2nd May, 2017 12:00
Maritime and Scientific Models, Instruments & Art ('Hibernia')
196
[M] A BRASS STEAM WHISTLE RECOVERED FROM THE WRECK...
A BRASS STEAM WHISTLE RECOVERED FROM THE WRECK OF THE S.S. FORFARSHIRE WHOSE SURVIVORS WERE SAVED BY GRACE DARLING, 7TH SEPTEMBER, 1838
of typical form, the domed whistle threaded to steam pipe with outlet under, now mounted to a wooden display board for wall hanging, the whistle -- 12¼in. (31cm.) high
The Dundee, Perth & London Shipping Company was one of the oldest firms engaged in the coastal trade of Great Britain and traced its origins back to 1777. Initially reluctant to embrace steam, the company ordered its first paddle packets in 1832 which, entering service in 1834, proved an immediate success. Other steamers followed in quick succession, the most notable of which was the ill-fated Forfarshire remembered more for the occasion of her loss than for anything she achieved during her short life. Built in Dundee in 1836 and measured at 192 tons burthen, she was 132 feet in length with a 20 foot beam and was paddle-powered from a 190hp. 2-cylinder engine.
On 5th September 1838 Forfarshire left Hull, bound for Dundee, carrying both passengers and freight. Early the next morning the starboard boiler sprang a leak and the same afternoon the engines gave out completely in deteriorating weather. Instead of putting into port for repairs, Captain Humble made sail and stubbornly maintained his course until, at about 4 o'clock the following day, the ship ran aground amongst the Farne Islands and broke her back. The stern section sank immediately taking most of the passengers with it and six crew were also lost immediately. The forepart with thirteen passengers lodged precariously on rock where, just before 5.00am on the 7th September, Grace Darling finally spotted them. It was a further two hours before she and her father saw any survivors and, as he made ready to launch a boat, William Darling realised that he could not manage the task alone. Looking to Grace for assistance, she did not hesitate and the two of them made the perilous journey out to the Big Harcar Rock and, with the greatest difficulty, rescued a woman, an injured man and three others. Once back at the Longstone lighthouse, Grace and her mother tended the distraught woman and injured man whilst her father and two of the rescued men returned to the wreck for the second time. The bad weather continued for several more days but news of the Darlings' exploits soon became known and before long, the plucky twenty-two year old Grace was the toast of the nation. The Darlings, and particularly Grace, were showered with gifts as well as the medals of various lifesaving institutions but, sadly, Grace did not live to enjoy her fame for long and died of tuberculosis in October 1842.
Provenance: Recovered and identified by recreational divers in 1978 and allocated Droit Number 229/12 by the Receiver of Wreck in July 2014. A full account accompanies the lot.
Estimated at £2,500 - £4,000
of typical form, the domed whistle threaded to steam pipe with outlet under, now mounted to a wooden display board for wall hanging, the whistle -- 12¼in. (31cm.) high
The Dundee, Perth & London Shipping Company was one of the oldest firms engaged in the coastal trade of Great Britain and traced its origins back to 1777. Initially reluctant to embrace steam, the company ordered its first paddle packets in 1832 which, entering service in 1834, proved an immediate success. Other steamers followed in quick succession, the most notable of which was the ill-fated Forfarshire remembered more for the occasion of her loss than for anything she achieved during her short life. Built in Dundee in 1836 and measured at 192 tons burthen, she was 132 feet in length with a 20 foot beam and was paddle-powered from a 190hp. 2-cylinder engine.
On 5th September 1838 Forfarshire left Hull, bound for Dundee, carrying both passengers and freight. Early the next morning the starboard boiler sprang a leak and the same afternoon the engines gave out completely in deteriorating weather. Instead of putting into port for repairs, Captain Humble made sail and stubbornly maintained his course until, at about 4 o'clock the following day, the ship ran aground amongst the Farne Islands and broke her back. The stern section sank immediately taking most of the passengers with it and six crew were also lost immediately. The forepart with thirteen passengers lodged precariously on rock where, just before 5.00am on the 7th September, Grace Darling finally spotted them. It was a further two hours before she and her father saw any survivors and, as he made ready to launch a boat, William Darling realised that he could not manage the task alone. Looking to Grace for assistance, she did not hesitate and the two of them made the perilous journey out to the Big Harcar Rock and, with the greatest difficulty, rescued a woman, an injured man and three others. Once back at the Longstone lighthouse, Grace and her mother tended the distraught woman and injured man whilst her father and two of the rescued men returned to the wreck for the second time. The bad weather continued for several more days but news of the Darlings' exploits soon became known and before long, the plucky twenty-two year old Grace was the toast of the nation. The Darlings, and particularly Grace, were showered with gifts as well as the medals of various lifesaving institutions but, sadly, Grace did not live to enjoy her fame for long and died of tuberculosis in October 1842.
Provenance: Recovered and identified by recreational divers in 1978 and allocated Droit Number 229/12 by the Receiver of Wreck in July 2014. A full account accompanies the lot.
