H.M.S. Atalanta (1878)

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H.M.S. Atalanta was a 26-gun frigate launched in 1844 as H.M.S. Juno. She was converted into a training ship and was renamed H.M.S. Mariner in January 1878, then H.M.S. Atalanta two weeks later.

Last voyage

On November 7th, 1879, Atalanta left Portsmouth under command of Captain Francis Stirling, whom had been appointed in command on 17 September 1878, for a training voyage with 280 on board - 15 officers and 265 men and boys. This was Atalanta's third training voyage and early in the cruise yellow fever broke out and the captain decided to run for Bermuda, where he arrived on January 29th, 1880.

Two days later the ship sailed for home, having considerably shortened her timetable which originally provided for her arrival on, or about, April 4th, 1880. After leaving Bermuda, the Atalanta was never heard of again and all aboard her were lost at sea, the date of deaths being recorded as 4 June, 1880. A strong gale had raged from 12-16 February it was presumed the vessel was overwhelmed by this and foundered.

The Channel Squadron under Admiral Hood made an exhaustive search over a wide area but without result, and in May the Admiralty was compelled to conclude that Atalanta was lost. In August 1880 a committee of inquiry was called.[1]

See Also

Footnotes

  1. The Atalanta. The Times (London, England), Wednesday, Aug 25, 1880; pg. 4; Issue 29969.

Bibliography

  • Hocking, Charles. Dictionary of Disasters at Sea During the Age of Steam: Including Sailing Ships and Ships of War Lost in Action, 1824-1962. Naval & Military Press Ltd, 2004.