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Type Steamship Sunk 4th October 1885
Gross Tonnage 2,068 tons Built 1884
 
Only a year after she was built, the EARL OF CHATHAM left Liverpool on the morning of 4th October 1885, bound for Rangoon with a full cargo of salt. The Master was Mr. Thomas de Gruchy and the licensed pilot was Mr. Thomas Hogan.

It was the practice at that time for sailing ships to be towed as far as the Anglesey coast if the prevailing winds were in a direction that made sailing difficult. Having been wind bound in the river for three days, this was now the case, and so the ship left the Mersey under tow from the steam tug KNIGHT COMMANDER.

Due to increasing wind speeds and worsening weather conditions, the Master of the tug was forced to order the tow line to be cut. Then, a land sighting believed to be the West Mouse was in fact the Anglesey coast and the ship ended up on the rocks some fifty yards from the shore very close to the West Mouse.

 

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