Post by Administrator on Aug 19, 2021 1:13:21 GMT
VIA: The History of Wales
On 17th August 1831, 93 people lost their lives when the paddle steamer Rothesay Castle was wrecked on Traeth Lafan (Lavan Sands) on Menai Strait.
The steamer, which was used for day trips from Liverpool, along the coast of North Wales, encountered a rough sea and strong winds. When one of the passengers went to ask to return to port, he found Captain Atkinson drunk and unwilling to turn the vessel around. By the time they had reached the Great Orme, the ship had taken on two feet of water and the pumps would not work. To make matters worse, there was no bucket on board for bailing and the lifeboat, which had a hole in it, had no oars. They ran aground and the ship broke up, with the bodies of the downed victims being washed up mostly on Anglesey.
The inquest that was held at Beaumaris concluded that the Rothesay Castle was not a seaworthy vessel and was not properly manned. However, in 1832, as a result of the disaster, a lifeboat was stationed at Penmon and in 1837, the Trwyn Du (black nose) lighthouse was built.
On 17th August 1831, 93 people lost their lives when the paddle steamer Rothesay Castle was wrecked on Traeth Lafan (Lavan Sands) on Menai Strait.
The steamer, which was used for day trips from Liverpool, along the coast of North Wales, encountered a rough sea and strong winds. When one of the passengers went to ask to return to port, he found Captain Atkinson drunk and unwilling to turn the vessel around. By the time they had reached the Great Orme, the ship had taken on two feet of water and the pumps would not work. To make matters worse, there was no bucket on board for bailing and the lifeboat, which had a hole in it, had no oars. They ran aground and the ship broke up, with the bodies of the downed victims being washed up mostly on Anglesey.
The inquest that was held at Beaumaris concluded that the Rothesay Castle was not a seaworthy vessel and was not properly manned. However, in 1832, as a result of the disaster, a lifeboat was stationed at Penmon and in 1837, the Trwyn Du (black nose) lighthouse was built.