PS Emerald
1834/5 Built at Gravesend and first named PS Prince Albert. Acquired by the Diamond Steam Packet Co. 100 N.H.P.
The following appeared in The Illustrated London News of 20th December, 1845. “Serious collision between the EMERALD, Gravesend steamer, and the JOHN BULL, Hamburg packet. At 10 minutes to 5 o’clock on Saturday evening, as the EMERALD steamer was proceeding on her way from London to Gravesend, her captain observed a large steam packet directly ahead of him coming up the river. As she approached, he and his men in the bow of the EMERALD shouted out, but the steamer kept on her course. The order to port the helm was scarcely obeyed when the EMERALD was struck on her larboard quarter, just before the paddle-box, by the bow of the other vessel, which proved to be the JOHN BULL, a Hamburg packet. The paddle-box was stove in and the funnel was cast down with a tremendous crash, producing a shock throughout the vessel. The confusion and dismay that followed was quite indescribable as the boat was thought to be going down. The passengers were all saved by the JOHN BULL and the Blackwall Railway boat RAILWAY.”
The EMERALD was purchased by the Licensed Victualler's Co who ran her to Boulogne
EMERALD was converted to a schooner.
See Also
Sources of Information
- 'Steamers of the Thames and Medway' by Frank Burtt