MATILDA WATTENBACH
. The annual volumes of Lloyd's Register of Shipping for 1854/55-1873/74 contain the following information on the MATILDA WATTENBACH, later RACEHORSE: Name: 1854/55-1863/64 - MATILDA WATTENBACH; 1863/64-1873/74 - RACEHORSE Built: Jersey 1853, under special survey. Tonnage: 1854/55-1856/57 - 1300/1058 (old measurement/new measurement); 1857/58-1863/64 - 955; 1863/64-1873/74 - 1077 Measurements (1863/64): 210 (corrected to 209.3) x 35 (corrected to 36.1) x 20 feet (length x beam x depth of hold). Rig: Ship. Master: 1854/55-1855/56 - J. Clare; 1856/57 - [not given]; 1857/58-1858/59 - Berryman; 1859/60-1860/61 - T. Denkin; 1861/62-1863/64 - W. Goudie; 1863/64-1865/66 - J. Mann; 1865/66-1867/68 - Matthews; 1867/68-1870/71 - W. Sewan; 1870/71-1873/74 - E. Peacock. Owner: 1854/55-1856/57 - Melhuish; 1857/58-1863/64 - Watenbach; 1863/64-1866/67 - "Smrthwaite &"; 1866/67-1869/70 - A. Fotheringham; 1869/70-1870/71 - Oswald & Co; 1871/72-1873/74 - [not given]. Registry: 1854/55-1856/57 - Liverpool; 1857/58-1869/70 - London; 1869/70-1870/71 - Sunderland; 1871/72-1873/74 - [not given]. Port of Survey: 1854/55-1855/56 - Jersey; 1856/57-1858/59 - Liverpool; 1859/60-1863/64 - London; 1863/64-1865/66 - Sunderland; 1865/66-1869/70 - London; 1870/71-1871/73 - Sunderland. Destined Voyage: 1854/55-1856/57 - [not given]; 1857/58-1858/59 - Calcutta; 1859/60-1861/62 - Cape of Good Hope; 1861/62-1863/64 - New Zealand; 1863/64-1865/66 - China; 1865/66-1867/68 - Freemantle; 1867/68-1869/70 - New Zealand; 1869/70-1873/74 - China, According to Marten A. Syme, Shipping arrivals and departures : Victorian ports, vol. 2: 1846-1855, Roebuck Society Publication No. 39 (Melbourne: [Roebuck Society], 1987), p. 247, the ship MATILDA WATTENBACH, 1050 tons, J. Clair[e], master, arrived at Melbourne on 27 April 1854, having sailed from Liverpool on 6 December 1853, via Lisbon (where she had called after having been dismasted), with 15 cabin and 41 intermediate passengers, and merchandise. According to Ian Hawkins Nicholson, Log of logs : a catalogue of logs, journals, shipboard diaries, letters, and all forms of voyage narratives, 1788 to 1988, for Australia and New Zealand and surrounding oceans, vol. 1, Roebuck Society Publication No. 41 (Yaroomba, Qld: The Author jointly with the Australian Association for Maritime History, [1990]), p. 335, there is a diary of this voyage, by Nathaniel Levy, in the Australian Manuscripts Collection, La Trobe Library, State Library of Victoria, in Melbourne, MS 8021; extracts in Don E. Charlwood, The Long Farewell (Ringwood, Vic., Australia: Allen Lane, 1981). The MATILDA WATTENBACH cleared for Sydney on June 7, with part of her original cargo but no passengers, but ran foul of a vessel in the bay, lost her bowsprit and rudder, and returned to port for repairs; she sailed for Sydney on 23 July 1855, and arrived there on 28 July. Copies of the Matilda Athenaeum, a newspaper published during a voyage of the MATILDA WATTENBACH from England to Calcutta in 1859/60 are held by the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, enter the words "matilda wattenbach" in the Keyword/Subject box. According to Nicholson, vol. 1, p. 335, notes by the Rev. S. Edger, June-6 September 1862, during the voyage to New Zealand are held by the Mitchell Library, Sydney, B1507. According to Nicholson, vol. 1, p. 432, records for two voyages of the vessel as the RACEHORSE survive:
1. Convict transport, 1077 tons, A. J. Mann, master, from Portland 26 May 1865, arrived Fremantle 10 August 1865, with 278 male convicts. The surgeon's journal of the passage is in the Public Record Office, Kew, MT32/9. Captain Mann's account, "A Boy's Voyage in a Convict Ship," written years later, is published in Blackwood's Magazine vol. 273, no. 1649 (1953); extracts from this have been published in Charles Bateson, The Convict Ships, 1787-1868 (Glasgow: Brown, Son & Ferguson, 1959).
2. Capt. M. H. Seward, from London 27 March 1868, arrived Auckland 8 July 1868, with 54 settlers; dismasted on 16 June 1868. A brief account of the voyage is published in Sir Henry Brett, White Wings, vol. 2: Founding of the provinces and old-time shipping (Auckland: Brett, 1928).
I do not at present know the ultimate fate of the RACEHORSE, ex MATILDA WATTENBACH. Although the vessel last appears in Lloyd's Register for 1873/74, the entries in the last three volumes are incomplete, the last complete entry being in the volume for 1870/71; she was last surveyed in November 1869. (In the 19th century, Lloyd's Register often continued to carry the names of vessels for several years after they were "sold foreign", lost, or scrapped, in particular if the event took place outside British home waters.) Nicholson, vol. 1, p. 432, contains a reference to general correspondence by the Foreign Office with France in 1872 concerning a vessel named RACEHORSE (Australian Joint Copying Project 3611, presumably copied from Public Record Office, FO27), but he is not certain whether this correspondence refers to the RACEHORSE ex MATILDA WATTENBACH or to a naval vessel of the same name. If, however, this correspondence does indeed concern the RACEHORSE/MATILDA WATTENBACH, she was probably lost, condemned, seized, or sold in French territorial waters, possibly (although this is only supposition on my part) - [E-mail from Michael Palmer - 23 September 1998]

