Wreck of the Royal Charter
One of the great shipping tragedies during this time was the sinking of the auxiliary steam ship Royal Charter in Red Wharf Bay near Bangor, Wales. It occurred on 25 August, 1859, only a few days short of Liverpool. A huge storm battered the ship onto a sand bar, and then onto rocks where it split and sank. The ship was carrying 481 bales of wool, 49,130 British sovereigns and 68,404 ounces (1,940 kg) of gold valued at about £400,000. The Royal Charter was also carrying 480 passengers and crew, of which only 41 people were rescued. Some 130 other ships were also wrecked the same night, all due to a hurricane, the ferocity of which had never been recorded before!
When the news reached Melbourne, some 70 days after it happened, the population was deeply shocked. The Argus editorial spoke of the "gloom which has been cast over the city ... by the awful tragedy". The tragedy was especially significant as the Royal Charter was considered to be one of the safest ships to make the "home voyage".
Picture: The Royal Charter
