3-021-565 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The late collision off The Lizard: H.M.S. Terrible towing The Calcutta into Plymouth, 1869. Engraving of a sketch by Mr. J. B. Hay, midshipman, of the Terrible. 'We mentioned last week the disastrous collision of the frigate-ship Calcutta, belonging to Messrs. T. M. Mackay and Co., from London, carrying the Persian Gulf cable, with the Prussian barque Emma, from Cardiff for Barcelona, during a gale of wind...and the immediate sinking of the latter vessel with the master and six of the crew...Captain Owen, the chief mate, the chief engineer, Mr. Wright, a midshipman, the cook, steward, and four seamen were unfortunately drowned alongside while in the act of lowering the gig-boat, the hook of the after tackle having broken and cast them all into the sea...the Terrible got alongside the Calcutta shortly before eleven o'clock, and speedily sent three officers and forty men aboard of her to clear away the steering gear and assist in getting a hawser on board. To do the latter by the aid of fight boats in the heavy sea then running was a task of no small difficulty...The Calcutta is said to be worth, with cargo, £250,000. The ship is insured at Lloyd's for a tenth of that sum. The cargo is not insured'. From "Illustrated London News", 1869.