by dmf » Sat Jul 03, 2010 3:15 pm
Bobby,
The Wallachia sailed from Queens Dock, Glasgow at 10 am on 29th September 1895. She was bound for Trinidad and Demerara. Captain Walton and 21 crew carried a large general cargo of whisky, gin, beer, acids, glassware and earthenware and also some building materials and footwear. The vessel also carried one passenger.
The weather was foggy and the vessel was held up just off the Tail of the Bank. The fog lifted in the early afternoon and the vessel set off once more. About 4pm, the fog thickened again and the vessel ran aground off Innellan Pier but refloated on the incoming tide.
As they made their way down river, the captain became aware of a large steamer off his starboard bow. it was a Norwegian vessel called Flos. The inevitable happened and the Flos steamed into the starboard side of Wallachia, splitting her open about 10 feet from the stern.
The crew and passenger all made it safely to shore, rowing ashore at the Toward Point Lighthouse. The Wallachia sank by the bow 25 minutes after being struck. As she slipped below the waves, the vessel exploded.
In October that year, a salvage vessel, the Torch, sent divers down to the Wallachia, mainly to cut off her masts so as to become less of a hazard to other shipping, so it possible these divers also removed some of the cargo, if the could.
My info is that the wreck of the Wallachia was 'rediscovered' in 1977.
Hope this is of help to you.
dmf