The MATILDA WATTENBACH is illustrated in Frank Charles Bowen, The golden age of sail: Indiamen, packets and clipper ships ... with illustrations from contemporary engravings and paintings in the Macpherson collection (London: Halton & T. Smith/New York: Minton, Balch & Co, 1925), plate 44. Bowen's book contains the following account of the MATILDA WATTENBACH (p. 40): Wooden clipper ship, built in 1853 at St. Heliers, Jersey, by Frederick C. Clarke. Her principal owners were J. J. Melhuish, of Liverpool, and T. H. A. Wattenbach, of London. Her tonnage was 1,058, length 211.5 feet, beam 35.4 feet, and depth 20.2 feet. In her early days she traded between Liverpool and Calcutta under Captain John Clare and Captain James Berriman. After three years Wattenbach became the principal of numerous part-owners, her registry was shifted from Liverpool to London, and her tonnage altered to 954 tons. After trading for some years out of London to the Cape of Good Hope and to New Zealand she was, in 1863, acquired by Philip Blyth, of London. Next year she was sold foreign, but within a few days was bought by Alexander Fotheringham and renamed RACEHORSE [*]. Fotheringham was joined as part owner by John Smurthwaite, a Sunderland merchant, and from that port she made a voyage to Hong Kong. For the next few years she traded out of London, making voyages to Swan River and Madras, to Sydney and Demerara, to Auckland and Sydney. Further changes of ownership came in 1870 when she was bought by Thomas Ridley Oswald, Sunderland shipbuilder, and in 1872 when she was sold first to William Wilkinson, of London, and within a month or two to Thomas Redway, an Exmouth shipowner. Her last voyage under British colours was made during 1869 and 1871 from Sunderland to Hong Kong and back to London, after which she was sold foreign.[*] The "foreign" sale and the re-sale, within a few days, to the Englishman Alexander Fotheringham were to effect a change in the vessel's name, since between 1786 and 1871 British vessels were forbidden by statute (one of the measures to combat smuggling) from changing names. A shipowner could evade this provision by ostensibly selling the vessel to a foreigner, then buying it back a few days later. Upon its sale to the foreigner the vessel was considered no longer British, so a British subject who purchased it even a few days later could rename it anything he wished. - [E-mail from Michael Palmer - 25 September 1998]

MATSONIA (1)
See MONTEREY (2) .

MATSONIA (2)
See VASILISSA FREIDERIKI

MAUNGANUI
See CYRENIA .

MAURETANIA
The "Mauretania" was built by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend-on-Tyne (engines by Wallsend Slipway Co) in 1906 for the Cunard Line. She was a 31,938 gross ton ship, overall length 790ft x beam 88ft, four funnels, two masts, four screws and a service speed of 25 knots. There was accommodation for 563-1st, 464-2nd and 1,138-3rd class passengers. Launched on 20/9/1906, she left Liverpool on her maiden voyage to Queenstown (Cobh) and New York on 16/11/1907. Between 1907 and 1924 she broke several transatlantic records, and started her last pre-war Liverpool - New York voyage on 10/10/1914. Converted to a troopship, hospital ship and then back to a troopship between 1915 and 1919, she made her first Liverpool - New York voyage after the Armistice on 25/11/1918 (still as a troopship). After being refitted as a passenger liner, she commenced Southampton - Halifax - New York voyages on 28/6/1919. Damaged by fire at Southampton on 25/7/1921, she was rebuilt to 30,696 tons, converted from coal to oil fuel, and refitted to carry 589-1st, 400-2nd and 767-3rd class passengers. She resumed Southampton - Cherbourg - New York sailings on 25/3/1922 and in April 1931 was refitted to carry 1st, tourist and 3rd class passengers. She commenced her last Southampton - Cherbourg - New York voyage on 30/6/1934 and then carried out five cruises from New York. Her last New York - Southampton crossing started on 26/9/1934, and on 1/7/1935 she left Southampton for Rosyth, where she was scrapped. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P. Bonsor, vol.1, p.157] - [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 16 July 1998]

MAY FLINT
See PERSIAN MONARCH.

MAYFLOWER (1)
"Mayflower", Built-Guernsey, Date-1834, Port of Registry-Jersey, Tonnage-69, Rig-Schooner, Master-T.Vibert, Owners-Capt. & Co., Career- Voyage, Jersey-Halifax. [Posted to the Emigration-Ships Mailing List by Gery Swiggum - 8 August 1997]

MAYFLOWER (2)
MAYFLOWER never sailed for the Donaldson Line. From Bonsor, _North Atlantic Seaway_ (2nd ed.; 1975-1978), vol. 2, p. 762, sub CRETIC (White Star Line):13,518 tons; 177,38 x 18,38 meters (582 x 60.3 feet); 1 funnel, 4 masts; twin screw propulsion, service speed 15 knots. Built by R. & W. Hawthorne, Leslie & Co., Hebburn-on-Tyne. 25 February 1902, launched as HANOVERIAN, for the Leyland Line (260 1st-class passengers). 19 July 1902, maiden voyage, Liverpool-Boston. 27 September 1902, last voyage, Liverpool-Boston (3 round-trip voyages). 1903, MAYFLOWER (Dominion Line); 260 1st-, 250 2nd-, 1000 3rd-class passengers. 9 April 1903, first voyage, Liverpool-Boston. 22 October 1903, last voyage, Liverpool- Boston (7 round-trip voyages). 1903, CRETIC (White Star). 9 November 1903, first voyage, Liverpool-Boston (10 round-trip voyages). November 1904, first voyage, Boston-Naples-Genoa-Naples-Boston-New York (arrived 7 December). 21 November 1911, last voyage, (Genoa)-Naples-New York. March 1912, first voyage, Genoa-Naples-Boston. 17 March 1915, first voyage, Genoa-Naples-Boston-New York. January 1918, last voyage, Genoa-Naples-Boston (arrived 30 January)-Liverpool. April 1918, first voyage, Liverpool-New York. 5 September 1919, last voyage, Liverpool-New York. 24 September 1919, resumed New York-Naples-Genoa; 300 1st-, 210 2nd-, 800 3rd-class passengers. 18 October 1922, last voyage, Genoa-Naples-New York. 1923, DEVONIAN (Leyland Line); 12,153 tons; 250 cabin-class passengers. June 1923, first voyage, Liverpool-Boston (arrived 24 June). April 1926, cabin became tourist third cabin. 10 December 1927, first voyage for Red Star Line (chartered), New York-Plymouth-Antwerp. 9 March 1928, last voyage, Antwerp-Southampton-New York (3 round-trip voyages). 23 March 1928, sailed New York-Philadelphia. 15 September 1928, last voyage, Boston-Liverpool (2 1/2 round-trip voyages). 1929, scrapped at Bo'ness. [Posted to the Emigration-Ships Mailing List by Michael Palmer - 27 July 1997]

MAYOTTE
See ORANASIA .

McPHERSON
See OBDAM.

MEADE
See CITY OF BERLIN.

