Wooden full-rigged ship Caleb Grimshaw built Willam Webb, New York 1848
1163 grt, 160 x 37 x 22 ft, American register.
Voyage Liverpool to New York, captain William E Hoxie, 30 crew and 427 passengers.
Fire detected on 11 November 1849 and vessel later abandoned off Flores (Azores) on 21 November
Most passengers and crew (356) saved by barque Sarah and brought to Horta, Fayal.
101 lost.
More details

Painting by Samuel Walters

From Northampton Mercury - Saturday 29 December 1849
  Report of a Cabin Passenger: London Dec 19 1849:
  The Caleb Grimshaw sailed from Liverpool on the 23rd of last October, with a general cargo, besides 100 tons of coal, and, I believe, 600 or 700 tons of iron. She carried 427 passengers, including six in the cabin; the crew numbered 18, with four mates, there being also a steward and stewardess, the captain, his wife and child, doctor, and two cooks - in all 457 souls. For nearly three weeks, we experienced nothing but contrary winds and calms, and the first fair wind we met with was on the day the fire was discovered - Sunday the 11th of November. It was the first day we had our studding-sails set. Our latitude the day before was 41 degrees 8 minutes N.; longitude, 36 degrees W. At the time the accident occurred, we were in longitude about 37 degrees 30 minutes W. At nine o'clock p.m., the ship being under all sail, going about two knots, the alarm of fire was given, smoke being observed to ascend from the fore hatchway. In a few minutes all was confusion; the steerage passengers rushed up from their berths, and came aft on the quarter deck, lying and kneeling down in all directions, impeding the exertions of the crew, and hardly allowing the commands of the captain to be heard above their cries. A large force-pump on the forecastle deck was immediately manned and a hose fastened to it, which played down between decks. By this means and the employment of the ship's buckets, there was soon a considerable quantity of water between decks, but still no abatement of the smoke. It was now evident the fire was in the lower hold; the hatchway, which had been caulked and pitched over when leaving Liverpool, was therefore opened, when immediately thick volumes of smoke ascended. The hose was now directed down this hatchway, fresh hands were summoned to the pump, and in about an hour, the smoke appearing to decrease, Mr. Hoxie, the first mate, volunteered to go down and try if he could see the fire. A rope was accordingly tied round his body, but he had hardly been lowered below the hatchway when he called out, and was immediately hauled up again, quite insensible from the smoke. His report, when after several minutes he recovered, was very discouraging; he said she was all on fire below. The exertions of those at the pump were redoubled, and a constant stream of water directed below. Several of the passengers volunteered their services, but a great many had to be driven from among the women and children, where they lay groaning and crying. While the captain and mates were forward, a number of the passengers got into the larboard quarter boat, and lowered her. She was immediately swamped, and about twelve were drowned. Shortly after the alarm of fire, the man at the wheel deserted his post, and he, the boatswain, the second cook, with one or two others of the crew, having placed two compasses and some provisions and water in the stern boat, got into her, lowered her, and remained in her astern of the vessel, to which they did not return for several days. As soon as the force pump and buckets were regularly at work, most of the sail was taken in, and the ship hove aback. By this time it was about midnight, and quite calm, and had the vessel had a gun on board, it ought to have been fired all the night through; but, strange to say, she was totally unprovided with cannon, nor do I think she had rockets or blue lights either - at least, none were burnt. There were two large tanks of water on the main deck, each containing 1,100 gallons, These the passengers stove in, in spite of the captain's exertions to prevent them. They said the fire must be put out at any cost. About two o'clock in the morning of Monday the 12th, as the smoke was not observed to increase, the first alarm subsided and the crying ceased, the people for the most part falling asleep. In the course of the night, the starboard quarter boat was got down and veered astern, with three of the crew in her; the stern boat was already lowered, and the other quarter boat, which had been swamped, was baled out by the first mate and one or two of the crew; she was also passed astern, and three men placed in her, while all the boats were provided with oars, provisions, and water, having also been placed in each. Dawn disclosed a scene of the quarter-deck covered with filth, in which were lying women and children in all directions, while up the forehatch the smoke still continued to ascend, and it was penetrating slowly into the cabin. Some of the crew now prepared to launch the long-boat, while others commenced making a raft; and the smoke being observed stealing aft, the pumps near the mainmast were set to work. The long boat was launched about 9 a.m., and passed astern; the captain's wife and child were lowered first, out of his state-room window, through which