|
Royal - sail set
above Topgallants. Skysail - square sail set above the Royal.
Two
19th Century images of "La Hogue":
From 'The Illustrated London
News', August 11th, 1855
Monday, July 16th, was kept as a holiday in a large number of workshops at
Sunderland, the object being to witness the launch of 'La Hogue', at the
building-yard of Mr. James Laing, who has contributed several admirable
specimens to the commercial marine of the country.
The tonnage of 'La Hogue' by the new measurement would be 1478 but, by the
alteration in May last, it stands at 1321. Her dimensions are as follows
-Length of keel for tonnage, 220 ft.; extreme breadth, 35 ft. depth, 22 ft. 8
in.; length of poop deck, 95 ft.
She has been built for the eminent firm of Messrs. Dunbar and Sons, of
London, as a passenger ship to Australia; and will be commanded by Captain H.
Neatby, an able and favourite commander in the Sydney trade.
In her construction, care has been taken that materials known for their
strength and durability should alone be used. The frame is entirely of the
best English oak and the planking, keelson, beams and decks, are of East
India teak; the scantling and thickness of plank exceeds what is required by
Lloyd's rules for vessels of the highest class. Although ships of her length
possess great advantages over shorter ships for sailing, and as good
sea-boats, they necessarily require greater care in their construction, to
overcome the tendency to alter their shape which such great length involves.
The frame of the 'La Hogue' has, therefore, been trussed with iron bars,
extending from the gunwale of the ship, and running at an angle of about
thirty degrees from the top towards the ends at the bottom on the outside,
whilst those on the inside are placed in an opposite direction, so as to
cross the line of trussing on the outside, and bolted through every frame
timber. The system of inside trussing has been applied in several instances;
but this is the first time, we believe, this been placed upon the outside of
the flame. The advantages of it will be seen at once, when we consider the
application of a hoop to an ordinary cask, the outside trussing operating its
a similar manner in building the whole frame of the ship as the hoop does the
staves of a cask. Since this trussing was fitted to 'La Hogue' it has been
applied to a steamer building in America for the United States Government,
and for which a patent has been applied in that country by the builder.
Upwards of twenty tons of copper have been used in the bolting of 'La Hogue',
and sixty tons of iron knees.
The rain fell heavily for an hour prior to the launch, but this did not
prevent a number of gentlemen learned in marine craftsmanship inspecting the
huge hull which stretched from end to end of the yard; and to those not
similarly engaged, the music of an instrumental band ministered very
exquisite pleasure. Shortly after five o'clock the well-known loud and
uninterrupted rattle of the carpenters' hammers announced that the last shore
was about to be driven out. In a minute the rope at the bow was cut, the iron
blocks fell down, out flew the remaining shore, and in a moment the towering
fabric took the water as kindly as "a bird that seeketh its mother's nest,"
greeted with cheers from the yard, and from the hundreds of spectators who
lined the opposite bank of the river.
Wellington Evening Post, Wednesday, 27th May, 1874
Arrival of La Hogue
The Ship La Hogue left Gravesend on 20th February and discharged her pilot off Start Point on the 24th, crossed the Equator on 23rd March, passed the Cape of Good Hope on the 13th April and made the New Zealand coast on the 24th instant, after a run of 89 days from land to land. The entire voyage from port to port being completed in 94 days. She brings 10 cabin passengers, immigrants equal to 353 statute adults (the total number of souls on board being 500), 400 tons of railway iron and about 1000 tons of general cargo. The passengers enjoyed excellent health during the voyage, and all the arrangements are described as thoroughly satisfactory. Dr W Russell was an admirable surgeon-superintendent. It is interesting to note that the La Hogue left England exactly one month after the Wennington and arrived here within the same 24 hours.
The immigrants by the Wennington were landed last night, and lodged in the Mount Cook Barracks.
They seem a lot of strong and respectable people. The La Hogue's immigrants are still on board, and are likely to have to remain so for some days as the Barracks are fully occupied at the present by the Wennington people. As soon as possible detachments from both ships will be sent to Wanganui and the country districts.
“The Good Old Days of Shipping”, author and publisher
unknown (about 1889?)