MEDIATOR
The MEDIATOR was a 3-masted, square-rigged ship, built in New York by Westervelt & Roberts, launched in 1836, and registered at New York on 5 December 1836. 660 tons; 138' 4" x 32' 6" x 21' (length x beam x depth of hold). She served in the Black X Line of New York-London packets from 1837 to 1848, during which time her average westward passage time was 36 days, her shortest being 25 days, her longest 54 days. In 1848, because of her small size and her age, she was transferred from the "prestige" transatlantic packet service to the New York & New Orleans Line of coastal packets, where she served until 1860; during this period her average passage between New York and New Orleans was 16.9 days, her shortest being 12 days, her longest 22 days [Robert Greenhalgh Albion, Square-riggers on Schedule; The New York Sailing Packets to England, France, and the Cotton Ports (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1938), pp. 39, 45, 68, 126, 137, 282, 294, 316, 332, 333, 340, 342; William Armstrong Fairburn, Merchant Sail (Center Lovell, ME: Fairburn Marine Educational Foundation, [1945-1955]), II.1147, 1148, 1149, 1158, 1206, 1212, 1224, 1295; V.2780, 2797; Carl C. Cutler, Queens of the Western Ocean; The Story of America's Mail and Passenger Sailing Lines (Annapolis: United States Naval Institute, c1961), pp. 391, 512, 517, and 526; Forrest R. Holdcamper, List of American-flag Merchant Vessels that received Certificates of Enrollment or Registry at the Port of New York, 1789-1867 (Record Groups 41 and 36), National Archives Publication No. 68-10, Special Lists No. 22 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1968), p. 471]. I do not have any information at present on the later history or ultimate fate of the MEDIATOR. [Posted to the Emigration-Ships Mailing List by Michael Palmer - 14 November 1997]

MEDINA
See STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.

MEDITERRANEO
See CITY OF CORK.

MEDWAY
The "Medway" belonged to the British Colonial SS Co, which, in 1872 became the Temperley Line. The company name was changed because in 1867, the former Colony of Canada became the Dominion of Canada and the previous name was not thought appropriate The "Medway" was built by T.R.Oswald & Co, Sunderland in 1865. She was an 1,823 gross ton vessel, length 285.2ft x beam 35.4ft, clipper stem, one funnel, two masts, iron construction, single screw and a speed of 10 knots. Launched in March 1865, she was chartered to Hiller & Strauss in 1867 and commenced her first voyage for them in April 1867, from Antwerp to New York. She made three round voyages for them on this service, the last starting on 9/9/1867. On 29/7/1869 she commenced her first voyage for the Temperley Line from London to Quebec and Montreal. On 6/9/1873 she was wrecked in the Straits of Belle Isle. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.2,p.671] [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 23 November 1997]

MEGANTIC
MEGANTIC, White Star Line, 15,000 GRT, 565' x 67' built by Harland & Wolff at Belfast as ALBANY for Dominion Line but transfered to White Star before launch. Launched Dec 10 1908. She made her maiden voyage Liverpool-Montreal June 17 1909. During WWI she served as a troopship returning to Liverpool-New Yotk service in 1918, then Liverpool-Montreal service in 1919. In service for British Government she sailed Liverpool- Sydney in 1920. In 1927 she made a voyage to China as a troop transport. In 1928 she sailed London-Halifax-New York then Liverpool-Montreal service. In 1931 Liverpool-Montreal until she was laid up due to world recession in July 1931. Feb 1933 she was broken up in Osaka. Her sister ship was the LAURENTIC.[Posted to the Jewishgen Mailing List by Jeffrey Smith - 9 October 1997] After their arrest, the infamous Dr.Crippen and his secretary Ethel Le Neve were escorted back to England on the MEGANTIC. [Additional information via E-mail from David Bell - 29 December, 1997]

The "Megantic" was built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast in 1908. Originally laid down as the "Albany" for the Dominion Line, she was purchased on the stocks by White Star Line and launched as the "Megantic". This was a 14,878 gross ton ship, length 550.4ft x beam 67.3ft, one funnel, two masts, twin screw and a speed of 16 knots. There was accommodation for 230-1st, 430-2nd and 1,000-3rd class passengers. Launched on 10th Dec.1908, she sailed from Liverpool on her maiden voyage to Quebec and Montreal on 17th Jun.1909. On 30th Nov.1914 she started her first Liverpool - New York voyage and commenced her last sailing on this route on 21st Apr.1915. On 6th Apr.1917 she came under the liner requisition scheme and was used for government wartime services. In April 1918 she resumed Liverpool - New York sailings and started her last voyage on this service on 1st Apr.1919. Refitted to accommodate 325-1st, 260-2nd and 550-3rd class passengers, she resumed Liverpool - Quebec - Montreal voyages in May 1919. On 9th Jan.1920 she sailed Liverpool - Sydney for the British government and in May 1924 she became cabin and 3rd class only. She made one voyage to China as a troop transport in 1927 and in March 1928 became cabin, tourist and 3rd class. On 22nd Mar.1928 she sailed London - Havre - Southampton - Halifax - New York and on 19th Apr.1928 commenced her first London - Havre - Southampton - Quebec - Montreal voyage. Her last voyage on this service started on 16th May 1931 and she was then laid up at Rothesay, Scotland. In Feb.1933 she sailed to Osaka, Japan where she was scrapped. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P. Bonsor, vol.2, p.764] [Great Passenger Ships of the World by Arnold Kludas, vol.1] - [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 28 October 1998]

MELITA (1)
The "Melita" was a 1,254 gross ton ship, built for Cunard in 1853 by Alexander Denny, Dumbarton (engines by Macnab & Clark, Greenock). Her details were - length 233ft x beam 29ft, clipper stem, one funnel, two masts(rigged for sail), iron construction, single screw and a speed of 9 knots. Launched on 27/3/1853, she was used on the Mediterranean service until 13/6/1860 when she sailed from Liverpool to Quebec and Montreal under charter to the Allan Line. After this single round voyage, she did a voyage for Cunard, leaving Liverpool on 5/9/1860 for Halifax and New York. In 1861 she was acquired by William Denny in part payment for the "Sidon" and in 1863 went to S & S.Isaac. On 2/6/1866 she commenced sailings between Liverpool - Queenstown - Boston - Philadelphia on charter to the Warren Line. She started her last voyage on this service on 28/7/1868 and on 27/8/1868 sailed from Boston for Liverpool, but was destroyed by fire at sea on 5th September. All the passengers and crew were rescued by the sailing ships, "Jacob A.Stamler" and "Monequash" [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P. Bonsor, vol.1, p.145-6] - [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 23 April 1998]