were also passed some compasses, charts, etc, and then the cabin passengers were lowered over the stern of the vessel. While this was going on the scene became painful in the extreme; some rushed to the captain's state-room, beseeching him to save them; numbers crowded round the stern, where the second mate was employed lowering the ladies into the long boat; others were to be seen at their prayers, while mothers and children, husbands and wives, embraced each other and mingled their tears together. At this trying period the conduct of English and Irish contrasted strongly. While the English generally seemed to await their fate in silent resignation, the Irish were loud in their lamentations, notwithstanding that a priest had been employed giving them absolution all the night and morning. A remarkable instance of their extreme love of life was exhibited by two girls, who lowered themselves by a rope hanging over the stern, although they were told that they would not be admitted into the boat; they were, however, taken in, after being left hanging in the water until they were nearly exhausted. Four of the second cabin passengers, too, got in, and two Irishmen forced themselves on board, having basely deserted their wives in the burning vessel. When the writer left the ship for the long-boat, the cabin-floor was quite warm, and smoke was coming up through the seams of the deck, so that the fire was evidently extending to the after part of the vessel. In the afternoon the captain came off, and was put on board the long boat. On his leaving the vessel's side, the poor creatures on board set up a general cry, "Oh, captain, dear, save us! save us!" He told them he was not going to leave them, and that he would stay by the vessel to the last. Why he did not stay in the vessel remains to be explained. Before he left, the crew had made two more rafts; one of these was launched, and about thirty persons got on it, when, fearing it would be overcrowded, they cut themselves adrift, and soon after hoisted a small sail and went off to the eastward before the wind. It is most probable they all perished in day or two, as, although they had a barrel of beef and one of pork, they had very little water and I believe no bread.
  All Monday and all Tuesday and Tuesday night, the ship lay with the boats astern. On Tuesday morning the chief mate came off in one of the boats and brought some provisions and a small tin vessel of water for the long boat. They had passed a terrible night on board. No sooner had the captain left than the steerage passengers rushed into the cabin, cut and broke open all the trunks and boxes they could lay hands on, and rifled them of their contents. They found two cases of brandy and a few bottles of wine, after having consumed which they became very riotous, attacking the first mate and some of the crew, who had great difficulty in preserving their lives. They succeeded in taking two guns from them, and threw them overboard, and having armed themselves with pistols and knives, kept these infuriated savages at bay until the effects of the brandy wore off, when they became quiet enough. In the course of the day, the boats brought us off a few mattresses, blankets, and leaves of the cabin table, which were laid along the bottom of the boat, and which were very welcome, as she was leaky, and shipped so much water over her sides that two men were kept constantly bailing her out. On Wednesday morning, the 14th, a cask of bread was brought us; the crew had found a cask of flour the evening before, and the cook was employed baking it the whole night. This was very acceptable, as we had no bread in the long boat, and had been subsisting on a little cake and cheese, with a few pickles. About 9 a.m. the ship was squared away before the wind, and ran on all day about north west, towing the boats after her. Why they did not run her for the Azores the day before, when the wind was favourable, seems very strange. She had now nine feet of water in her hold, but still the smoke ascended from the hatches, though they had been covered down again to smother the fire as much as possible. We observed a good deal of smoke also issuing from the cabin windows and from the ventilators in the stern. On Wednesday night she lay to, the captain considering it unsafe to carry on during the night, as the long boat was shipping seas over her bows and sides, being much too heavily laden. She had 25 or 26 persons in her, and a good deal of useless lumber besides, which might have been thrown overboard. In the evening, they nailed an old cover of a sail along the gunwale, and drew it over the boat, covering her like a tent; this kept off a good many heavy seas, and doubtless saved us from being swamped several times in the course of the night. As it was, being quite wet through by the rain, which poured down in torrents, and the sea continually washing over us, we spent a miserable night. On Thursday morning, the 5th, the wind being favourable the mates and crew begged of the captain to put the ship about and steer for the Azores. This he at last consented to do, and this day made a run of some 80 or 90 miles. At noon we were latitude 41 degrees 33 minutes N., longitude 36 degrees 45 minutes W. As it was blowing rather hard, we lay to again during the night.
