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The 'Smyrna' historic clipper ship lost in the English Channel 1888
Smyrna navigation bar
Artifacts recovered | Meet
the team | Images from
the wreck
Historic Images | Online
Article | The
Clipper ships
All Smyrna pages/images/text unless stated ©Leigh
Bishop 2002 all rights reserved
The wreck of the Smyrna was first discovered
by Poole fisherman Chris Mowlam who in turn reported the obstruction
to several potential divers. The wreck was then located by Poole
skipper Dave Saywell and dived by a team of six, which included
a young Leigh Bishop and renowned Hampshire diver Dave Wendes
on the 24th June 1993. 105 years after her sinking. The wreck
was later positively identified by Wendes after a dinner plate
was recovered from the wreck bearing the company crest-'The
Aberdeen Line'. After checking the company's historic records
Wendes discovered that the company had lost only one ship within
the channel. That of the 'Smyrna'.
The story of the Smyrna is a story of shipwreck discovery and
wreck exploration of the truest form in every aspect. That June
of 93 a historic shipwreck was discovered a classic Clipper
ship one of the only examples we know of lost in the English
Channel.
These pages of deepimage are dedicated to those who were privileged
to be there when she was discovered. Since that day many divers
have witnessed this fabulous sailing vessel now lying at a depth
of 188ft in the cold dark waters off Dorset England. The navigation
bar above will guide you on a virtual dive of the wreck as well
as a look into the history and exploration of the wreck. |
Veteran Smyrna wreck diver Alan 'Bones' Boness
at seabed level on the wreck. Many artifacts are uncovered by
the moving sands each year. |
The Smyrna a 1,305-ton vessel of the Aberdeen
White star line built in 1876 was laden with general cargo
when she had left London bound for Sydney. Sails were straining
on this magnificent clippers three huge masts through the
strong breeze within the English Channel on that fateful day
of April 28th 1888. The Smyrna would be seen to make good
progress on her way under full sail as she passed St Catherine's
point on the Isle of Wight. |
 |
Heading up the Channel the same morning was the
British Steamship Moto, of Newcastle, bound for the Tyne from
Bilbao with her cargo of Iron Ore. Completely unaware of the
'Motos' position, Captain Taylor on board the Smyrna altered
course, a maneuver that would cost him his life! With overcast
skies and fog setting in the weather conditions would now bring
play to the fate of the Smyrna causing the two ships to collide.
The Moto had reached a position about 15 miles south of Anvil
point when through the now thick fog the lookout saw the Smyrna
under full sail on her port bow. Totally unaware of the Smyrna
presence Captain Digman was summoned to the Bridge of the 'Moto'
just as the Smyrna altered course to bear down towards his ship.
"Hard over, engines full astern " ordered Captain
Digman but his orders had come to late as the sound of steel
Plates being torn combined with splintering wood and piercing
cries of panic stricken crewman penetrated the dense fog of
the English channel. The clippers bows grazed the port bow of
the steamship 'Moto' causing them to lift high enough to be
forced down on her main rigging with a force strong enough to
send her down instantaneously! The twelve crew below decks had
no chance of surviving the impact and together with their captain
went down with the ship. Eighteen men survived |
| the collision including Smyrna's second mate, Walker whom
had jumped onto the 'Moto' when the two vessels had collided.
The bows of the 'Moto' were completely stoved in, the vessel
only remaining afloat because of her watertight bulkheads. She
arrived safely at port in Southampton the following morning
with the eighteen survivors. With general cargo estimated at
£43,000 English pounds and a the vessel itself £11,000
the High court of the Admiralty decided that the 'Moto' was
solely at blame for the collision awarding the Smyrna's owners
G.Thompson & Co a sum not exceeding a total of £55,811
in compensation. |
A single deadeye that form an entire row along
the side of the wreck as she lies today. |
Today the wreck lies in a large shallow depression
upright with a slight list to port on a sand/chalk seabed of
58m. Other than expected damage to her bows and a few sections
of her iron hull she is still in remarkable condition. The stern
section of the wreck is completely upright in a classic champagne
glass shape whilst there is some debris to the port stern side;
her rudder is still very much intact. The visiting diver will
also find amounts of various bottles here at the very stern.
On the portside going forward masts will be noted over the seabed
whilst their stumps are clearly visible and obvious over the
amidships sections. Amidships the diver will note more crockery
and glassware. There are excellent examples of lignum vitae
rigging deadeye's in rows still attached to her gunwale. Swimming
further forward another mast stump and various capstans can
be seen. |
Flagons, Porcelain and many
other artifacts still lie amongst the wreckage of
of the shipwreck Smyrna today. © Leigh Bishop 2003
| Her bow lies half over to port and
there is more cargo around the forward starboard bow including
soda siphons etc. Breaks in the port hull have allowed various
cargos to spill onto the seabed and some may well be covered
by sand, which has built up over the starboard side aft of amidships.
Reports indicate that there is a steam donkey boiler located
amidships! The majority of the manifest of the ship was in fact
porcelain and earthen ware bound for Australia and as the diver
swims across cargo holds a torch beam can clearly illuminate
the pale white faces of Victorian china plates cups and various
crockery all still in remarkable condition. Her bow lies half
over to port and there is more cargo around the forward starboard
bow including soda siphons etc. Breaks in the port hull have
allowed various cargos to spill onto the seabed and some may
well be covered by sand, which has built up over the starboard
side aft of amidships. Reports indicate that there is a steam
donkey boiler located amidships! |
One of the many Flagon stoneware jars recovered
from the wreck by the divers
|
 |
The majority of the manifest of the ship was in
fact porcelain and earthen ware bound for Australia and as the
diver swims across cargo holds a torch beam can clearly illuminate
the pale white faces of Victorian china plates cups and various
crockery all still in remarkable condition. Layers upon layers
of neatly stacked brown china teapots still wait patiently to
be unloaded. Ornate colored Victorian glassware, large timer
shaped soda siphons, china eggs and holders, deep blue glass
vases can all be seen. Marble codd bottles with the inscription
John Starkey-Sydney, Codd bottle maker, Dan Ryelands, Barnsley.
An area of earthenware flagons of different sizes with the maker
inscription clearly visible, Elliot Bros., Sydney and Brisbane
manufactured by Smith Co Canal Potteries, Old Kent Rd London
lay scattered lids still firmly in place over a hundred years
later. The wreck is certainly one of the classic sailing vessels
lost within the channel and a dive here will not be disappointing
within the area of 'The Rips' that often produces good visibility.
To protect this classic wreck her position is given approx lat.50/08/N
01/29/W although divers wishing to visit this site should contact
charter vessel 'Wight Spirit' owned by Dave Wendes himself on
023 8027 0390 E-mail wightspirit@btinternet.com |
 |
Along side many other wrecks off the Isle of Wight
Dave Wendes originally discovered the Smyrna. Today he now skippers
Wight Spirit a dive charter vessel that will take qualified
divers to the wreck of the Smyrna on request. For more diving
information and a list of the many other wrecks Dave visits
you can call him on the above UK number or alternatively check
out his web site at www.wightspirit.co.uk. |
Interested in Clipper ships click
here to enter the gateway
to much more information on this elegant vessels.
More about technical diving click
here >>
Learn how to become a technical diver with the best training click
here >>
About Deep Blue diving technical diving instructors click
here >> |
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