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The Grounding of the s.s. Euryalus, December 1898. |
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| 1898 | 04.12.1898 - Having arrived in Australia in late October 1898, Euryalus was now on her maiden voyage, her first round trip to Asian waters. Command on this first voyage was given to Captain Curry, the Commodore of the line (who had brought Euryalus out on her delivery voyage from the UK). The offer of this command was by way of a special complement to this Master Mariner who was soon to retire after 40 years of service. Passengers on this voyage included the Warren Circus Company who had shows booked in Singapore. At 12:15 on Sunday the 4th of December, as Euryalus proceeded at full speed through the Bangka Strait, she took ground on a mud bank approximately one mile off Lalari Point. The vessel stopped so gradually that it is said that the passengers having lunch in the saloon were unaware anything had happened. The order was immediately given for full astern but to no avail. A few hours after the grounding the ss Bucephalus (of the same company) hove into view. Captain Robinson of the Bucephalus took soundings around Euryalus to judge the risk he might be taking in bringing his vessel in close proximity to the stranded one. Both Captains then discussed the situation and devised plans to extract Euryalus. That evening the circus folk put on a medley concert to cheer everyone up, reports of the day say this had the desired effect. |
| 05.12.1898 - At 11 a.m. stout hawsers were passed between Euryalus and Bucephalus, the engines engaged and almost immediately the hawsers parted like they were a thread of cotton. It was found that Euryalus was settling into the heavy grey clay more and more as each hour passed. The decision was then made to lighten the ship, hundreds of tons of her coal cargo was Jettisoned that afternoon. | |
| 06.12.1898 - Another attempt was made to pull Euryalus off the mudbank but that too proved to be fruitless. so several more hundred tons of coal also went over the side. That afternoon both the passengers and livestock were put on water rations as the inlet for the ships condensers had become clogged with mud and she was unable to make fresh water. Later that night the ships dynamos stopped working after suffering the same fate as the condenser, which knocked out all the ships lights. Wind and rain swept across Euryalus’s deck as she sat there stuck in the mud in total darkness. | |
| 07.12.1898 - The whole of day was spent transhipping, passengers, cargo and what stock they could to the bucephalus via the life boats, a task not made any easier by the rough waters. This included the Warren circus company and most of their equipment. | |
| 09.12.1898 - ss Bucephalus arrived in Singapore carrying the Warren Circus Company that she had transhipped from Euryalus | |
| 15.12.1898 - At 6:20 a.m. Euryalus was eventually backed off the mud without assistance after a large portion of her coal cargo had been Jettisoned, she then continued her journey to Singapore. | |
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