the command of Captain Murdoch, formerly the captain of the Joshua Bates and considered to be a very capable shipmaster.
NORBRECK: A SKETCH ON THE LANCASHIRE COAST.
The grave-yard of Bispham church contains some interesting memorials, but none more solemnly eloquent than a certain row of mounds covering the remains of the unknown drowned washed upon that coast from time to time. Several of these, which drifted ashore after the burning of the Ocean Monarch off the coast of Wales, in 1848 lie mouldering together in this quiet country churchyard, all unknown, save a lady from Bury, in Lancashire, to whose memory a tombstone is erected here.
http://www.gerald-massey.org.uk/waugh/c_rambles_(1).htm
A NOBLE ACT HANDSOMELY ACKNOWLEDGED
The Common Council of New York have voted the freedom of the city and a gold box, with suitable inscriptions, to Frederick Jerome, the gallant sailor who saved so many passengers of the Ocean Monarch, at the evident peril of his own life. Jerome belongs to the port of New York, where his wife and family reside. He had, on a previous occasion saved a number of lives and when the catastrophe happened to the Ocean Monarch, he swam to the wreck and with his own hands lowered some fifteen or twenty helpless females into the boat. He was rewarded by a present of £50 from the Prince de Joinville and Duc d'Aumale; the Queen of England also presented him with another £50, and the Humane Society of Liverpool with a gold medal. This intrepid sailor reached this city a few days since in the ship New World, and the Common Council have appointed a special committee to wait on him with their handsome acknowledgement of his intrepidity and humanity.
Additional Particulars
"This fearful catastrophe has produced the deepest gloom in Liverpool, and, as usual, blame was very freely imputed to individuals - the captain, the mate, and the crew. Much indignation, too, was excited by a report that the captain of the Cambria declined to render assistance within his power. The simple facts relieve all these from censure. The captain of the Ocean Monarch did not leave until the crew had gone. The captain of the Cambria was on his way from Bangor to Liverpool, and first saw the Ocean Monarch when three miles distant. He passed her, and when two miles on this side of her had his attention called to her signal of distress. There was then nearer to her the yacht, the New World, another ship, and going towards her the Affonso and the Prince of Wales. Having 200 passengers on board, being short of coals, and deeming abundant assistance available, he continued his voyage. The captain of the Orion, steamer, it would appear came to the same conclusion, for he too proceeded on to Liverpool."
"We visited the places where the unfortunate survivors have taken up their temporary residence. Never did we witness such squalid masses of human beings. Most of them are women, some with burns on their necks and shoulders, produced by the blazing masts and spars, and others with black eye, and contused wounds upon various parts of their persons, caused by frequent surges on the tops of the waves against broken spars and the hull of the burning wreck. "
Ocean Monarch - burned 1848 just 25 miles out of Liverpool - Cap James Murdoch- 332 emigrants, 32 cabin passengers - only 2 boats got off, people jumped overboard, including captain, rescued by yacht Queen of the Ocean, Affonso, New World, burned 12 hours, to waterline, sank - 170 bodies washed ashore, some missing, but 203 passengers, 13 crew saved. Huge triple-deck, 1300 tons (90-8, 145)
Queen of the Ocean - a yacht, came to rescue of Ocean Monarch 1848 (93, 95)
http://www.leesgenes.com/stanton/thetrip.htm
Medals, awards, plaques, and seals
Baalham, William E. Oval brass medal, 6.9cm x 5.3cm. Obv. The Massachusetts Humane Society, to Wm. E. Baalham, Officer of Ship New World. Rev. who by his gallant efforts was successful in rescuing many persons from the ship Ocean Monarch, burnt at sea, Aug. 24th. 1848.
Found in summer 1926 on the arch which connects the Old Library and the west block of Third Court.
See The Eagle 45 (1929), 189-91.
http://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/library/special_collections/artefacts/medals/
THE NOBLE MARINER.
BY THE REV. JAMES GILBORNE LYONS, LL.D.
Most readers of these lines will remember that when the ship Ocean Monarch was turned off Liverpool on the 24th of August 1848, Frederick Jerome of New York saved fifteen lives by an act of singular courage and benevolence. They will also lament that one so ready to help others should himself perish by violence: he was killed in Central America in the autumn of 1851.
Llandudno Life Boat
Long before Llandudno became a town the Great Orme was a notorious navigational hazard to the Liverpool ships tempted to use the Menai Straits rather than face the north-west passage around Anglesey. Then in 1847 an Italian ship was driven aground and a local boat, the "Lady Harriet" was overturned in attempting a rescue In 1848 nearly 200 passengers were lost when the "Ocean Monarch" bound for America from Liverpool, caught fire and sank within sight of Llandudno. Bodies were washed ashore and were buried alongside some of the 128 victims of the "Rothsay Castle" which broke up and sank, also within sight of the Great Orme in 1831.
http://www.llandudnolifeboat.org.uk/page2.html
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