  Friday the 16th - We made sail again this morning at dawn, but by 9 a.m., it fell nearly calm. Early this morning, some of us went back to the vessel, preferring anything to remaining in the long boat, where we had lain four days and nights, side by side, without being able to change our position, and completely wet through. In the course of the forenoon, the rest of the passengers were taken out of her, the captain still remaining, with his wife and child, the doctor, steward, and stewardess, and the crew of the boat. While in the boat, all bore their sufferings without a murmur, with the exception of the captain's wife; she, poor woman, never ceased to complain for four long days and nights, thus rendering the position of the others still more unpleasant than it otherwise would have been. Between nine and ten a.m. the man on the look-out saw a sail; the ship was immediately put about, and stood after her, but there being very little wind, the second mate, with five hands, went off in one of the boats to try and overtake her. In about two hours we made her out a bark, standing west by north. We followed her until nearly 2 p.m., when thinking she meant to avoid us, the ship was put about again on her former course. In a few minutes we observed the bark coming round after us. The fact was, she had not seen our flag of distress, which was in the mizen rigging, until we had turned our stern to her. She now bore down on us, while we lay to, waiting her approach. She came up to us at 3 clock p.m., and proved to be the British bark Sarah, Captain Cook, from London, for Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, a timber vessel, in ballast [Captain David Cook, vessel said to be of Yarmouth]. Being informed of our situation, and as it was too rough to take off any persons that night, Captain Cook directed us to keep him company, both vessels showing lights. At dusk he picked up the second mate and crew of the boat which had gone after him in the morning; also those in the long boat (who had a narrow escape while getting on board), and those in one of the quarter boats. These three boats were lost that night - the stern was dragged out of one and the others were swamped. As darkness set in, the wind increased to a gale, and our situation in the Caleb Grimshaw was perilous in the extreme. Every moment we expected to go down; the vessel rolled in a fearful manner, dipping her studding-sail booms quite under water, while at nearly every roll the sea came in on the quarter deck, and some times even into the wheel house. To add to our despair, about three o'clock in the morning, we lost sight of the Sarah's light, and were thus left to ourselves, without sextant, chronometer, chart, or anything to guide us. At length morning broke, when to our great joy, we discovered the Sarah five or six miles a-head of us. We carried on after her for several hours, afraid she was going to leave us, when about two o'clock p.m. she shortened sail, and in an hour we came up with her. The sea having gone down a little, she lowered two boats, and by dusk had taken off the burning vessel 133 persons, including most of the women. It was not judged safe to attempt the transfer of any more during the night, so that the boats were taken up and we shaped our course for the island of Flores, showing a light at our mizen crosstrees. On Sunday morning, the 18th, the Caleb Grimshaw was far astern of us. We kept on our course all day, and lost sight of her in the afternoon; we therefore lay to during the night, showing a lantern, and on Monday morning, the 19th, saw her about nine miles off, on our lee bow, lying to. By 10 a.m. we were up with her, and telling her to follow us, we pursued our course. While passing her, poor creatures on board called out for "Water! water!" but as the sea was too high to risk a boat, nothing could be done to alleviate their suffering. She followed us pretty well under her fore and main topsails, foresail, and fore topmost staysail; the crew were too weak to make more sail on her. She seemed much shaken this morning; the masts were all loose, the mainmast especially, which shook several feet from side to side as the vessel rolled. The fore topgallant sail, too, was blown to ribbons.
  Tuesday the 20th - The sea was still running too high to attempt removing the rest of the passengers, but early this morning a boat was sent on board with the second mate and seven fresh hands, who soon made sail on her - setting the mainsail, main topgallant sail, and mizen topsail. The boat brought off the five men who had been on board the wreck. They had a sad tale to tell - on Sunday night 20 died, last night 16, and four more this morning. Though most of these perished from thirst, it is probable some had poisoned themselves, as they had broken into the doctor's room, and drunk laudanum and what other liquors they found there. At 11 a.m. we saw land, about 40 miles distant, which proved to be Flores. By eight p.m. were under the lee of the island, and the boats were employed all night removing the people from the burning vessel; which task was safely completed by five o'clock on Wednesday, the 21st, when the first mate and men who had been employed in it removed the halches, and shortly after the flames burst out. The ship burnt from the stern forward, the mizen mast falling first, and then the main mast, which fell before the flames reached the main topgallant sail. The last we saw of her was about 10 a.m.; she was then some two miles south-west of Flores. We made but little progress this day, the wind being against us. As there were but six small casks of water on board, and provisions for one week, the people had to be put on short allowance; all that could be afforded each person was half a pint of water and half a biscuit, morning and evening.

Thursday, the 22th - Eight bodies were thrown overboard this morning, two women and six children, having died in the night. The poor people were all crowded together on the main deck, quite exposed to the weather, which fortunately was not cold, or no doubt many more would have perished in their then weak state, several not having tasted water from the Sunday till the Wednesday morning. It fell nearly calm about noon, but in the afternoon a breeze sprung up, so far favourable that we were just able lay our course for Fayal. On the morning of Friday the 23d, we found ourselves about fifteen miles to leeward of the island, with the wind right against us. We were all that day and night beating up to windward, when at length, on Saturday the 24th, about noon, we made the harbour of Fayal, at which time there were only two small casks of water remaining, and 2 cwt. of bread. Shortly after we dropped anchor. We were now informed that should have to ride quarantine for five days. The British Consul immediately sent us off bread and water, while from the American, Mr. Dabney, we received a present of oranges and wine.
