Antoinette (barque)
Encyclopedia
The Antoinette was a 1,118 ton barque
, built in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1874 and was used for the transportation of goods. She struck land on Tuckernuck in 1889, requiring the entire crew to be rescued. Although she was reinstated later that year, she was finally wrecked on the Doom Bar
off Cornwall
, the largest ship to be wrecked there. She mostly disappeared after being destroyed with gelignite, however in March 2010, some of the hull re-emerged from the Doom Bar, creating a hazard to local shipping.
on January 27, 1889. Early on the following morning a lifeboat from United States Life-Saving Service
, manned by four brothers, managed to rescue everyone aboard. The New York Times explains that this feat was all the more impressive as two people rescued were women. She was towed to port, and eventually reinstated on August 10, 1889.
laden with coal, destined for Brazil. She foundered near Lundy Island, losing parts of her masts. She was towed towards a safe port, but broke free and drifted. Eventually, she broke up, with a large portion of her wreck lodging on the Doom Bar. The wreckage was causing a hazard to shipping, so a miner named Pope was called in. He filled the wreck with gelignite
; and, after clearing the area, detonated it. The resulting explosion was so violent that reports claim every window in the nearby harbour of Padstow was blown in and the smoke could be seen three miles (5 km) away.
Of the 600 wrecks recorded on the Doom Bar, the Antoinette was the largest, but all fourteen crew and three stranded pilots were rescued. Over 100 years later, a wreck re-surfaced on the Doom Bar. Although there is some debate as to which ship had appeared, owing to the sheer number of ships that have wrecked on the Doom Bar, the majority believe that the wreck is the remainder of the Antoinette. The wreck is currently being dismantled, with the assistance of the Royal Navy Bomb Disposal Unit.
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
, built in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1874 and was used for the transportation of goods. She struck land on Tuckernuck in 1889, requiring the entire crew to be rescued. Although she was reinstated later that year, she was finally wrecked on the Doom Bar
Doom Bar
The Doom Bar is a bank of sand at the estuary of the River Camel where it meets the Celtic Sea on Cornwall's north coast. It represents a significant hazard to shipping, and there have been many ships wrecked there through the centuries...
off Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, the largest ship to be wrecked there. She mostly disappeared after being destroyed with gelignite, however in March 2010, some of the hull re-emerged from the Doom Bar, creating a hazard to local shipping.
History
In 1874, JM Gardenor officially launched the Antoinette, from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. She was originally owned by J Bingay, but was subsequently sold to Dennis & Doane, W Law and finally R Elkin.Tuckernuck
The Antoinette struck the Nantucket Shoal near Tuckernuck IslandTuckernuck Island
Tuckernuck is an island in the town of Nantucket, Massachusetts, west of Nantucket Island and east of Muskeget. Its name allegedly means "a loaf of bread". The island has an area of about 900 acres ....
on January 27, 1889. Early on the following morning a lifeboat from United States Life-Saving Service
United States Life-Saving Service
The United States Life-Saving Service was a United States government agency that grew out of private and local humanitarian efforts to save the lives of shipwrecked mariners and passengers...
, manned by four brothers, managed to rescue everyone aboard. The New York Times explains that this feat was all the more impressive as two people rescued were women. She was towed to port, and eventually reinstated on August 10, 1889.
Doom Bar
On New Years Day 1895, the Antoinette set off from NewportNewport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
laden with coal, destined for Brazil. She foundered near Lundy Island, losing parts of her masts. She was towed towards a safe port, but broke free and drifted. Eventually, she broke up, with a large portion of her wreck lodging on the Doom Bar. The wreckage was causing a hazard to shipping, so a miner named Pope was called in. He filled the wreck with gelignite
Gelignite
Gelignite, also known as blasting gelatin or simply jelly, is an explosive material consisting of collodion-cotton dissolved in either nitroglycerine or nitroglycol and mixed with wood pulp and saltpetre .It was invented in 1875 by Alfred Nobel, who had earlier invented dynamite...
; and, after clearing the area, detonated it. The resulting explosion was so violent that reports claim every window in the nearby harbour of Padstow was blown in and the smoke could be seen three miles (5 km) away.
Of the 600 wrecks recorded on the Doom Bar, the Antoinette was the largest, but all fourteen crew and three stranded pilots were rescued. Over 100 years later, a wreck re-surfaced on the Doom Bar. Although there is some debate as to which ship had appeared, owing to the sheer number of ships that have wrecked on the Doom Bar, the majority believe that the wreck is the remainder of the Antoinette. The wreck is currently being dismantled, with the assistance of the Royal Navy Bomb Disposal Unit.
External links
- Photo gallery - Mystery shipwreck in Padstow