MELITA (2)
The "Melita" was laid down by Barclay, Curle & Co. of Glasgow in 1913. She was originally ordered by Hamburg America Line but, due to the Great War was bought by Canadian Pacific. Eventually launched on 21/4/1917. She was a 13,967 gross ton vessel, length 520ft x beam 67.2ft, two funnels, two masts, three screws and a speed of 15 knots. She had accommodation for 550-cabin class and 1,200-3rd class passengers. On 2/6/1917 she was towed to Belfast for engining and on 25/1/1918 she left Liverpool on her maiden voyage to St John NB. In 20/8/1918 she commenced running between Liverpool and New York. On 10/12/1918 she went back to the Liverpool - St John NB service and in 1919 did one voyage from Glasgow to Bombay for the British government. In Dec.1920 she was overhauled at Antwerp and on 10/5/1922 commenced running between Antwerp - Southampton - Quebec - Montreal. In 1925 she was completely refitted at Jarrow and her tonnage increased to 15,183 tons, and in 1926 her accommodation altered to 206-cabin, 546-tourist and 588-3rd class passengers. On 16/3/1927 she left Antwerp on her last voyage to Southampton and St John NB and on 15/4/1927 was transferred to the Glasgow - Belfast - Quebec - Montreal service. On 18/3/1932 she made her last voyage on this run and was then used for cruising until April 1935 when she was sold and towed to Genoa for scrapping, but was bought by Italia , renamed "Liguria" and used as a transport ship. In July 1940 she was damaged in an air attack on Tobruk and on 22/1/1941 scuttled in the Tobruk Roads, later raised and seized by the British. In 1950 she was towed to Savona and scrapped. [Posted to the Emigration-Ships Mailing List by Ted Finch - 12 September 1997]

MEMFI
See GOTTARDO .

MEMPHIS
The MEMPHIS (officially so, but referred to in contemporary newspapers as the BELLE MEMPHIS) was a side-wheel packet, built in Jeffersonville, Indiana, by Howard, in 1860. 645 tons; 263 x 38 x 7 ft (length x beam x depth of hold); wood hull; engines, inside diameter of cylinder 27 in, length of stroke 8 ft; 4 boilers, each 44 in by 24 ft. Norman S. Russell's paper on American river steamers, in Transactions of Naval Architects, 2 (1861), contains three detailed drawings of her. She frequently served as a U.S. army transport during the Civil War. February 1862, carried the 66th Illinois Infantry from St. Louis to Fort Henry, where the troops occupied the vacated fortifications. She spent most of March and the first week of April 1864, on a sand bar opposite Tiptonville, Tennessee. She was anchored at St. Louis, at the location of the east pier of the Eads Bridge, in the winter of 1865-1866, and test borings were made from her forecastle. She was at that time solidly frozen in ice, and was lost on 12 January 1866, when the ice gorged, the crew, including the captain and two pilots, getting ashore only with some difficulty. The wreck lodged near Duncan Island, where on 13 February 1867 it was struck by the steamer WHITE CLOUD NO. 2, which sank [ Frederick Way, Jr., Way's Packet Directory, 1848-1994; Passenger Steamboats of the Mississippi River System Since the Advent of Photography in Mid-Continent America (revised edition; Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Press, 1994) p. 319, packet #3897]. [Posted to the Emigration-Ships Mailing list by Michael Palmer - 16 December 1997]

MENDOZA
See CASERTA.

MENES
The "The "Menes" was a cargo vessel built in 1926 by Bremer Vulkan, Vegesack. She was a 5,609 gross ton ship, length 438.6ft x beam 55.4ft, one funnel, two masts, single screw and a speed of 11 knots. She was built for Deutsche Dampf Kosmos in 1924 and was taken over the same year by Hamburg America Line, together with the rest of the companies vessels. In 1940 she became a Mediterranean transport and on December 3rd 1942 was sunk off the coast of Libya while en route to Crete. [Merchant Fleets by Duncan Haws, vol.4, Hamburg America Line] - [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 4 February 1998]

MENOMINEE
The "Menominee" was built by A.Stephen & Sons, Glasgow in 1897 as the "Alexandra" for Wilson's and Furness-Leyland. This was a 6,919 gross ton ship, length 475ft x beam 52.3ft, one funnel, four masts, single screw and a speed of 14 knots. There was accommodation for 120-1st class passengers. She commenced her maiden voyage on 8/10/1897 when she left Glasgow for New York and London and on 12/11/1897 commenced her first London - New York sailing. Her last voyage for this company started on 14/7/1898 from London to New York and she then went to the Atlantic Transport Line. She made one London (dep 18/8/1898)- NY voyage for this company under her old name and was then renamed "Menominee". She commenced sailing London - NY on 23/9/1898 and continued on this service until her last voyage started on 16/2/1905. In Sept.1905 she was chartered to Red Star Line and sailed between Antwerp and Philadelphia carrying up to 120-2nd class passengers. She made her last voyage on this service in July 1914 and on 18/8/1914 sailed between Antwerp, London (dep 5/9) and new York. On 28/10/1914 she went back to the London - New York service for ATL for three round voyages, the last starting on 21/1/1915 and then became a British Transport ship. Reconditioned in 1919 she sailed from Liverpool to New York with cargo only and then returned to the London - New York service. She was scrapped in Italy in 1926. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.3, p.1091] [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 25 November 1997]

MENTANA (1)
The "Mentana" was built as the "Westphalia" in 1868 by Caird & Co, Greenock, Scotland for the Hamburg America Line. She was 3158 gross tons, length 103,60m x beam 12,20m, two funnels [built with one funnel but later increased to two], two masts, iron construction, single screw and a speed of 12 knots. There was accommodation for 90-1st, 130-2nd and 520-3rd class passengers. Launched on 24/6/1868, she sailed on her first voyage from Hamburg to New York on 16/9/1868. In 1887 she was sold to Britain and became the "Atlantica" and in 1888 was sold to Gazzo & Schiaffino of Italy who renamed her "Provincia di Sao Paolo". In 1889, she was sold again to Fratelli Lavarello who renamed her "Mentana" and on 7/3/1889 she commenced running between Genoa and South America. In 1891 she went to the Italian company - La Veloce, who renamed her "Sud America" and used her from 14/1/1891 to run between Genoa and S.America. She was scrapped in Genoa in 1901. [Posted to the Emigration-Ships Mailing List by Ted Finch - 11 September 1997]

MENTANA (2)
See TEUTONIA (1)

MERCUR
See MARIANNE (1).

MERCURIUS
See GANGES .

