MADAGASCAR

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MADAGASCAR

Post by shipstamps » Mon Jan 26, 2009 4:12 pm



Built at Blackwall near London for R.Green.
1837 Launched under the name MADAGASCAR.
Tonnage 835 tons.

Green ships were used in the U.K to India run, and I believe the MADAGASCAR was also used in this service after she was built.
She was know for her speed, and on one occasion she ran from the Cape to the English Channel in 43 days.

When gold was discovered in Australia in 1851, Green was sending his ships to Australia, and the MADAGASCAR was one of this ships. Under command of Capt. Fortescue Harold she was very popular with passengers on this run.

When in August 1853 at Hobson Bay ready to sail with her accommodation full with passengers and 68.390 ounces of gold dust on board, she was boarded by Melbourne detectives who arrested several passengers in connection with the McIvor Gold Escort Robbery. The gold was stolen on 20 July when transported to Kyneton by that company and guarded by 6 troopers, where it would meet the Government escort for Melbourne. The transport was attacked by bushrangers and about £ 8.000 stolen.
During the attack three troopers were wounded and the driver of the transport died later on his wounds.
Subsequent investigation delayed the MADAGASCAR sailing for about a month, but at least the anchor was heaved in and she set sail for home via Cape Horn. The only thing what is known on this voyage, that the intentions of the Captain were to steer SE to round the South of New Zealand then into the Roaring Forties, to take her around Cape Horn then up the South Atlantic to home.

When early 1854 the ship had not arrived at England, family of the passengers became uneasy, then a rumour appeared that she was at Rio de Janeiro in leaking condition, but it was unfounded. Then that she was captured by a gang who booked passage on her.
July 1854 she was declared official lost with more as 200 persons on board.

Years afterwards a woman dying in New Zealand told a clergyman her story of the ships fate. Traveling with a woman as a child nurse, she told the clergyman that in the South Atlantic on board the MADAGASCAR some of the crew and passengers mutinied, killing the officers and other members of the crew. The passengers were locked down below, after they took two boats and the gold and some young female passengers and set the MADAGASCAR on fire when they left the vessel.

One boat reached the coast of Brazil, but when nearing the beach the boat capsized in the surf and the gold was lost. When on shore the survivors were struck by yellow fewer, and only two men and the nurse reached civilization. Of the story is true nobody knows, I could not find any confirmation in one of my books.
And so till today we are not sure what happened with the crew, passengers and bullion of the MADAGASCAR.

Belize 1981 25c sg672, scott 610
Grenadines of Grenada 1998 75c sg 2532
Guyana 1989 $1530 sg2699, scott 2268g

Source: The Blackwall Frigates by Basil Lubbock. The Australian Run by Jack Loney and Peter Stone

john sefton
Posts: 1816
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2009 1:59 pm

Re: MADAGASCAR

Post by john sefton » Sat Aug 25, 2012 4:49 pm

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