La Hogue was for long one of the crack Australian liners. Her accommodation was
exceptionally good, and her poop, 97 feet long, extended right up to the main-mast. There was really hardly any upper deck as she had a forecastle deck and a large house to still further contract its limits. She was one of the last merchant ships afloat, I believe, to carry a single topsail yard, and though at the fore and main she had the usual double yards, the single topsail was retained at the
mizzen. Her arrival at Sydney was the subject of as much public interest as that now caused by the latest crack "P. & O." or "Orient" liners. A few years ago she was taken to
Madeira to end her days and is now at Funchal, a mere hulk.
Summary of Captains and
Voyages:
La Hogue
A wooden full-rigged ship built in 1855 by James Laing, Sunderland. Dimensions: 226'0"×35'0"×22'9" and tonnage: 1331 GRT, 1331 NRT and 1152 tons under deck. The forecastle was 42' long and the poop 96'. The figurehead was a lion rampant supporting a shield with the St Andrew's Cross. Rigged with double fore and main top-sails, single topgallant sails and royals.
1855 July 16
Launched at the shipyard of James Laing, Sunderland, for Duncan Dunbar. Assigned the official British Reg. No. 26531 and signal PLMR. Employed in the Australian trade. Her first master was Captain
Neatby.
1858-1865
In command of Captain John Williams who continued as master of the ship for the new owners until he left her for the same owner's ship Parramatta.
1863
Sold to Devitt & Moore, London, who kept her on the Sydney trade.
1865-1874
In command of Captain William Goddard who in 1874 left her for the same owner's ship Parramatta.
1874-1876
In command of Captain D.B. Carvosso late of the same owner's ship Dunbar Castle. After two years Capt. Carvosso left her for the same owner's ship Hawkesbury.
1874
Sailed from London to Wellington with 443 emmigrants.
1875 November 11 - February 17
Sailed from Sydney to London in 98 days with a cargo of wool.
1876-1886
In command of Captain F. Wagstaff.
1878 January 16 - April 16
Sailed from Sydney to London in 90 days with a cargo of wool.
1879 January 18 - April 18
Sailed from Sydney to London in 90 days with a cargo of wool.
1883 January 25 - April 30
Sailed from Sydney to London in 95 days with a cargo of wool.
1886
In command of Captain Nicholson.
1886
Sold to Thomas Hick, London. Employed in the timber trade from the Baltic to London.
18??
Sold to a coaling firm in Madeira and used as a coal hulk at Funchal.
and her co-owned rival and near
sister ship "Parramatta":
Parramatta
A wooden full-rigged ship built of teak in 1866 by James Laing, Sunderland. Dimensions: 231'0"×38'2"×22'8" and tonnage: 1521 GRT, 1521 NRT and 1298 tons under deck. She also loaded 190 tons under a raised quarter deck. Equipped with iron beams.
1866 May
Launched at the shipyard of James Laing, Sunderland, for Devitt & Moore, London. Assigned the official British Reg. No. 54740 and signal HSFR. Employed in the Australian cargo and passenger trade.
1866-1873
In command of Captain John Williams late of the same owner's ship La Hogue.
1873-1874
In command of Captain J.R. Brown.
1874-1887
In command of Captain William Goddard late of the same owner's ship La Hogue.
1876 February 1 - April 21
Sailed from Sydney to London in 79 days with a cargo of wool.
1877 February 17 - May 10
Sailed from Sydney to London in 82 days.
1879 February 5 - April 26
Sailed from Sydney to Plymouth in 80 days with a cargo of wool.
1881 January 24 - April 30
Sailed from Sydney to London in 96 days with a cargo of wool.
1883 March 6 - July 7
Sailed from Sydney to London in 123 days with a cargo of wool.
1887
Sold to J. Simonsen, Mandal, Norway.
1898 January 12
Sailed from Sapelo, Galveston, TX, for King's Lynn, Norfolk, with a cargo of pitch-pine and disappeared on the way.
Thus, ended her days within months
of La Hogue's demise, in 1898
References:
Square-rigged ships, general references.
Course, A.G.: Painted Ports. The story of the ships of Messrs Devitt and Moore.
Hollis & Carter, London, 1961. 8vo, x, 230 pp, 6 plates.
Lubbock, Basil: The Colonial Clippers.
Brown, Ferguson & Son, Glasgow, 1948 (2nd).
Lubbock, Basil: The Blackwall Frigates.
Lloyd's Register:
|
Happenchance By Rodney Gascoyne Appendix A