3-008-822 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Raising the iron ship Ganges, sunk in the Thames off Shadwell, [London], 1862. The Ganges was '...an iron ship of nearly a thousand tons burden...The accident happened just opposite the Shadwell entrance of the London Docks. As she was being towed to a dry dock to be overhauled she came athwart the stream and canted over, and the water rushing in at her ports she sank on her side in a few minutes. Her crew were mostly Lascars, and of these four, with the native surgeon, were below at the time of the accident, and were drowned in the ship. The Ganges was in very light trim; indeed, want of ballast appears to have been the cause of her toppling over under the pressure of the stream. Nearly 100 men were engaged in the attempt to float the vessel. Chain lighters were attached to her side, and the 2000 tons of water which filled her hold were pumped out by steam-pumps. On Saturday afternoon their efforts were rewarded with success, the Ganges appearing above water, and floating in shore, near King James's Stairs'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.