MERCURY (1)
The MERCURY was a 3-masted, square-rigged ship, built by Westervelt & Mackey, New York, for Boyd & Hincken's Havre Second Line of pacekts between New York and Havre, and launched on 3 September 1851. 1,350/1,156 tons (old/new measurement); 193.6 x 38.10 x 22.2 feet (length x beam x depth of hold); 2 decks, draught 21 feet. She was the largest vessel in the Havre Second Line, and the fastest (she is often considered a "medium clipper"): in the 18 years (1851-1869) in which she sailed in the line, her westbound passages, from Havre to New York, averaged 33 days, her fastest passage being 23 days, her longest being 49 days [Robert Greenhalgh Albion, Square-riggers on Schedule; The New York Sailing Packets to England, France, and the Cotton Ports (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1938), pp. 286-287, 299; William Armstrong Fairburn, Merchant Sail (Center Lovell, Maine: Fairburn Marine Educational Foundation, [1945]55]), II.1176, 1190, 1198, 1199, 1201, 1202, 1206, 1226, 1271, 1292, 1301, 1304; V.2780, 2781, 2799, 2816; Carl C. Cutler, Queens of the Western Ocean; The Story of America's Mail and Passenger Sailing Lines (Annapolis: United States Naval Institute, c1961), p. 321]. I have no information on the MERCURY's history after 1869, or on her ultimate fate. However, it may be able to trace this history in the annual volumes of one or more of the following: 1. American Lloyd's Registry of American and Foreign Shipping (from 1858; begun in 1857 as the New York Marine Register), a "classification" society like Lloyd's and the Bureau Veritas. 2. American Shipmasters' Association (later American Bureau of Shipping), Record of American and Foreign Shipping (from 1867), also a "classification" society. 3. Merchant Vessels of the United States (from 1867), published originally by the Treasury Department, then, in turn, by the Bureau of Navigation, the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation, and the Bureau of Customs. The best collection of these registers is held by the Mariners' Museum, 100 Museum Drive, Newport News, VA 23606-3798. [Posted to the Emigration-Ships Mailing List by Michael Palmer - 12 December 1997]

MERCURY(2)
See BARBAROSSA.

MERKARA
The MERKARA was a 1996 tons ship, Captain Sayers. Sailed from London on the 30th April 1889 and arrived at Brisbane on the 25th June 1889. Surgeon Superintendent Dr Kenneth Smith. Matron Mrs McKeddie. Additional info per John Snelson, I think she was an auxiliary steamship ... 2971 tons, built by William Denny of Dumbarton in 1875 for the British India Navigation Co ... she was an iron ship ... made an unbelievable 31 voyages from London to Queensland from 1881 to 1896 averaging 57 days ... quite remarkable ...see Rights of Passage by Woolcock. [Posted th The ShipsList by Fred Birkley - 15 November 1997]

The "Merkara" inaugurated a new regular mail service for British India Steam Nav.Co on 12th Feb.1881 when she left London for Naples, Suez, Colombo, Batavia, Cooktown, Townsville, Rockhampton and Brisbane where she arrived on 13th April. This service filled a gap left by other shipping companies which tended to concentrate on the Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney routes. They ran a four weekly service with the "Merkara", "Roma", "Almora", "Chyebassa", and "Dorunda". All were barquentine rigged, single funneled vessels of between 2600 and 3000 tons with a service speed of around 10 knots. They also chartered the "Durham" until delivery of their new vessels "Compta" and "Camorta" in late 1881 enabled the company to operate the service with their own vessels. The "Merkara" made her last sailing in Oct.1896 and was broken up in 1901. [North Star to Southern Cross, The story of the Australasian Seaways by John M.Maber] [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 16 November 1997]

I can't find a photo of this ship, only a silhouette line drawing in Merchant Fleets, vol.11, British India S.N.Co by Duncan Haws. The "Merkara" was the first of three ships with this name owned by the British India Steam Navigation Co. Built by Wm.Denny in 1875, together withher sister ship "Dorunda", she was a 2,971 gross ton ship, length 368.2ft x beam 37.2ft x depth 28.5ft, one funnel, three masts (barquentine rigged for sail), iron construction, single screw and a speed of 11 knots. There was accommodation for 237 passengers. Launched on 7/7/1875, she started her first London - Australia voyage on 12th February 1881. She arrived at Brisbane on 13th April after calls at Cooktown, Townsville and Rockhampton. Her final Australia sailing commenced 19th October 1896 and she was then used on various routes until 1901, when she was broken up at Bombay. (It is recorded by the builders that she had pens for 1 cow, 10 sheep and a fowl coop for live produce consumption during the voyage) [Merchant Fleets, vol.11, British India S.N.Co by Duncan Haws] A couple of books worth trying for photos are - B.I.Centenary 1856-1956 by G.Blake. or BI - British India Steam Navigation Company Ltd by W.A.Laxon. - [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 11 June 1998]

MESSICO
See ETNA.

METAGAMA
The "Metagama" was built by Barclay Curle & Co Ltd, Glasgow in 1914 for Canadian Pacific Line. She was a 12,420 gross ton ship, length 500.4ft x beam 64.2ft, two funnels, two masts, twin screw and a speed of 15 knots. There was accommodation for 520-cabin and 1,200-3rd class passengers. Launched on 19/11/1914, she sailed from Liverpool on her maiden voyage to St John, NB on 26/3/1915. She started her first voyage after the Armistice on 20/11/1918 when she left Liverpool for St John,NB. On 9/3/1922 she started Glasgow - St John,NB sailings and on 26/5/1923 collided with the British Hogarth Line steamer "Baron Vernon" in the Clyde. On 19/6/1924 she collided with the Italian ship "Clara Camus" off Cape Race and on 1/3/1927 commenced Antwerp - Southampton - St John, NB sailings. In October 1927 she was converted to 1st, tourist and 3rd class accommodation and on 13/8/1930 commenced the last of 151 North Atlantic round voyages when she left Antwerp for Southampton, Quebec and Montreal. From 1931-1934 she was laid up at Southend and on 3/4/1934 was sold to P & W. McLennan Ltd and broken up at Bo'ness, Firth of Forth. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.3, p.1311] [Canadian Pacific - 100 years by George Musk] - [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 14 March 1998]

METAPEDIA
See MONTCLARE.

METEORO
See HAVEL.

MICHIGAN (1)
See SURREY .

MICHIGAN (2) See WASHINGTON (4).

MIDNIGHT SUN
See GENERAL WERDER.

MILANO
See ITALIA (2).

