LUSITANIA 1871

[aukepalmhof]

The stamp was designed after a painting “coming south” made by the Australian painter Tom Roberts, the painting was made by him during 1885 and showed us a deck scene on board of the LUSITANIA. He was a passenger on board this vessel on his return voyage in March 1885 to Australia. The painting is now in the possession of the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia.

Built as a passenger-cargo vessel under yard No 381 by Laird Bros, Birkenhead for the Pacific Steam Navigation Co.
20 June 1871 launched as the LUSITANIA.
Tonnage 3,825 gross, 2,494 net, dim. 115.77 x 12.6 x 10.74m.
Powered by a 2-cyl. compound inverted steam engine; manufactured by the shipbuilder, 550 nhp., speed 13 knots. One screw.
One funnel, three masts, rigged to carry sail.
Clipper stem.
Passenger accommodation for 84 first, 100 second and 270 third class.
September 1871 completed, building cost £91,852.

Built for the liner service between the U.K. and South America.
13 October 1871 sailed for her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Valparaiso via Cape Horn. During her homeward bound voyage she lost three of her four propeller blades shortly after leaving Valparaiso.
At that time there was not any dry-dock in that part of the world to dock her. To enable to fit the spare screw, a wooden caisson 7.31 x 7.92 was built around her stern and when ready pumped dry.
The work to build the caisson and fit the spare screw took just under two weeks.

1874 She was laid up with four other vessels of the company, when the weekly service to South America was reduced to twice monthly.
February 1877 chartered by Anderson, Anderson & Co.’s, Orient-Pacific-Line.
Her first sailing under the flag of the new company was from Gravesend when she sailed on 26 June 1877 via Plymouth (28 June) and via Cape of Good Hope to Melbourne, Australia, where she arrived on 08 August. She made the passage in 40 days and 6 hours, with an average speed of 13 knots.
Her homeward bound voyage took her via it Suez Canal and took 41 days.
17 April 1885 commissioned as an armed merchant cruiser in Sydney during the Russian war scare for about six months before returning to owners in a U.K. port. A total of £35,505 was spent on charter hire and fitting out and restoration.
1886 Disarmed and returned to owners, she was then send to the Clyde for modernisation and replacing of a new triple expansion steam engine manufactured by T. Richardson & Sons, Hartlepool. Service speed increased to 15 knots.
Her yards were removed and passenger accommodation rebuilt, given accommodation for 70 first and 85 second class passengers.
1878 was she acquired by the newly formed Orient Line in which the PSNC were shareholders. The new formed company had PSNC livery, black hull and funnel.
In the beginning of the eighteen-nineties was she used in the service from London to Gibraltar, Naples, Port Said, Suez, Colombo, Albany, Melbourne and Sydney.
1900 replaced in this service by the new built ORTONA.
31 March 1900 in service for Elder-Dempster in their Beaver Line from Liverpool, Halifax to, St John N.B.
July 1900 used by PSNC to fill the gap, when their TALCA was wrecked. February 1901 returned to the Beaver Line.

Then she was chartered by the Allan Line.
On a voyage from Liverpool to Montreal with on board six cabin, 14 second class and 344 steerage passengers and general cargo, under command of Captain McNay during dense fog she grounded and was she wrecked on 26 June 1901, three miles north of Cape Ballard, New Foundland with no loss of life.
The vessel became a total loss.

Australia 1977 $10 sg567, scott?

Source: Elder Dempster Line. North Star to Southern Cross. Dictionary of Disasters at sea during the age of steam and some web-sites.

[John Leslie Howard]

Hi to Auke and John,
I have read with much interest Auke's article on LUSITANIA of which must be considered to be the authoritive account of this 'Ship on Stamp' by the SSS membership - as previously it
was in question - was it or was it not?

I was most impressed with this write up and consider it to be the authoritive account by a man of considerable knowledge - who's write up's for SSS and 'Ships on Stamps' are always a welcome sight! Long may it continue.