Salvamento dos Passageiros do Ocean Monarch pela Fragata Brasileira Afonso, País de Gales, Reino Unido (Rescue of Passengers of the Ocean Monarch by the Brazilian Frigate Alfonzo) - Samuel Walters

Salvamento dos Passageiros do Ocean Monarch pela Fragata Brasileira Afonso, País de Gales, Reino Unido (Rescue of Passengers of the Ocean Monarch by the Brazilian Frigate Alfonzo) - Samuel Walters
Coleção Brasiliana Itaú, São Paulo, Brasil
OST - 62x75 - Circa 1850

Ocean Monarch had left Liverpool on the morning of 24 August 1848 carrying passengers to Boston in the United States. Helmed by Captain Murdoch, Ocean Monarch was towed from the port and entered the open sea around eight o'clock in the morning. Not far from harbor, between Abergele Bay and Great Orme's Head off Llandudno, at around noon, Ocean Monarch was witnessed to put up its helm as if to return to port and then a flag of distress was raised. Within a short time flames were seen rising towards the rear of the vessel. In an attempt to control the fire, which was now a blaze, Captain Murdoch attempted to turn the ship up wind, but in failing to do so, dropped both anchors. At this time it was apparent that the crew had lost control of the passengers who had begun fleeing the fire, rushing around deck in panic and even throwing themselves overboard. The captain ordered all movable spars overboard to give those passengers in the water an aid in flotation. Two other vessels in the area, came immediately to the ships aid, they were the yacht Queen of the Ocean, captained by Mr. Thomas Littledale; and the Brazilian frigate Affonso, captained by Joaquim Marques Lisboa. On board of Affonso were Prince de Joinville, Duke and Duchess of Aumale, a Brazilian Minister, and Admiral John Pascoe Grenfell. The latter one and Captain Lisboa manned two of the four boats lowered from Affonso to assist in rescue. Later on the American packet New World and the railway steamer Prince of Wales joined the rescue. These rescuing vessels launched boats to aid the collection of the survivors. Affonso managed to get close enough to Ocean Monarch to fasten a rope to her allowing for rapid ferrying of passengers via boats. By three o'clock the last ship at the scene, Queen of the Ocean turned and headed for Liverpool with their cargo of survivors. The Burning of the Ocean Monarch off the Great Orme is a series of three paintings by British artist Samuel Walters (1811–1882).