MILWAUKEE
The ship MILWAUKIE, or MILWAUKEE, as the name is usually (although not invariably) spelled, 738 tons, built at Yarmouth, Maine, in 1853. She was originally registered at New Haven, Connecticut, and was registered at New York on 16 June 1858 [Forrest R. Holdcamper, comp.,List of American-flag Merchant Vessels that received Certificates of Enrollment or Registry at the Port of New York, 1789-1867 (Record Groups 41 and 36), National Archives Publication 68-10, Special Lists 22 (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Service, 1968), p. 481]. I know very little about the vessel's career, except that in 1854, H. S. Soule, master, she made two voyages from Havre to New York carrying German immigrants, and in the same year she was advertised as running in the Merchants' Line of coastal packets between New York and New Orleans [Germans to America, vol. 6, 453-455, and vol. 8, pp. 336-338; Carl C. Cutler, Queens of the Western Ocean; The Story of America's Mail and Passenger Sailing Lines (Annapolis: United States Naval Institute, c1961), p. 509]. - [Posted to the Emigration-ships Mailing List by Michael Palmer - 12 July 1998]

MILWAUKIE
See MILWAUKEE.

MINDON
Mentioned in the book The Blackwall Frigates by Basil Dubbock she is spelled there as "Minden." Built by Sunderland in1848 as one of the Blackwall Frigates. She was 916 tons and owned by Dunbar. On one trip to Australia she left Liverpool bound for Melbourne under Captain John Gover on 22nd April 1856. On the Passenger List her name is spelled "Mindon"and she was cited as being 1277 tons. She was approved for 286 Statute Adults for 140 days. She arrived in Port Phillip (Melbourne) on 14 July 1856. On board were 116 English adults, 71 children and 3 infant passengers; 5 Scotch adults; 163 Irish adults 4 children and 4 infant passengers and 50 other adults (plus 2 "other" children) . In total there were 27 married men, 41 married women; 178 single men, 71 single women; 13 male children, 14 female children; and 7 infants. One death occurred on 9th July 1856 - Amelia SIDELLE? of 27 (their surname might be GIDELLE) married to Elias (23). - {Email from John Parker, Perth, Western Australia - 11 August 1998]

MINIEH
See ALSATIA (2).

MINNEDOSA
The "Minnedosa" was ordered by the Hamburg America Line in 1913, but was taken over by Canadian Pacific before completion. She was built by Barclay, Curle & Co Lts, Glasgow (engines by Harland & Wolff, Belfast)and was a 13,972 gross ton vessel, length 520ft x beam 67.2ft, two funnels, two masts, triple screw and a speed of 15 knots. There was accommodation for 550-cabin and 1,200-3rd class passengers. Although her keel was laid in 1913, she was not launched until 17/10/1917 and on 2/5/1918 was towed to Belfast to have her engines fitted. On 5/12/1918 she commenced her maiden voyage from Liverpool to St John, NB and on 13/12/1919 started a single round voyage from the UK to Bombay for the British government. On 21/6/1922 she commenced her first voyage from Antwerp to Southampton, Quebec and Montreal and in 1925 was refitted by Hawthorn, Leslie & Co Ltd, Hebburn-on-Tyne and her tonnage increased to 15,186 tons. In June 1926 she had accommodation for 206-cabin, 545-tourist and 590-3rd class passengers. She commenced her last Antwerp - Southampton - St John NB - Liverpool voyage on 30/3/1927 and was transferred to the Liverpool - Quebec - Montreal route on 29/4/1927. On 27/6/1931 she started her last transatlantic crossing from Glasgow to Quebec and Montreal (129 Atlantic round voyages) and was then laid up in the River Clyde. In April 1935 she was sold for scrapping and was towed to Savona, Italy, but was bought by Italia Line, renamed "Piemonte" and used as a troopship. On 15/8/1943 she was scuttled at Messina, salvaged in 1949 and towed to Spezia and scrapped. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.3,p.1314] - [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 16 February 1998]

MINNEHAHA
The "Minnehaha" was built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast in 1900 for the Atlantic Transport Line. She was a 13,443 gross ton ship, length 600.7ft x beam 65.5ft, one funnel, four masts, twin screw and a speed of 16 knots. There was accommodation for 250-1st class passengers. Launched on 31/3/1900, she sailed on her maiden voyage from Belfast to New York and London on 7/7/1900. On 12/8/1900 she commenced her first voyage from London to New York and on 18/4/1910 stranded on the Scilly Isles, was refloated and repaired at Southampton. On 27/10/1910 she resumed the London - New York service and was torpedoed and sunk on 7/9/1917 by the German submarine U.48, 12 miles from Fastnet with the loss of 43 lives. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.3,p.1091] [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 10 November 1997]

MINNEKAHDA
The "Minnekahda" was built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast as a cargo steamer for the Atlantic Transport Line. She was a 17,221 gross ton ship, length 620.5ft x beam 66.4ft, one funnel, one mast, triple screw and a speed of 15 knots. The order was placed with the shipbuilders in April 1913, but due to the war, she was not launched until 8/3/1917, and then served as a British troopship. She commenced her last trooping voyage from London to Halifax and New York on 16/1/1920 and commenced London - New York voyages as an Atlantic Transport Line cargo ship on 27/3/1920. On 17/7/1920 she started a single round voyage on charter to the American Line between New York - London - Hamburg - New York and on 8/10/1920 commenced her last London - New York voyage as a cargo ship. Later the same year she was rebuilt to 17,281 gross tons and with accommodation for 2,150-3rd class passengers. She was chartered to the American Line and started a single round voyage between New York - Naples - Hamburg - New York on 31/3/1921. On 21/5/1921 she commenced New York - Hamburg - New York sailings and in 1923 was transferred to the US flag. She started her last Hamburg - New York crossing on 10/1/1925 and on 24/3/1925 commenced London - New York sailings for the Atlantic Transport Line. Her final voyage started on 5/9/1931 when she sailed from London for Boulogne and New York and she was then laid up at New York. On 14/4/1936 she sailed under the British flag from New York for Scotland, and was scrapped at Dalmuir. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.3, p.1095-6] - [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 16 March 1998]

