SS Britannic (1874)
Encyclopedia
SS Britannic was the first of three ships to sail with Britannic name. All were part of the White Star Line
, famous for Titanic and other ocean liners.
Britannic was a steamship equipped with sails. It was initially to be called Hellenic
, but, just prior to her launch, her name was changed to Britannic. Its twin was Germanic
. Britannic sailed for nearly thirty years, primarily carrying immigrant passengers on the highly trafficked Liverpool
to New York
route. In 1876 it received the Blue Riband
, both westbound and eastbound, by averaging almost 16 knots (31.4 km/h).
collided with Britannic in thick fog about 350 miles (563.3 km) east of Sandy Hook, New Jersey
. Celtic, with 870 passengers, had been steaming westbound for New York City
, while Britannic, carrying 450 passengers, was on the second day of her eastward journey to Liverpool
. The two ships collided at almost right angles, with Celtic burying her prow 10 feet (3 m) in the aft port side of Britannic. Celtic rebounded and hit two more times, before sliding past behind Britannic.
Six steerage
passengers were killed outright on board Britannic, and another six were later found to be missing, having been washed overboard. There were no deaths on board Celtic. Both ships were badly damaged, but Britannic more so, having a large hole below her waterline. Fearing that she would founder, the passengers on board began to panic and rushed the lifeboat
s. Britannic's captain, pistol in hand, was able to restore some semblance of order, and the boats were filled with women and children, although a few men forced their way on board. After the lifeboats had launched, it was realized that Britannic would be able to stay afloat, and the lifeboats within hailing distance were recalled. The rest made their way over to Celtic. The two ships remained together through the night, and the next morning were joined by the Wilson Line's Marengo and British Queen of the Inman Line
, and the four slowly made their way into New York Harbor
.
A 2 and a half year old Eleanor Roosevelt was on board the Britannic at the time of the collision, with her father Elliot and her mother Anna and her Aunt Tissie. Eleanor was lowered into a lifeboat, screaming and protesting. She and her parents were taken to the Celtic, and eventually returned to New York. Eleanor raised a huge protest at the thought of getting back on board a ship to continue the family's trip to Europe. Her parents went on to Europe, leaving the little girl with a maternal aunt. Eleanor had a lifelong fear of water and ships as a result of this incident.
White Star Line
The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British shipping company, today most famous for its ill-fated vessel, the RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of Titanics sister ship Britannic...
, famous for Titanic and other ocean liners.
Britannic was a steamship equipped with sails. It was initially to be called Hellenic
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, but, just prior to her launch, her name was changed to Britannic. Its twin was Germanic
SS Germanic (1875)
The SS Germanic was an ocean liner built by Harland and Wolff in 1875 and operated by the White Star Line. She was later operated by other lines under the names Ottawa, Gul Djemal and Gulcemal.-Germanic:...
. Britannic sailed for nearly thirty years, primarily carrying immigrant passengers on the highly trafficked Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
route. In 1876 it received the Blue Riband
Blue Riband
The Blue Riband is an unofficial accolade given to the passenger liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean in regular service with the record highest speed. The term was borrowed from horse racing and was not widely used until after 1910. Under the unwritten rules, the record is based on average speed...
, both westbound and eastbound, by averaging almost 16 knots (31.4 km/h).
Accommodations
The Britannic and her sister Germanic were both built to carry 266 Saloon Class Passengers (Title of First Class at that time) and 1,500 steerage passengers. As the ships were virtually larger versions of the "Oceanic" class ships built in the previous years, their accommodations were very similar, with some variances to give each ship its own character. Her Saloon Accommodations, consisting of a large, spacious Dining Saloon and a large number of two and four berth cabins were located in the center of the ship on the main deck, being the upper of the two decks enclosed within the hull above the waterline. The Steerage Accommodations were divided into two main sections at either end of the ship, berths for Single Men in the bow and berths for Single Women, Married Couples and Families in the Stern.SS Celtic collision
On 19 May 1887, at about 5:25 in the afternoon the White Star liner, SS CelticSS Celtic (1872)
SS Celtic was a steamship built for the White Star Line by shipbuilders Harland and Wolff of Belfast.The Celtic , the first of two White Star ships to bear the name, was the second of two Oceanic-class liners commissioned by White Star, following the success of their first four steamships...
collided with Britannic in thick fog about 350 miles (563.3 km) east of Sandy Hook, New Jersey
Sandy Hook, New Jersey
Sandy Hook is a barrier spit, approximately 6.0 miles in length and varying between 0.10 and 1 miles wide in Middletown Township in Monmouth County, along the Atlantic Ocean coast of eastern New Jersey in the United States. The barrier spit encloses the southern entrance of Lower New York Bay...
. Celtic, with 870 passengers, had been steaming westbound for New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, while Britannic, carrying 450 passengers, was on the second day of her eastward journey to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. The two ships collided at almost right angles, with Celtic burying her prow 10 feet (3 m) in the aft port side of Britannic. Celtic rebounded and hit two more times, before sliding past behind Britannic.
Six steerage
Steerage
Steerage is the act of steering a ship. "Steerage" also refers to the lowest decks of a ship.-Steerage and steerage way:The rudder of a vessel can only steer the ship when water is passing over it...
passengers were killed outright on board Britannic, and another six were later found to be missing, having been washed overboard. There were no deaths on board Celtic. Both ships were badly damaged, but Britannic more so, having a large hole below her waterline. Fearing that she would founder, the passengers on board began to panic and rushed the lifeboat
Lifeboat (shipboard)
A lifeboat is a small, rigid or inflatable watercraft carried for emergency evacuation in the event of a disaster aboard ship. In the military, a lifeboat may be referred to as a whaleboat, dinghy, or gig. The ship's tenders of cruise ships often double as lifeboats. Recreational sailors sometimes...
s. Britannic's captain, pistol in hand, was able to restore some semblance of order, and the boats were filled with women and children, although a few men forced their way on board. After the lifeboats had launched, it was realized that Britannic would be able to stay afloat, and the lifeboats within hailing distance were recalled. The rest made their way over to Celtic. The two ships remained together through the night, and the next morning were joined by the Wilson Line's Marengo and British Queen of the Inman Line
American Line
The American Line was a shipping company based in Philadelphia that was founded in 1871. It began as part of the Pennsylvania Railroad, although the railroad got out of the shipping business soon after founding the company...
, and the four slowly made their way into New York Harbor
New York Harbor
New York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental,...
.
A 2 and a half year old Eleanor Roosevelt was on board the Britannic at the time of the collision, with her father Elliot and her mother Anna and her Aunt Tissie. Eleanor was lowered into a lifeboat, screaming and protesting. She and her parents were taken to the Celtic, and eventually returned to New York. Eleanor raised a huge protest at the thought of getting back on board a ship to continue the family's trip to Europe. Her parents went on to Europe, leaving the little girl with a maternal aunt. Eleanor had a lifelong fear of water and ships as a result of this incident.