  Next day, Sunday the 25th, was employed getting water and provisions on board, and in taking off about 100 persons to the lazaretto [quarantine area]; and the ship was brought a little further in the harbour in the course the day. This evening a small bark, the Clara C. Bell, sailed for New York; her captain offered to take eight cabin passengers, but only two were allowed to go by Captain Hoxie, who went himself, leaving his crew and passengers behind him; and taking his wife and child, steward, and stewardess, first and second mates. An elderly lady, a cabin passenger, intreated to be allowed to go; but Captain Hoxie gave the preference to his mates, and even to his servants.
  On Monday the 26th, nearly 100 more were taken to the lazaretto; and, owing to the repeated complaints of Captain Cook about the state the people were in, lying exposed on the decks, we were informed that our quarantine would be over the next morning. It having come on to blow fresh from the south west, an additional anchor and chain cable were brought from shore, which were let go in the afternoon. The wind still increasing, we let go another anchor; but at dark the gale blowing still harder we began to drag all three anchors. At ten, p.m., we parted our best chain cable, and, during the next hour and a half dragged our others about 500 yards. Our danger was now imminent, as the breakers could be seen almost under our stern, and we were driving right on a frightful lee shore. We thought it hard to perish thus, having escaped destruction so lately, to be sacrificed to those absurd quarantine laws; and, harder still, that Captain Cook should die a victim to his humanity in saving our lives. Just after he had come down to tell the ladies to get up and dress themselves, and when five minutes more would have seen us on the rocks, the wind suddenly chopped round to the west, and the vessel was saved. It was found next morning, on weighing anchor for the purpose of getting to safer moorings, further in the harbour, that both the flukes of one the two remaining anchors were broken.
  On Tuesday, the 27th, the remainder of the passengers were taken ashore, where we experienced every kindness and attention from the consuls. Nothing could equal the kindness of Mr. Dabney, in particular. Thus, after more than two weeks' suffering and privations, and at the risk of starvation, and, as it afterwards proved, of shipwreck to himself and crew, the lives of 356 human beings were saved by means of Captain Cook's noble and praiseworthy conduct. Ninety-two were missing when all were got on board the Sarah, eight died on the passage to Fayal, and one after we came to anchor. Of the 92, about 30 went off on the raft the day after the accident, 40 perished from want of water and food, about 12 were drowned by the swamping of the quarter boat, and the remainder were probably smothered in their berths. All the cabin passengers were saved. The doctor reported four second cabin passengers among the lost. I regret that I do not know their names, nor those of any of the missing. I believe nothing was saved by any one. Everything went down with the vessel - all the passengers' property, with a cargo to the value of 500,000 dollars.
  To the chief mate, Mr. Hoxie, a young man only 22 years of age, all praise is due, for, under Providence, it was mainly owing to his unwearied exertions that the vessel was kept afloat and our lives preserved until we fell in with the Sarah. While the captain deserted his vessel only a few hours after the accident occurred, this fearless young man remained on board as long as he could be of any service, and this at the risk of his life, which was attempted several times. Most of the crew, too, behaved well throughout; and I am sorry that I do not know the names of some to whose exertions I was a witness. Why the captain left his vessel of course he can best explain himself. I understand he said there was a mutiny on board; but he ought to have been as competent to quell it as his mate. There was as much danger for one as for the other, and his mate remained on board nearly a whole week. Again, why the captain should leave Fayal in such a hurry seems also strange. Perhaps a landsman may be incapable of judging on these matters. However, there was but one opinion among the captains at Horta on the subject.
  I cannot, Sir, lay down pen without calling your attention to the shameful neglect of precautions against the consequences of such disasters on board emigrant vessels. As I remarked before, the Caleb Grimsbaw carried no cannon, nor had she a lifeboat on board - at least I did not see one - while the boats she did possess could not possibly have save the lives of one-tenth of the passengers, even in moderate weather. I do not know whether she was provided with rockets or blue lights; but none were burnt either on the night of the accident or during any of the five nights she was in company with the Sarah. If the fire did not originate in spontaneous combustion, it was most probably smouldering in the hold from the time the ship left Liverpool. I am not aware of what the cargo consisted, but surely passenger vessels ought not to be permitted to carry any cargo liable to ignite of itself.
  I hope. Sir, you will direct the attention of your readers to these circumstances, so that we shall soon see shipowners forced to provide ample means for safety of passengers - at least by public opinion, if not by more stringent acts of the Legislature.