Salvage vessel Lionel George lost 1888

The steam lighter Lionel George was built of wood at Bristol in 1881 (106 x 20 x 8 ft, 137 gross tons) with a 30hp steam engine. She was owned by Robert Owen of Wallasey [Owen Brothers in newspaper report]. She had been involved with assisting [with Liverpool Salvage Association's vessel Hyaena] in the salvage of the SS Angola in 1887. On 27 March 1888, she was returning from Barrow where she had also been involved in assisting in the salvage of the Queen of Scots which had been driven ashore in Piel Roads [entrance to Barrow] 2 weeks earlier, with a cargo of jute from Calcutta to Barrow. The Queen of Scots, after much of her cargo had been removed, was refloated and taken to Barrow Docks.

From Liverpool Mercury, Wednesday 28 March 1888

BURNING OF A STEAM LIGHTER NEAR LIVERPOOL. An extraordinary casualty happened outside the Mersey yesterday. The steam lighter, Lionel George, of Liverpool, was returning to the port with a salvage cargo of jute taken from a large ship named the Queen of Scots, which went aground in Piel Roads, off Barrow, about a fortnight ago. When the lighter was off Blundellsands, about eight o'clock yesterday morning [27 March 1888] she was observed from the coastguard station making for the shore, and apparently in flames. The crew were also seen to abandon the vessel in the small boat and shortly afterwards the steamship Clyde, which was making for the Mersey, picked them up and landed them at the Huskisson Dock about nine o'clock. It was low water at this time, and the Lionel George ran ashore near the north landmark on the Great Crosby beach. As soon as possible, the coastguard officers boarded the burning vessel, got off all the gear and everything that was movable, and carted it to their station. The fire, however, had, by this time, got a good hold, and all further operations had to be abandoned. She continued to burn during the day, and it was expected that she would be gutted to the water's edge. The lighter, which was owned by Messrs. Owens Brothers, of Chapel-walks, was commanded by Captain Griffiths, who, on landing from the rescuing steamer, the Clyde, stated that the Lionel George, which had been assisting the Salvage Association's vessel the Hyaena at the ship Queen of Scots, left Barrow at an early hour. She had a fair run until near to Southport when heavy squalls set in, and about four o'clock on yesterday morning, the master considered it was prudent to come to anchor off Blundellsands.

They were preparing to get under weigh about eight o'clock, when the chief engineer gave them the news that the ship was on fire. There were about six hands all told and a diver, who was a passenger; they made efforts with buckets of water to put the fire out, but they soon found that these were of no avail, as the whole of the after-house and cabin were ablaze almost immediately after the alarm was raised. The crew then took to the boat for safety, and were picked up as already stated. Before leaving the derelict, however, Capt. Griffiths went to the wheel, which was hard-a-port, and, steadied it over, so as to put her head right to the shore. The second engineer had the utmost difficulty in getting out of the engine room, having to find his way through fire and smoke. Captain Griffiths was unable to account for the origin of the fire.