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In 1860 HMS conqueror was one of the Royal Navy's latest ships, and
took pride of place in the British line of battle in that day. She was prodigious weight of metal from a broadside,
still very much a three-decker with the masts and full rig of a ship of the eighteenth century, but with the incongruous
addition of a smokestack amidships and a vast, primitive, coal-burning engine driving one great screw. Still virtually
on her maiden voyage, she was lost on Sumner Point Reef, Rum Cay, on December 13, 1861. Her crew of 1,400 all survived.
She was 20 nm out in estimating her position and, after making her landfall, cut rounding the southeast point of
Rum Cay too fine and went hard on the reef. Her captain, fearing that his crew (most of whom could not swim in
those days) would drink themselves insensible when it became obvious the ship was lost, ordered all ale, wine,
and spirit casks to be broken and their contents ditched. He then sent the two largest ship's boats, rigged with
sail as well as oars, to Nassau and Jamaica requesting help. For the next two days the ship's company unloaded
everything they could salvage, and set about making a camp on the island. The captain remained on board with one
midshipman and ten seamen until the ship broke up. The all of them, less the boat parties, were marooned on Rum
Cay. They were rescued soon after the news of the disaster was known.
HMS Conqueror is still there. You can dive her, in some 30 feet of water. |
Click on the thumbnail for a larger view
Click on the links below to view more photos of Rum Cay
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