Empress of Scotland

Empress of Scotland

Postby Whickham » Tue Aug 28, 2012 6:54 am

EMPRESS OF SCOTLAND entering Blyth for breaking up. She was built as the KAISERIN AUGUSTE VICTORIA by Stettiner Vulcan in 1906 and exded her days at Blyth in 1930.

Photographer unknown

Empress.jpg
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Re: Empress of Scotland

Postby Whickham » Tue Aug 28, 2012 6:57 am

Another view

Photographer unknown

Empress2.jpg
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Re: Empress of Scotland

Postby Whickham » Wed Aug 29, 2012 7:46 pm

She caught fire at Blyth on the 10/12/1930, 6 days after she arrived.

Photographer unknown

Empress3.jpg
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Re: Empress of Scotland

Postby magoonigal » Thu Aug 30, 2012 1:03 am

"News of Harrisons's purchase lit Blyth's imagination and the arrival of the Empress was awaited with lively anticipation. Proposals were discussed for a charity ball in her elegant ballroom and public view days were arranged in aid of the local hospital. Hastily prepared catalogues gave tantalizing glimpses of the splendour of the vessels fittings and furnature, which were to be sold by auction. There were nine baby grand and upright piano-fortes in maple, satinwood and oak; settees and easy chairs in French velvet, mauve silk and pink damask; Chinese, Persian and Indian carpets and rugs; and oil paintings presented by the Kaiserin. There would be something, it seemed, for everybody: tablecloths and pillow cases; the contents of the gymnasium, including electric horses and camels; a letter box fashioned from a German Mine; a magnificent palm tree, 20ft high, in brass-bound oak tub: the instruments from the doctor's surgery.
If there was any uneasiness in the Town, it was whether so large a vessel could enter the harbour without mishap. The Empress was 150ft longer than the Thunderer and was of greater draught. But the debacle over Thunderer, if it had done nothing else, had provided unique experience from which every user of the port had profited. In the event, despite a thick mist, the Empress, with a five-tug escort, glided into Battleship Wharf with as little fuss as any of the colliers that made the port their home. The date was 4th December and Hughes Bolckow could look forward to the winter cheered by the prospect of nine month's solid work. The following weekend thousands of people went over the ship: they poured into Blyth from all parts of the North-East, arriving by car, bicycle, special bus and on foot. At one time there were so many people on board that the gangway had to be closed. A corps of volunteer stewards patrolled the eight decks, selling catalogues at a shilling each - proceeds went to the hospital - and triving to ensure that the 'No Smoking' notices were observed. Sam Lovey was early on the scene, thoughtfully regarding an upright piano and then marking a decisive cross in his catalogue. In the Louis Quinze drawing room chairs were sat in, oak panelling tapped and the rich pile of carpets tested between finger and thumb. An hotel-keeper measured the palm tree with his eye and wondered alound wherther the ceiling of his saloon bar was quite high enough. The auctioneer looked forward to a handsome commission: he had ticketed 829 lots and expected the sale to spread over five days during which he proposed to live on board the ship.

But at Four o'clock in the morning of Wednesday the 10th, the last public view day, the skeleton crew of the Empress were awakened by a cry of FIRE: almost at the same moment, a ferryman on the High Ferry saw a tongue of flame issue from the after part of the ship. Firemen were called from miles around but the fire had caught hold. The blaze, which had apparently started in the tourist-class barber's shop had burned undetected for some time and had taken firm hold.
Throughout the day more than 100 firemen fought the blaze. Smoke and flames poured from every ventilator and hatch; all along the hull the steel plates glowed red hot right down to the waterline; slabs of the burning paint, streams of moulten lead, plopped and sizzled into the river. Onlookers saw the lifeboats dissolve into ashes, the portholes appear as 'great fiery eyes'
The fire burned on and all the mooring ropes and wires were burnt through so it was decided to scuttle her where she lay. Holes were cut in the sides and she settled on the bed of the river, so preventing her capsize. Demolition of the vessel started on the 15th December and took till October the next year. Harrison had estimated the return on the ship would be £47,640, however the fire had reduced this by almost a half. The underwriters were prompt and generous in their settlement. Nevertheless, the losses, especially of non-ferrous metals, were grievouse.

Adapted ftom 'Battleship Wharf' by Horace White.
Paul Hood. + WSS Tyneside Branch Hon Sec.
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