Title
Wreck of Tripolitania, wrecked at Loe Bar, December 18th 1912.
Subject
Shipwreck
Description
The 2,297-ton steamer Tripolitania of Genoa sailed from her home port on December 181th 1912, in water ballast for Barry Dcoks, under the command of Captain Elia Reppito, and when deep in the Bay of Biscay encountered the worst storm to sweep the Channel for fifty years.
Gusting to over 100 mph, the WSW gale caught her high-riding hull as it would saild, and by 6 A.M on Boxing Day, when the Wolf Rock was sighted, she was in grave difficulities. She scraped past the Land's End Cliffs, and though water was pumped into her holds to force her deeper into the sea, she drove on. By noon the Tripolitania was inside the Lizard and, knowing she was doomed, Captain Reppito called the crew on to the bridge and told them that he was going to beach on Loe Bar.
At full speed she surged up the coast, then the wheel was put hard rescue to arrive the Italians flung a roper over the bows and though the first man who slid down was swept away, twenty-seven others got safely ashore. During the next few ays the Tripolitania was driven farther up the bar sands, but she was little damaged and the work of refloating her began. Scores of labourers dug away the sand which continually built around her, coffer dams were erected and channels cut back to the sea.
Months passed, and she still remained on the bar. In August 1913 hopes of salvage were still good, but on November 4th a south-west gale and high spring tide destroyed a year's work in a night. By dawn she had wallowed her way 300 yeards further inshore and settled down even deeper; Tripolitania was launched on the Mersey in 1905 as the Drumgarth, for John Heron & Co of Liverpool. She later became the Lord Cromer, and in December 1911 passed to Luigi Pillagura of Genoa. By a coincidence, her last captain before she was sold to the Italians was Captain J.J Beckerleg of Marazion, whose home was only half a dozen mile from Loe Bar.
Description from Richard Larn and Clive Carter, Cornish Shipwrecks: The South Coast (Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 171), p. 163.
Gusting to over 100 mph, the WSW gale caught her high-riding hull as it would saild, and by 6 A.M on Boxing Day, when the Wolf Rock was sighted, she was in grave difficulities. She scraped past the Land's End Cliffs, and though water was pumped into her holds to force her deeper into the sea, she drove on. By noon the Tripolitania was inside the Lizard and, knowing she was doomed, Captain Reppito called the crew on to the bridge and told them that he was going to beach on Loe Bar.
At full speed she surged up the coast, then the wheel was put hard rescue to arrive the Italians flung a roper over the bows and though the first man who slid down was swept away, twenty-seven others got safely ashore. During the next few ays the Tripolitania was driven farther up the bar sands, but she was little damaged and the work of refloating her began. Scores of labourers dug away the sand which continually built around her, coffer dams were erected and channels cut back to the sea.
Months passed, and she still remained on the bar. In August 1913 hopes of salvage were still good, but on November 4th a south-west gale and high spring tide destroyed a year's work in a night. By dawn she had wallowed her way 300 yeards further inshore and settled down even deeper; Tripolitania was launched on the Mersey in 1905 as the Drumgarth, for John Heron & Co of Liverpool. She later became the Lord Cromer, and in December 1911 passed to Luigi Pillagura of Genoa. By a coincidence, her last captain before she was sold to the Italians was Captain J.J Beckerleg of Marazion, whose home was only half a dozen mile from Loe Bar.
Description from Richard Larn and Clive Carter, Cornish Shipwrecks: The South Coast (Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 171), p. 163.
Creator
Gibson
Date
1912-12-26
Rights
Morrab library
Format
Print
Identifier
RGN.106
Coverage
Loe Bar, Lizard
Physical Dimensions
8" x 11"