3-078-171 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Wreck of the steam-ship Dacca in the Red Sea: an hour after she struck, 1890. 'An account of this disaster, with a Sketch of the Daedalus Reef Lighthouse in the Red Sea. has appeared in our Journal. The British India Steamship Company's ship Dacca, bound for Queensland, Australia, on the morning of May 16 struck on the reef, and sank after four hours. Not one life was lost of crew and passengers, numbering in all 554, of whom 220 were female emigrants, but they saved nothing; many of the women and girls, suddenly roused from their berths, had no clothing but their night-dresses. Under the direction of Captain Stuart and the ship's officers, the boats conveyed all to the lighthouse rock. In the course of the day they were taken on board the steamer Rosario, and were kindly treated; at five in the evening they were transferred to the British India Steamship Company's ship Palamcotta, which brought them to Suez. Clothing and other necessaries have been sent out for their relief, previously to resuming their voyage from Suez in another ship of the same company. Our Illustrations, showing how the Dacca was wrecked and sank, are from sketches by Mr. J. H. P. Berthon, on board the Palamcotta'. From "Illustrated London News", 1890.