HMS Niobe (1866)
HMS Niobe (1866)


Royal NavyVessels

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NameNiobe (1866)Explanation
TypeSloop   
Launched31 May 1866   
HullWooden Length187 feet
PropulsionScrew Men150
Builders measure1083 tons   
Displacement1570 tons   
Guns4   
Fate1874 Last in commission1874
ClassAmazon   
Ships bookADM 135/329   
Career
DateEvent
31 May 1866Launched at Deptford Dockyard.
11 February 1867
- 4 November 1868
Commanded (from commissioning at Woolwich) by Commander Thomas Kirkpatrick Mackenzie, North America and West Indies (until Mackenzie invalided)
9 October 1868
- 23 December 1868
Commanded by Acting Commander Henry Holford Washington, North America and West Indies
4 November 1868Commanded by Commander Russell Graves Sabine Pasley, North America and West Indies
(1873)
- 22 January 1874
Commanded by Commander Lambton Loraine, North America and West Indies, including the "Virginius Affair": the capture in international waters on 31 October 1873 by Spanish forces fighting Cuban insurgents (during the "Ten-Years War", 1868-1878) and serial execution of 53 persons, including the captain, most of the crew and a number of insurgents on board the steamship Virginius. The executions were only stopped when Loraine intervened.
23 January 1874
- 21 May 1874
Commanded by Commander David Boyle, North America and West Indies (until Wrecked on Miquelon Island)
21 May 1874Wrecked on Miquelon Island.
23 July 1874Paid off (that is to say, her books were closed).
Extracts from the Times newspaper
DateExtract
We 27 May 1874

LOSS OF HER MAJESTY'S SHIP NIOBE
(By Cable)
(From our American Correspondent)

Philadelphia, May 26

Her Majesty's ship Niobe has gone ashore on Miquelon, and will probably be a total loss. All hands are saved, and assistance has been sent from Halifax.

Sa 6 June 1874THE LOSS OF THE NIOBE.

Our correspondent at Cork telegraphs that news from America confirms the statement that Her Majesty's ship Niobe went ashore, on the 23d ult., at Cape Blanc, Miquelon, during a dense fog, and will probably prove a total loss. The crew were saved, but were in want of provisions. On receipt of this intelligence, the commander of Her Majesty's steamer Woodlark, the only naval vessel in port, decided to proceed to the assistance of the Niobe, and sailed on Saturday night. A French war-vessel has also gone to her assistance from St. Pierre, as well as Her Majesty's gunboat Cherub, which arrived yesterday afternoon from Bermuda.



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