Condition Report
Original covered with concretia, the whilstle is now in fine condition and has been polished. It is mounted to the display board by a threaded nut and can be removed with ease.
We are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of this property. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Charles Miller Ltd is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD “AS IS” IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE.
A BRASS STEAM WHISTLE RECOVERED FROM THE WRECK OF THE S.S. FORFARSHIRE WHOSE SURVIVORS WERE SAVED BY GRACE DARLING, 7TH SEPTEMBER, 1838
of typical form, the domed whistle threaded to steam pipe with outlet under, now mounted to a wooden display board for wall hanging, the whistle -- 12¼in. (31cm.) high
The Dundee, Perth & London Shipping Company was one of the oldest firms engaged in the coastal trade of Great Britain and traced its origins back to 1777. Initially reluctant to embrace steam, the company ordered its first paddle packets in 1832 which, entering service in 1834, proved an immediate success. Other steamers followed in quick succession, the most notable of which was the ill-fated Forfarshire remembered more for the occasion of her loss than for anything she achieved during her short life. Built in Dundee in 1836 and measured at 192 tons burthen, she was 132 feet in length with a 20 foot beam and was paddle-powered from a 190hp. 2-cylinder engine.
On 5th September 1838 Forfarshire left Hull, bound for Dundee, carrying both passengers and freight. Early the next morning the starboard boiler sprang a leak and the same afternoon the engines gave out completely in deteriorating weather. Instead of putting into port for repairs, Captain Humble made sail and stubbornly maintained his course until, at about 4 o'clock the following day, the ship ran aground amongst the Farne Islands and broke her back. The stern section sank immediately taking most of the passengers with it and six crew were also lost immediately. The forepart with thirteen passengers lodged precariously on rock where, just before 5.00am on the 7th September, Grace Darling finally spotted them. It was a further two hours before she and her father saw any survivors and, as he made ready to launch a boat, William Darling realised that he could not manage the task alone. Looking to Grace for assistance, she did not hesitate and the two of them made the perilous journey out to the Big Harcar Rock and, with the greatest difficulty, rescued a woman, an injured man and three others. Once back at the Longstone lighthouse, Grace and her mother tended the distraught woman and injured man whilst her father and two of the rescued men returned to the wreck for the second time. The bad weather continued for several more days but news of the Darlings' exploits soon became known and before long, the plucky twenty-two year old Grace was the toast of the nation. The Darlings, and particularly Grace, were showered with gifts as well as the medals of various lifesaving institutions but, sadly, Grace did not live to enjoy her fame for long and died of tuberculosis in October 1842.
Provenance: Recovered and identified by recreational divers in 1978 and allocated Droit Number 229/12 by the Receiver of Wreck in July 2014. A full account accompanies the lot.
of typical form, the domed whistle threaded to steam pipe with outlet under, now mounted to a wooden display board for wall hanging, the whistle -- 12¼in. (31cm.) high
The Dundee, Perth & London Shipping Company was one of the oldest firms engaged in the coastal trade of Great Britain and traced its origins back to 1777. Initially reluctant to embrace steam, the company ordered its first paddle packets in 1832 which, entering service in 1834, proved an immediate success. Other steamers followed in quick succession, the most notable of which was the ill-fated Forfarshire remembered more for the occasion of her loss than for anything she achieved during her short life. Built in Dundee in 1836 and measured at 192 tons burthen, she was 132 feet in length with a 20 foot beam and was paddle-powered from a 190hp. 2-cylinder engine.
On 5th September 1838 Forfarshire left Hull, bound for Dundee, carrying both passengers and freight. Early the next morning the starboard boiler sprang a leak and the same afternoon the engines gave out completely in deteriorating weather. Instead of putting into port for repairs, Captain Humble made sail and stubbornly maintained his course until, at about 4 o'clock the following day, the ship ran aground amongst the Farne Islands and broke her back. The stern section sank immediately taking most of the passengers with it and six crew were also lost immediately. The forepart with thirteen passengers lodged precariously on rock where, just before 5.00am on the 7th September, Grace Darling finally spotted them. It was a further two hours before she and her father saw any survivors and, as he made ready to launch a boat, William Darling realised that he could not manage the task alone. Looking to Grace for assistance, she did not hesitate and the two of them made the perilous journey out to the Big Harcar Rock and, with the greatest difficulty, rescued a woman, an injured man and three others. Once back at the Longstone lighthouse, Grace and her mother tended the distraught woman and injured man whilst her father and two of the rescued men returned to the wreck for the second time. The bad weather continued for several more days but news of the Darlings' exploits soon became known and before long, the plucky twenty-two year old Grace was the toast of the nation. The Darlings, and particularly Grace, were showered with gifts as well as the medals of various lifesaving institutions but, sadly, Grace did not live to enjoy her fame for long and died of tuberculosis in October 1842.
Provenance: Recovered and identified by recreational divers in 1978 and allocated Droit Number 229/12 by the Receiver of Wreck in July 2014. A full account accompanies the lot.
Auction: Maritime and Scientific Models, Instruments & Art ('Hibernia'), 2nd May, 2017