MINNESOTA (1)
The steamship MINNESOTA was built by Palmer Bros & Co, Jarrow-on-Tyne, for the Liverpool & Great Western Steamship Co Ltd (familiarly known as the Guion Line), and launched in February 1867. 3,008 tons; 102,22 x 12,95 meters/335.4 x 42.5 feet (length x breadth); clipper bow, 1 funnel, 2 masts; iron construction, screw propulsion, service speed 10 knots; accommodation for 72 passengers in 1st class and 800 in steerage. 14 April 1867, maiden voyage, Liverpool-Queenstown-New York. 18 November 1874, last voyage Liverpool-Queenstown-New York. 10 February 1875, 1 roundtrip voyage, Liverpool-Philadelphia, chartered to the American Line. 1875, sold to the Warren Line; compound engines by J. Jack Rollo & Co, Liverpool. 19 August 1876, first voyage, Liverpool-Boston. 1882, VINUELAS (Spanish). 1886, SAN IGNACIO DE LOYOLA (Cia Trasatlantica). 1908, scrapped [Noel Reginald Pixell Bonsor, North Atlantic Seaway; An Illustrated History of the Passenger Services Linking the Old World with the New (2nd ed.; Jersey, Channel Islands: Brookside Publications), vol. 2 (1978), p. 708. Pictured in Michael J. Anuta, Ships of Our Ancestors (Menominee, MI: Ships of Our Ancestors, 1983), p. 201, coutesy of the Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, Salem, MA 01970. [Posted to the Emigration-Ships Mailing List by Michael Palmer - 9 January 1998]

MINNESOTA (2)
See ZEELAND (2).

MINNIE J. DICKS
MINNIE J. DICKS ~ official number 085737 ~ Schooner ~ 2 masts ~ GTon 108.5, NTon 105.5, RTon 77.8 ~ length 82ft, width 23.8 ft, draft 9.5ft. Built 1883 by Titus Langille in Mahone Bay, NS. ~ Reg: Sydney ~ Cargo: Gas and butter Owner: Margaret Dicks 1919-12-01 ~ Stranded from anchor, broke up, at Ile Vainqueurs, St. Pierre east, St. Pierre (Nfld) Notes: poss. December 2nd Prev. SCYILLA Prev reg: Halifax (1905-14), Sydney (1914) aka. Minnie Dicks Owned at: North Sydney. 5 bodies came ashore. [Carte des Naufrages Iles St. Pierre et Miquelon by Institute Geographique National - 1975? (France)~Shipwreck Chart of St Pierre and Miquelon. Shipwreck of St. Pierre by Jean-Pierre Andrieux pub. W.P. Rannie 1982 ,W.P. Rannie, P.O. Box 700, Beamsville, Ont. L0R 1B0] - Posted to The ShipsList by Sue Swiggum - 28 May 1998]

MINONA
Here is the information I have gleaned on the MINONA: From Wendy Schnur, Reference Assistant at the G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport, Mystic, Connecticut:
"According to American Lloyd's, MINONA was a Swedish bark of 251 tons, built of oak and fir in 1820 in Gottenburg (also spelled Goteborg or Gothenburg). In 1857 she measured 104' x 23' x 11 1/2' and had a draft of 13'. She was lengthened and rebuilt in 1856 and rerigged from her original brig rig (2 masts, square-rigged) to a bark (3 masts, square-rigged on the fore and main, and fore-and-aft-rigged on the mizzen)."
"The Boston Shipping List for July 4, 1857, states that MINONA arrived on July 1, with Rydin as master. Her cargo was 210 tons of iron."
And from the Boston Daily Advertiser, No. 13, 428, Vol. 90, No. 3, Friday morning, July 3, 1857: "A Hardy Craft--The Swedish barque Minona, which arrived here on Wednesday, consigned to Messrs. Naylor & Co., was formerly a brig; but has been recently made longer, and rigged as a barque. Her keel was laid upwards of one hundred years ago, and her frame was constructed of teak wood; the strongest and most durable wood used in ship-building. She seems to contradict the theory that vessels become worthless in a quarter of a century or so, from decay, or must succumb to the perils of the sea before the lapse of many years. If not properly taken care of, this might have been the fate of the Minona; but many parts of her have been altered and renewed from time to time, that not much of the original brig, besides the frame, remains." - [E-mail from Jeanne Nelson - 30 May 1998]

According to Stockholm's Sj?historiska Museet, "the Minona was built 1781 in Halmstad, Sweden as the Therese Charlotte." In an "unknown year it was named Fredrik and after that got the name Neptunus. The Minona was shipwrecked in 28.12 1879 near the place Goodwill Sands, river Thames, England." - [E-mail from J. Nelson - 12 July 1998]

MINSK
See HEKLA.

MIRAMAR
See SCHIEDAM .

MISSOURI (1)
(of 1873) See HAMMONIA (1).

MISSOURI (2)
The "Missouri" was built by C.Connell & Co, Glasgow(Engines by J&J.Thomson, Glasgow) in 1881 for the Warren Line of Liverpool. She was a 5,146 gross ton ship, length 425.6ft x beam 43.6ft, one funnel, four masts, iron construction, single screw and a speed of 11 knots. I have no information on her passenger capacity. Launched on 15/2/1881, she sailed from Liverpool on her maiden voyage to Boston on 30/5/1881. On 1/3/1886 she was wrecked in Caernarvon Bay, Wales with no loss of life. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.2, p.685] - [Posted to the ShipsList by Ted Finch - 22 February 1998]

MITAU
See ARUNDEL CASTLE (1).

MOANA
The "Moana" was built by Wm.Denny, Dumbarton in 1897 for the Union SS Co of New Zealand, she was a 3,915 gross ton ship, twin screws and a speed of 15 knots. She had accommodation for 198-1st and 100-2nd class passengers. She sailed between Sydney, Auckland, Honolulu and San Francisco until 1900 when the Hawaiian Islands were annexed by the USA, thus bringing the San Francisco to Honolulu trade into the 'domestic' category which prohibited the carriage of passengers and cargo between American ports in other than US registered ships. The "Moana" arrived in Sydney from San Francisco for the last time on 28th October 1900. In 1901 she commenced sailings between Sydney, Brisbane, Honolulu and Vancouver for Huddart, Parker's Canadian-Australasian Line. In Dec.1903 she stranded on rocks near Victoria BC, refloated and given temporary repairs at Victoria, she was then given a complete overhaul. She continued regular voyages to Vancouver until 1908 when she was transferred to the Inter-Colonial service, although she did an occasional relief voyage to Vancouver as required. Her last sailing from Vancouver took place on 24th March 1911 and in 1912 she entered the Sydney - Wellington - Raratonga - Tahiti - San Francisco service until 1920 when she transferred to the Tasman Sea service. In 1927 she was sold to the Otago Harbour Board for use as a breakwater. [North Star to Southern Cross by John M.Maber] - [Posted to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 5 July 1998]

