The Princess Alice Disaster

by Joan Lock

  Thomas, Chobham

  Marshall, Lawrence, Birmingham

  Martin, Mrs, Huntingdon

  Welch, Richard, Tonbridge

  Missing

  Bowles, Elizabeth, Sheerness

  Leech, Mrs

  and three children, Hertfordshire

  Room, Elizabeth, 44, Birmingham

  Note for Family Historians

  The above list, which divides victims according to the areas in which they lived, is adapted from the ‘Dead and Missing’ list in Edwin Guest’s 1878 book, The Wreck of the Princess Alice.

  Guest’s list includes the victims’ addresses and, in some cases, gives their employment. Although he says ‘a portion of those marked missing were identified by clothing or relics after being buried as unknown’, I found only one or two of these in the ‘List of bodies buried unknown but later identified’ at the London Metropolitan Archives (COR/PA/23-30) whilst a good number of those in his identified section do appear in this. The London Metropolitan Archives also has a long list of the names, ages, relationships and occupations of the deceased (COR/PA/1) and a list of the 130 saved (COR/PA/30).

  However, Colin Alsbury, a descendent of seven victims of that name, has compiled a list of ‘Passengers, crew and others connected to the disaster’ which is available online: www.alsbury.co.uk/princessalice/alice0.htm. It includes variant and erroneous name spellings (pointing out that these can vary greatly in contemporary sources), probable places of death registration, whether the individuals were dead/missing/saved/witness/possible victims or unknown/unclaimed, but not their addresses. Newspapers, of course, are another valuable source.

  Sources and Bibliography

  Archives and other sources

  London Metropolitan Archives

  Coroners’ Records for the Princess Alice Inquest (COR/PA)

  The National Archives

  Report on the Board of Trade Inquiry into the collision between the Princess Alice and Bywell Castle (M16769-1878 13051 and M1925/1879)

  Queen Victoria’s messages about the accident (M13451)

  Reports of the Committee Appointed by the Board of Trade into the Navigation of the River Thames and Minutes of Evidence (MT9/160/M1925/79)

  Cutting from the Engineer regarding Captain Pim’s ‘experts’ (M17263)

  Recommended restrictions on saloon steamers by Board of Trade Marine Department (M16719)

  The National Maritime Museum: Caird Library

  The Loss of the Princess Alice broadsheet (PAD 6772 & 3)

  Islington Public Library Archives

  The Islington Year-Book and Almanac, 1893

  Thames Police Museum Website

  Select bibliography

  Allani, Magda, Dark Waters: Chronicle of a Story Untold (Slow Burn Publications, 2011)

  Neal, Wendy, With Disastrous Consequences: London Disasters 1830–1917 (Hisarlik Press, 1992)

  Beckett, I.F.W., Victoria’s Wars (Shire Publications, 1998)

  Bennett, Daphne, Vicky: Princess Royal of England and German Empress (Book Club Associates, 1973)

  Clifford, J.R.S., Gravesend and Its Neighbourhood (Smithers Bros, 1886)

  Darbyshire, The People’s Guide to Rosherville and Gravesend, 1878

  Ford, C.J. And E.R. Green, Rosherville Gardens (The Endowed School, Hartlip and Whitehall Junior School Gravesend)

  Foley, Michael, Disasters on the Thames (The History Press, 2011)

  Guest, Edwin, The Wreck of the Princess Alice (Saloon Steamer) (Weldon’s Shilling Library, 1878)

  Lock, Joan, Dead Born (Hale, 2001)

  Noel, Gerard, Princess Alice: Queen Victoria’s Forgotten Daughter (Michael Russell, 1974)

  Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, Memories of Ninety Years (Collins and Brown, 1991)

  Robins, Nick, The Illustrated History of Thames Pleasure Steamers (Silverlink Publishing, 2009)

  Rhodes, Linda and Kathryn Abnett, Foul Deeds and Suspicious Deaths in Barking, Dagenham & Chadwell Heath (Wharncliffe Books, 2007)

  Schneer, Jonathan, The Thames: England’s River (Abacus, 2011)

  Thurston, Gavin, The Great Thames Disaster (Allen and Unwin, 1965)

