RIO GRANDE

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RIO GRANDE

Post by shipstamps » Sat Nov 15, 2008 5:15 am


Built by the yard of John Holman & Son, at Topsham, Devon, U.K .for his own account. \
Nov. 1868, launched under the name "RIO GRANDE".
Tonnage 201.34 gross, 187.29 net, dim. 110.8 x 24.3 x 11.8ft.
Brig rigged. She was built under cover, a barge hull, flat bottomed, built of oak and elm with red pine decks. Copper fastened, sheathed with felt. Raised quarterdeck 29 feet long, carried a figurehead a shield.
January 1869 classed by Lloyds 10A1.

Her maiden voyage was to the West Indies.
22 Jan. 1869, rescued the crew of the Jersey owned schooner "PRISCILLA" off Lyme Bay. The schooner was later towed into Brixham by the smack "OSPREY" of Brixham.

20 July 1871, all shares (64/64ths) sold by John, Henry, George, Richard and Alfred Holman and William Symons of Topsham to John Karran of Liverpool, a saddler.
22 July 1871, all shares sold to Robert Cick Karran of Seacombe, Chester, Master Mariner. The same day, R.G.Karran. mortgaged the vessel with John Karran for £ 1.300 at 7%, the mortgage being discharged on 18 Oct. 1872. On that date R.G.Karran sold 32/64ths to John Karran. 07 Feb. 1873 John Karran sold 16/64ths to Thomas William Karran of Seacombe.

The "RIO GRANDE" was the first command of Robert G.Karran.
24 Nov. 1875, the "RIO GRANDE" stranded on the Dutch coast at Zierikzee on a voyage from Bonny, Nigeria to Rotterdam. Capt. Robbert G.Karran and crew all saved.
The "RIO GRANDE" was later refloated and repaired.
26 June 1876, registry transferred from Exeter to Castletown, Isle of Man.

Between mid 1800s until the 1920s the Karran fleet consisted of 11 ships. The man behind the company was John Karran of Scarlett, Castletown, Isle of Man. Three of his sons were seamen. He was financing the ships of his sons by loaning them the money, and when repaid the money was passed to the second brother and then later the third. This three brothers Thomas, Robert and George were expert seamen and traders and the business expanded into a thriving company. The company operated from China waters to South America to Europe. All the ships were later registered in Castletown, Isle of Man, and they flew the house flag of the company. The house flag which consisted of a white background with a blue border and the Three Legs emblem.

She survived a terrible typhoon in the China Sea.
1883 Sold by the Karran family to Robert Efford Love of Sydney, Australia.
She was lost during a strong southerly gale on 30 April 1884, driven ashore a quarter of a mile west of Turanganui River, Poverty Bay, New Zealand. By her flat bottom she was driven far on the beach, and the crew could safely land. During that voyage she was loaded with 160 tons coal, and hull and cargo were insured for £ 1.250.

Wreck and cargo were sold for £ 150. Her name is given then as "RIO GRAND", (but it can be a misspelling) and she was under command of Captain William MacQuaker.

There is a hull model - plank on frame - about 3 feet long in Topsham Museum, plus a drawing of the hull attached to her original survey report which is held at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. A painting of the vessel you can find on:
http://www.speakeasy.org/~noid/ships/DSC00127/jpg

On Isle of Man 1984 20½p sg 262

Sources: Log Book vol 13 page 435, written by Mr R.N.Marriot. New Zealand Shipwrecks by C.W.N. Ingram.
http://www.bepkneen.eurobell.co.uk/Karran.htm

aukepalmhof
Posts: 7771
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

Re: RIO GRANDE

Post by aukepalmhof » Fri May 14, 2021 8:28 pm

Isle of Man 1984
Attachments
1984 Rio-Grande-brig-1868 (2).jpg

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