MOBILE (1)
According to the New Orleans Daily Picayune, the ship MOBILE, Tarbox, master, arrived at New Orleans on Saturday, 29 May 1852, 52 days from Havre, with 371 steerage passengers, to the master. (Because the vessel arrived on Saturday, the passenger manifest is not dated until Monday, 31 May 1852, the earliest day the master could present it to the U.S. Customs officials at New Orleans.). The only information I have on this vessel at present is that she was a 3-masted, square-rigged ship, built at Bath, Maine, in 1851, for the firm of John & George F. Patten: 960 tons, 172.8 x 34.8 x 17.4 feet (length x beam x depth of hold) [William Armstrong Fairburn, Merchant Sail (Center Lovell, Maine: Fairburn Marine Educational Foundation, [1945-1955]), vol. 5, pp. 3199, 3205, and 3207].- [Posted to The Emigration-Ships Mailing List by Michael Palmer - 28 September 1998]

MOBILE (2)
The MOBILE was a 3-masted, square-rigged ship, 1290 Lasten/1856 tons. According to Johannes Lachs, Schiffe aus Bremen; Bilder und Modelle im Focke-Museum (Bremen: H. M. Hauschild, [1994]), p. 137, she was built in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and launched in 1855 as the TWING. However, I can find no reference to her in William Armstrong Fairburn, Merchant Sail (6 vols.; Center Lovell, Maine: Fairburn Marine Educational Foundation, [1945-55]), the standard work on 19th-century U.S. sailing vessels, and since Lachs's account of her contains at least one proven inaccuracy it is possible that he misspelled the name. According to Lachs, on one of her earliest voyages, the TWING stranded off Goteborg, Sweden. In 1856, she was purchased for 88,000 Taler by the Bremen firm of D. H. Watjen, who renamed her MOBILE, and placed her in the North American trade. The MOBILE became at the time of her purchase the largest sailing vessel in the Bremen merchant fleet. She was destroyed by fire at Mobile, Alabama, in January 1867 (not, as Lachs prints, 1866). The following is an account of her destruction, printed in the New York Herald for 28 January 1867, and taken in turn from the Mobile Advertiser of 19 January 1867: At about 12 o'clock on Thursday night last [17/18 January 1867] flames were discovered issuing from the fore hatch of the Bremen ship MOBILE, then at anchor in the lower bay, some 30 miles below the city. Capt. Lee, of the steamer JACKSON, was alongside of the ship PROGRESS, with a load of cotton, and as soon as he was informed of the fire immediately cast off and stood for the burning ship. The wind was blowing fresh from the north at the time, and it was impossible for Capt. Lee to get to leeward of the MOBILE without running great risk of losing his own boat and cargo, but he took his vessel to windward and ahead of the MOBILE, and made a successful effort to bring a stream of water from the pumps of his steamer to bear upon the fire; a hawser was got out from the bow of the M[OBILE] to the JACKSON, up which Mr. Jessup, of the latter vessel, gallantly made his way and led the hose from the steamer to the fore hatch of the ship. The flames had made such headway, however, that the intense heat prevented anything more being done than lying by to pick up any one who might chance be compelled to jump overboard. Fortunately for the mate and the three men who had so courageously remained at their posts, the boats of the Br[itish] ship TUDOR, under charge of Capt. Wherland, pulled under the counter of the burning ship and rescued them from their dangerous position. With the exception of the ship's chronometer and two quadrants the captain and officers lost all their clothing and personal effects saving only the clothes they stood in. The M[OBILE] was a vessel of abut 5,000 bales capacity, and an excellent ship in every particular. She was owned in Bremen and sailed under that flag, but was American built, being one of the numerous vessels placed under foreign colors during the war. She was under charter for Liverpool and was about half loaded, having 2,350 bales of cotton aboard. Rumor has it that the ship was fuly insured, and we understand from a gentleman in a position to know that the cotton is fully covered by the policies of foreign offices. The fire was undoubtedly the work of an incendiary, as no smoking is ever allowed in the 'tween decks of a vessel loading with cotton. There is as yet no suspicion as to who the scoundrel is that could thus peril so many lives and destroy so much property. For additional information on the MOBILE, see the following works: (1) Otto Hover, Von der Galiot zum Funfmaster; Unsere Segelschiffe (Bremen 1934), pp. 277f. (2). Rolf Reinemuth, Segel aus Downeast (Herford 1971), p. 40. (3) Hans Watjen, Weisses W im blauen Feld (Wolfsburg 1983), pp. 116f. - [Posted to the Emigration-Ships Mailing list by Michael Palmer - 17 Feb 1998]

MOBILE (3)
See CLEVELAND (2) .

MOCAMBIQUE
See SICILIAN PRINCE.

MODASA
The "Modasa" was one of a class of six near-sister ships owned by British India Steam Navigation Co. Built by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend-on-Tyne, she was a 9,070 gross ton ship, length 465.2ft x beam 58.3ft x depth 32.6ft, one funnel, two masts, twin screw and a speed of 13.5 knots. There was accommodation for 127-1st and 41-2nd class passengers. Launched on 24th December 1920, she entered service in December 1921 on the UK to India or East Africa service and in 1927 carried the first large export cargo of maize from East Africa to London. In 1933 she arrived at Middlesborough to discharge her cargo before proceeding to London for repairs. She had 450 tons of oil in her tanks and Customs ruled that, as this constituted a coastal voyage, this oil was liable to customs duty. The row was only settled by taking the ship to Antwerp for repairs, this being classed as a non-coastal voyage. Between 1939 and 1945 she was employed on both commercial and government service and was refurbished in 1946 to carry 183 single class passengers. She then resumed the East Africa service until being sold for scrap in December 1953. On January 23rd 1954, after unloading her cargo at the Tyne, she proceeded to Blyth where she was scrapped. [Merchant Fleets by Duncan Haws, vol.11, British India S.N.Co] A typical voyage for 1953 was - 3rd June Sail London, 15-16 June call Port Said, 19-20th June call Port Sudan, 23rd June call Aden, 30th June - 6th July call Mombasa, 7th July call Tanga, 8th July call Zanzibar, 9th - 12th July call Dar-es-Salaam, 14th - 16th July call Lindi, 20th - 23rd July call Beira, 28th - 30th July call Dar-es-Salaam, 31st July call Zanzibar, 1st - 2nd August call Tanga, 3rd - 8th Aug. call Mombasa, 14th Aug. call Aden, 17th - 18th Aug. call Port Sudan, 21st - 22nd Aug. call Port Said, 28th - 30th Aug. call Marseilles, 1st Sept. call Gibraltar, 7th Sept. arrive London. [Sea Safari, British India S.N.Co African Ships and Services by Peter C. Kohler] - [Posred to The ShipsList by Ted Finch - 27 July 1998]