  Vincent, W.T., The Records of the Woolwich District (J.P. Jackson, 1888–1890)

  Vincent, William Thomas, Warlike Woolwich: A History and Guide (unknown publisher, 1875) (British Library, 2010)

  Contemporary newspapers and periodicals

  Burnley Express

  Chambers Journal

  Country Life

  Elgin Courier

  Gloucestershire Citizen

  Isle of Wight Observer

  Lancaster Gazette

  Lloyd’s Weekly London Newspaper

  Pall Mall Gazette

  Reynolds Newspaper

  Sunderland Daily Echo

  Aberdeen Journal

  Belfast Newsletter

  Cheshire Observer

  Daily News

  Dundee Courier

  Edinburgh Evening News

  Era

  Evening Telegraph (Dundee)

  Graphic

  Illustrated London News

  Illustrated Police News

  Ipswich Journal

  Islington Gazette

  Kentish Independent

  Lancaster Gazette

  Leeds Mercury

  Liverpool Mercury

  Morning Chronicle

  Morning Post

  Newcastle Courant

  Newcastle Daily Journal

  Northern Echo

  Nottingham Evening Post

  Shields Daily Gazette & Shipping Telegraph

  Standard

  Sunderland Advertiser

  Sussex Advertiser

  The Times

  Worcestershire Chronicle

  Western Mail

  Index

  E.N.: endnote

  Abbey Mills Pumping Station, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Abercarn Mining Disaster, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  Albert Edward, pleasure steamer, 1

  Albert, Prince Consort, 1, 2, 3, E.N. 21:6 and 7

  Alice, Princess of Battenberg, 1

  Alice, Princess, Countess of Athlone, 1

  Alice, Princess, Duchess of Gloucester, 1

  Alice, Princess of Great Britain and Ireland, Grand Duchess of Hesse and the Rhine, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Alice, Princess of Hesse, 1, 2, 3

  Alliance Club of the Swimming Associations of Great Britain, 1

  Alstin, Sergeant, 1

  Alston, Superintendent, 1

  Anchorn, William John, 1

  Annual Wreck Register, 1, 2

  Anson, Reverend Adelbert, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Arnold, deceased Princess Alice crew member, 1

  Aslet, Superintendent, 1

  Baker, Mrs Emma Jane, 1

  Baker, John, 1

  Baker, Mr John (Senior), 1

  Balguy, Mr, 1, 2, 3

  Ball, Mary, 1, 2

  Barclay, Mary, 1

  Barden, Miss, 1, 2

  Barnard, Edward Brown, 1

  Barnes, Alfred, 1

  Barrington Assistant-Commissary General, 1

  Baynes, Police Superintendent, 1

  Bazelgette, Sir Joseph, 1, 2, 3, E.N. 17:4

  Beadle, Henry, 1

  Beechey (Beachey), William, 1, 2, 3

  Behnna, Captain R. A., 1

  Belcher, Mr Henry, 1

  Belding, Henry John, 1

  Benson, Mr (Southwark Magistrate), 1

  Bishop, Minette, 1

  Blondin 1, E.N. 6:7

  Board of Trade, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Special Committee on the Navigation of the Thames, 1

  Boddington, Louisa, 1

  Bolam, John, 1

  Bolam, Mary Ann, 1

  Boncy, Mr Frederick, 1, 2, E.N. 7:2

  Brady, Mr and Mrs, 1

  Brankston, William, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Brent, Mrs Mary, 1, 2, 3

  Brett, Lord Justice, 1

  Bridgeman, Mr and Mrs, 1, 2, 3

  Briscoe,
Benjamin, 1, 2, 3

  Briscoe, Constable Cornelius, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Briscoe, Jane, 1, 2

