IBERIA

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IBERIA

Post by shipstamps » Sun Sep 28, 2008 10:13 pm


The IBERIA depict on the MS of Angola (“Barcos do Mundo”) , I am pretty sure she is the vessel wrecked off New York in 1888; a drawing off the ship is similar as the stamp design, see http://www.northeastdiver.com/iberia.html

Built as a cargo vessel under yard No30 by S.H. Morton & Co., Leith, Scotland for Cyprien Fabre & Cie, Marseilles, France.
March 1881 launched under the name IBERIA.
Tonnage 1.388 grt, 923 net, dim. 254.6 x 36 x 19.5 ft.
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1881 completed, homeport Marseilles.

21 September 1888 the Iberia sailed from Basra, Persian Gulf bound for New York under command of Capt. Sagolis, and a crew of 30.
She was loaded with crates of dates, bales of wool, hides and coffee.
She steamed via the Suez Canal and on 17 October she passed Gibraltar.
She got engine trouble a few miles off Long Island, New York and had to anchor there, after repair she proceeded slowly to New York.
10 November, in the morning the Cunard liner UMBRIA sailed from New York bound for Liverpool, when sailing out of the harbour she encountered dense fog, slowing down and blowing her whistle, posting a lookout on the forecastle, steaming slowly outward.
At 01.16 p.m. an other vessel was sighted, sailing across the course of the UMBRIA.
The order was given “full astern” on the UMBRIA but it was too late, the bow of the ship rammed the after port part of the other vessel, cutting off about 14 feet of her stern part, which was drifting away along the UMBRIA.

The IBERIA at that time of collision made a speed of around 3 knots, and according Capt. Sagolis when he saw the other ship he tried to avoid a collision by putting the helm hard over, but still she cut trough our stern, where after she disappeared in the fog.

On the UMBRIA after been stopped, she lowered a lifeboat, and the bow was inspected for any damage, which was very light, and not a danger for the vessel and passengers.
Thereafter the UMBRIA started to search for the other vessel, and after she found the IBERIA both ships dropt anchor. The IBERIA lowered a boat and both captains discussed the situation, Capt MiMickan of the UMBRIA recommended that the crew of the IBERIA to be transferred to the UMBRIA, but Capt. Sagolis refused, he thought the six watertight bulkheads kept her afloat, and that it was possible to tow her to port.

Both ships stayed at anchor till the next morning, when after the crew of the IBERIA was taken on board the UMBRIA she steamed back to New York.

Three men from the pilot cutter CADWELL H.COLT, after the IBERIA was abandoned were put on board and tried to salvage the vessel, the pilot boat sailed back to port to get tugboats for the salvage job.
When Capt. Sagolis returned the same day with tugboats, he could not find a trace of the vessel, the three men on board which narrowly escaped in their longboat, declared that a bulkhead had given away and she filled quickly with water where-after she sank.

Later 840 bales of wool were salvaged, but the dates and coffee were worthless due to seawater and left in the wreck.

Today she is still there in 60 feet of water about 3 miles offshore, and visiting divers. can see her engine and boiler still standing, but most of the hull has collapsed.

Source: http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz http://njscuba.net/sites/site_iberia.html

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