Sank following collision with the Swedish SS BALDER; position of loss stated as Northfleet Hope. (1)(2)(3)

'COLLIDING VESSELS.

'Three serious shipping collisions occurred on March [sic] 1st - two in the English Channel and one at the mouth of the Thames - and as a result three steamers and a sailing ship were lost. The escapes of the crews of the doomed vessels were attended by exciting incidents, but no lives were lost.

' . . . The London steamer MALAGA (1614 tons) sank off Gravesend after collision with the Swedish steamer BALDER (1600 tons). Her passengers and crew, numbering twenty-nine, reached shore in safety. The collision occurred at 5am. It was at once apparent from the rate at which the water rushed into the MALAGA that she must speedily sink, and the captain headed her for the shore. But the propeller became jammed in the boat's cables, and the endeavour to beach the vessel had to be abandoned. Three members of the crew jumped overboard and swam ashore, while the remainder were taken on board a tug.' (4)

'COLLISION OFF GRAVESEND.

'During a dense fog on the Thames, about 4 o'clock on Saturday morning, a collision took place off Gravesend between the steamship MALAGA, bound for Lisbon, and the steamship BALDER, of Gothenburg, proceeding up the river.

'The MALAGA was badly damaged, and the captain had the crew and passengers roused, and made an effort to run the ship ashore. The engine had been injured, however, and the vessel foundered before the shore could be reached. The passengers and crew were all saved, though several of the latter and one of the former jumped overboard, and had to be rescued by boats on ther iver. The captain, the chief engineer, the pilot, and a waterman were the last to leave the vessel, and had a narrow escape from drowning. Two Shetland ponies which were below hatches were drowned.

'The crew, most of whom belonged to London, numbered about 30, and among the passengers was a lady. The crew, who have lost all their belongings, have been taken to the Sailors' Home at Gravesend.

'The passenger who jumped overboard, a Hackney gentleman bound for Lisbon, found that the vessel was sinking when he reached the deck. He was picked up by a tug and taken to a Gravesend coffee-house sparsely clad. He was provided with clothes by the proprietor, and returned to Hackney later in the morning. He lost stock in the vessel stated to be of the value of £200.

'The MALAGA, which has a tonnage of 1,614, lies almost submerged of Rosherville. She carried a general cargo, which is escaping through a hole in her side and floating about the river. The BALDER, a vessel of about 1,600 tons, is moored off Gravesend with damage to her stem, rails, davits, and starboard quarter.' (5)

MALAGA, 1,614 tons, 78.4 x 9.8m, lost by collision off Rosherville, 01-APR-1911. (6)

Built: 1876 (1)(2)(3)(6)
Builder: Gray (6)
Where Built: West Hartlepool (6)
Propulsion: Screw-driven, 2-cylinder compound engine (1)(2)(3)
Official No.: 73676 (7)
Crew: 27 (1)(2)(3); about 30 (5)
Passengers: 3 (1)(2)(3); at least 3 mentioned, lady, gentleman and pilot (5)
On board: 29 (4)
Owner: J Hall Jr. & Co. (7)

Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss

<1> United Kingdom shipwreck index, Page Nos. N/a (Bibliographic reference). SKE6340.

<2> Board of Trade Casualty Returns, 1911 Appx.C Table 3, Page Nos. 115 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6357.

<3> Larn, Richard and Bridget, 1995, Shipwreck index of the British Isles, volume 2 : Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Sussex, Kent (Mainland), Kent (Downs), Goodwin Sands, Thames (Bibliographic reference). SKE31910.

<4> 2012, The Press (Newspaper). SKE56274.

<5> 1911, `The Times' 03-APR-1911 (OS Card Reference). SKE56273.

<6-8> Peter Higginbotham, 2000, The Workhouse (Website). SKE56079.