2-913-579 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Catastrophe at a Ship-Launch, at Hull, 1854. 'Messrs. Earle, the eminent iron ship builders...had arranged to launch from their yard...a very fine iron barque, named the Dowthorpe, which they had built for Messrs. John Beadle and Co...Men were stationed at all points to prevent the people from getting on board the vessel, but without avail. At the time of launching, there were between 300 and 400 persons on board; and of these, as many as could conveniently stand had stationed themselves on the roof of the poop-houses, where there was not a scrap of rope, or an inch of bulwark, to hold on by...the people on board, commenced "sallying" her - that is, rushing from side to side to make her rock in the water...the unfortunate people who had taken their stand on the "poops" were thrown into the water...the bodies of four persons - three men and a boy -were taken out'. From "Illustrated London News", 1854.