Built as an iron paddle steamer by John Reid & Co, Port Glasgow for the Jersey Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. St Helier of which Mr. Thomas Rose of Jersey was the principal shareholder.
Launched as the SUPERB.
Tonnage 76 grt, dim. 41.57 x 5.18 x 2.74m.
Powered by a steam engine, manufactured by Napier of 84 nhp.
March 1850 completed.
After completing used in the mail and passenger service between Jersey to St Malo and Granville in France.
15 September 1850 she underwent repairs in St Helier, and the steam tug La POLKA took hurriedly over her daily service to St Malo. But about halfway she started leaking and sank. The crew and passengers took the lifeboats and landed safely.
17 September the SUPERB was ready and resumed her service between St Helier and St Malo.
She left from St. Malo with on board 60 passengers and crew under which many survivors from the La POLKA.
When approaching the Minquiers Reef near where the La POLKA sank, SUPERB mate John Fleming was persuaded by some passengers to show them where the La Polka was lost. He took the SUPERB through the so-called eastern passage where the SUPERB struck the La Pointue du Blanc Rock which ruptured her hull and water poured in.
In the panic what followed on board to scramble in the lifeboats, twenty people lost their life under which four people from the La POLKA who had survived the sinking of that ship.
The SUBERB did not sink but was stuck on the rocks and many survivors were rescued from her deck by rescue ships.
The SUPERB was a total loss and her two boilers were later salvaged and placed in a newbuilding the ROSE built in 1851 in Jersey for the same company.
Jersey 2011 86p sg?, scott?
Source: Railway and other Steamers by Duckworth & Langmuir. http://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/p ... b8fm16hpu6