Daily Event for January 4, 2010

On January 4, 1902 in a heavy fog 25 miles off the coast of Portugal the Spanish ship Hullera Española rammed and sank the British steamer Alfonso. The collision was so violent and Alfonso sank so fast that only one of the nineteen men on board got off and was saved. Both ships had been built in England, Alfonso at Oswald, Mordaunt & Company of Southampton in 1878 and Hullera Española at John Redhead & Sons, South Shields in 1884. Both were of similar gross tonnage, Alfonso 1,325 and Hullera Espanola at 1,466 and both shared the same fate, resting in Davy Jones' Locker.

The master of Alfonso, John Burnett, made it into the water and over to the Spanish ship, he climbed up the anchor chains to board the ship, but was hardly any better off than before. The Hullera Española was also sinking and nothing could stop it. Within a couple of hours the crew of the Hullera Española lowered the lifeboats and took to the sea, sadly one of the crew was killed attempting to get into the lifeboat. The ship was abandoned and soon sank, but Burnett and the twenty-four survivors from Hullera Española were soon picked up by a Portuguese brigantine named Rodolphe and landed the next day.
© 2010 Michael W. Pocock
MaritimeQuest.com



Roll of Honour
In memory of those who lost their lives in
SS Alfonso
"As long as we embrace them in our memory, their spirit will always be with us"

Name
Rate
Blomberg, M.
Able Seaman
Devant, R. E.
Cook
Dovan, W.
Able Seaman
Fleming, J.
Fireman
Gamble, T.
2nd Engineer
Hasler, William
2nd Mate
Jenkins, A.
Fireman
LeBras, Francois
Steward
Lenke, H.
Fireman
Lynch, J.
Able Seaman
Martin, G.
3rd Engineer
McGee, J. F.
Fireman
O'Neill, John
Mate
Parker, T.
Able Seaman
Ruth, J.
Able Seaman
Sheen, G.
Fireman
Sullivan, T.
1st Engineer
Williams, F.
Able Seaman
       
The name of the Spanish sailor who lost his life is unknown to me, but if you can provide it please email me.

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