3-066-040 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The White Star steam-ship Britannic aground off Kenmore, coast of Wexford, [Ireland], 1881. 'The Britannic, one of the White Star Line of Royal and United States' mail steam-ships, from Liverpool to New York, during a thick sea-fog on Monday of last week, got aground inside the Saltees rocks, off Kilmore, on the coast of Wexford...Her passengers and mails were safely conveyed ashore by the Wexford steam-tugs, the weather being calm and the sea quite smooth; and several other steam-tugs, from Liverpool, and also from Waterford, were employed to remove the cargo...Three holes were discovered by the divers, on the starboard side of the ship, but these were soon stopped up...having been lightened of her cargo, she left Kilmore...but she had got only as far as the Barrels when a considerable leak was detected in the engine-room. It was not deemed prudent, in this condition, to attempt the passage to Liverpool...Powerful steam-pumps were then sent from Liverpool, and were placed on board her last Sunday; while the remainder of her cargo, chiefly consisting of American cheese, lard, and butter, was taken out of her. She has since been brought into the Mersey. The Sketch shows her position stranded inside the rocks at Kilmore'. From "Illustrated London News", 1881.