Robert Miles Sloman was born in England in 1783; he was the younger son of William P. Sloman a Welshman who immigrated to Hamburg in 1793, where he founded a shipping business. He died in 1800. After his father died Robert took over the shipping business. During the Napoleonic years he had to leave Hamburg but after the capitulation of the war in 1813 he returned, and resumed his activities as a shipbroker.
In 1836 Robert started a passenger-cargo service across the North Atlantic with sailing ships. When in 1847 the Hamburg America Line was founded and planned to open a passenger service between Hamburg and New York with steamships. The Sloman Company was looking around for newer tonnage, than the old ships they had sailing between these two ports.
The order was given to the English yard of T & Wakefield Pim at Hull to build an iron screw ship.
1850 Launched under the name HELENA SLOMAN, named after Robert M. Sloman’s daughter.
Tonnage 800 tons, dim. 67.34 x 7.98 x 5.15m.
One steam engine 180 hp., speed 9 knots.
Passenger accommodation for 42 first, 32 second and 216 steerage, crew 40.
One funnel 3 masts.
Hold capacity 56,000 cubic feet.
The HELENA SLOMAN was the first German Transatlantic steamship, her maiden voyage was planned for 9 April 1850 but she was not completed in time.
28 May 1850 sailed from Hamburg under command of Captain Paul Nickels Paulsen for her maiden voyage, but she had to call Deal, England on 31 May for engine repair.
01 July 1850 arrived at New York.
Her homeward voyage was without mishap.
She sailed for her second voyage on 11 August 1850 from Hamburg for New York, with on board 13 first, 34 second and 145 steerage passengers. During the crossing she ran in a hurricane in which she lost her bowsprit. Arrived New York 4 September.
Her third and last voyage still under command of Captain Paulsen from Hamburg she left on 26 October 1850 made a call at Southampton, and sailed from that port on 1 November.
19 November 1850 she encountered a severe gale and was struck by an exceptionally heavy sea. She got heavy damage on her rudder, sternpost and propeller, causing heavy leaking.
She was sighted on 28 November 1850 in sinking condition by the sailing packet DEVONSHIRE.
Her passengers and crew were taken off, one lifeboat, which capsized lost 5 passengers and 4 crew.
Source: Navicula. North Atlantic Seaways by N.R.P.Bonsor.
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