Boyne (ship)
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The Boyne was a 1,403 ton, Nourse Line sailing ship built by T.R. Oswald of Southampton in 1877. It was referred to as the Hoodo Ship for the number of mishaps that occurred to it, finally running aground in 1886. She was initially used to carry migrants to New Zealand.
In 1882, while on a voyage from Liverpool to Barbados, the Boyne was caught in a heavy gale in the Bay of Biscay, and as her cargo shifted, she listed dangerously. The captain was washed overboard and the ship was rudderless. The crew were saved by the Orchid, whose master, Captain Cook was satisfied that that the Boyne could not be saved and she was abandoned.
Incredibly, the Boyne was towed into Falmouth by a steamer and on reaching Liverpool underwent a refit. She was rigged as a barque with an iron mast. It took a while to find a master for ship but finally Captain N.G. Hatch took command of the hoodoo ship and made the first passage to Calcutta without incident. Under the command of Captain Hatch, the Boyne made two voyages carrying indentured labourers from India to Demerara and one voyage to Guadeloupe. She was used to transport Indian indentured labourers to Trinidad, arrving in Trinidad on 31 March 1883 carrying 517 passengers. There were 8 deaths during the voyage.
On his next voyage to Demerara, Captain Hatch was taken ill and command of the ship was handed over to the Chief Officer. As the Boyne left Demerara with coal for Calcutta, the hold became heated and the ship could only be saved by throwing the coal overboard.
From Calcutta, she brought 537 Indian indentured labourers to Fiji arriving at Suva on 26 April 1886. On the return journey to Calcutta, she was stranded near False Point. The crew and passengers managed to reach shore safely, but attempts to re-float her failed and she was abandoned.
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[edit] References
Lubbock, Basil (1981). Coolie ships and oil sailors. Brown, Son & Ferguson. ISBN 0-85174-111-8.
