Registered in Leith, the Copeland was homeward bound from a voyage to Reykjavik with a cargo of dried fish, wool and 480 Icelandic ponies, when she ran aground at full speed in dense fog 500yds North of Langaton Point, Stroma. Earlier, Captain Thompson had stopped in the Pentland Firth and taken on board a fisherman to despatch a telegram to the owners in Leith. The fisherman's offer to pilot the Copeland through the Firth was declined and after returning him to his boat, the Steamer proceeded on her way at full speed. She ran aground shortly afterwards and was badly holed forward, remaining fast in spite of the engines being put full astern. Her eleven passengers, one of whom was the well known writer H. Rider Haggard, (author of King Solomon's Mines, who had gone to Iceland to gather information for a book he was writing), were sent ashore in the ships lifeboat. The ponies were put over the side to swim ashore as best they could, but over 120 drowned. Those that reached shore on Stroma were able to find adequate grazing on the island and were little worse for their dip. Within a week the Copeland had broken in two with the stern section sinking in fourteen fathoms of water and the bow lying on a reef. At the subsequent Board of Trade inquiry Captain Thompson declared that at the time of the stranding, he had been continuously on watch for over 24 hours and had not taken his clothes off for five days.
The Copeland was built by London & Glasgow Eng & Iron Shipbuilding Co, Yard No 177. Her engines were by Shipbuilder Propulsion and were 2 cyl compound 150hp. She was launched on Thursday, 8 October 1874 and was 798 gross tons, 439 tons net. Her length was 225.3 feet and breadth 29.3 feet. She was owned by the Clyde Shipping Company Glasgow, 1888 R. & D.Slimon, Leith.
Possible position 58 41 75N, 03 07 00W.
Click here for the link to the official Board of Trade Wreck Report on the sinking of the Copeland.
H Rider Haggard wrote an account of the wrecking of the Copeland and this can be read by clicking here.
The Copeland was built by London & Glasgow Eng & Iron Shipbuilding Co, Yard No 177. Her engines were by Shipbuilder Propulsion and were 2 cyl compound 150hp. She was launched on Thursday, 8 October 1874 and was 798 gross tons, 439 tons net. Her length was 225.3 feet and breadth 29.3 feet. She was owned by the Clyde Shipping Company Glasgow, 1888 R. & D.Slimon, Leith.
Possible position 58 41 75N, 03 07 00W.
Click here for the link to the official Board of Trade Wreck Report on the sinking of the Copeland.
H Rider Haggard wrote an account of the wrecking of the Copeland and this can be read by clicking here.