  Briscoe, Sarah, 1, 2

  Brodrib, Walter, 1

  Broughton, Miss, 1

  Brown, John, 1

  Brown, Mr, 1

  Brown, Peter, 1

  Buncy, Mr, 1

  Burdett, Mr H. C., 1

  Burnes, Hugh, 1

  Burnitt, Joseph, 1

  Burton, Farrier Sergeant James, 1

  Bywell Castle Board of Trade verdict, 1

  collision, 1

  Court of Admiralty verdict, 1

  crew examined at inquest, 1, 2

  at Deptford, 1, 2, 3, 4

  and the Great Eastern, 1

  inquest verdict, 1

  at Millwall Dock, 1, 2

  missing, 1

  rescues, 1

  sued by the Princess Alice, 1, 2

  technical description and ownership, 1

  Campfield, Walter, 1

  Canada, the, 1, E.N. 22:6

  Carttar, Charles Joseph, Coroner for West Kent, 1 inquest inquiry on cause of accident, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, E.N. 4:2

  Woolwich inquest, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Carttar, Edward Arundel, 1

  Castalia, 1, 2

  Catlin, Mr, 1, 2

  Cayley, Miss, 1

  Cheeseman, James, 1

  Cheesman, Edward, 1

  Chellow, Douglas, 1

  Childs, Alice, 1

  Childs, Mrs Emma, 1, 2

  Childs, Mr, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Cocking, Mr Robert, 1, E.N. 20:7

  Codling, William Alfred, 1

  Cohen, Rachel, 1

  Collier, Mr G., 1, 2

  Collins Music Hall Memorial Concert; 1

  collisions Agnes and Louise and the Inconstant (1878), 1

  Ariel and the Hoboken (1878), 1

  Bowfell and Gem, (1878), 1

  City of London and the Vesta (1879), 1

  Grosser Kurfürst and the König Wilhelm (1878), 1, 2, E.N. 17:1

  Mary Scott and the Norman (1873), 1

  Metis and the Wentworth (1867), 1, 2, 3

  Ostrich and the Benbow (1878), 1

  Northfleet and an unknown vessel (1873), 1, 2

  Pommerania and the Moel Eilian (1878), 1

  Schiller and the Deutschland (1875), 1, 2, E.N. 21:1 and 2

  collisions from 1880, E.N. 24:6 Bowbelle, and the Marchioness (1989), 1

  ‘Constant Reader’, 1

  Cook, Mr, 1

  Corfield, Mrs Martha, 1

  Coshall, James, 1

  Cospatrick, emigrant ship, 1

  Cotton, Lord Justice, 1

  Court of Admiralty, 1, 2

  Creed, 1, 2, 3

  Crispin, Mr W. H., 1

  Crolly, Reverend G., 1

  Crossness Pumping Station, 1, 2

  Curtis, Charles, 1

  Dalton, Mrs Anne, 1

  Dalton, Leonard, 1

  Davies, Emily, 1

  Davies, Mrs, 1

  Davies, Thomas, 1

  Davies, William, 1

  Davis, Mrs, 1

  Dawkins, Inspector 1, 2, 3

  Dawson, Reverend W., 1

  Dee, Mrs, 1

  Deness, Abraham, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Denton, Mr, 1

  Dimelow, 1, 2, 3

  Dix, Christopher (Thames pilot), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

  Dr Barnado’s Homes, 1

  Dover, Mr Richard, 1

  Drake, Mary Anne Cutler, 1

  Drake, Stephen, 1

  Drew, Mr Henry, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Drew, Martha Helen, 1, 2

  Drew, Miriam Ruth, 1

  Drew, Mrs, 1, 2, 3

  Driscoll, Mr William, 1

  Duke of Cambridge, 1, 2, 3

  Duke of Connaught, 1

  Duke of Teck, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Dyble, Caroline Adelaide, 1, 2

  East London Temperance Association, 1

  Eatwell, Emma, 1, 2, 3

  Eckley, David, 1

  Edis, Dr Arthur W., 1

  Elizabeth, Princess of Hesse, 1

  Elizabeth, Queen, 1, 2

  Ellen, David, 1

  Elliott, Mr J. Garratt, 1

  Elliott, Mr, 1

  Elliott, William James, 1

  Erb, Mr Henry, 1

  Ernst Louis, Prince of Hesse, 1

  Eurydice, 1, 2, 3, E.N. 10:3

  Everist family, 1

  Eyres, John, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Farnum, Ada Florence, 1

  ‘A Father’, 1

  F. C., 1

  Finnette, Sophia, 1

  Fitzgerald, Captain (harbour master), 1, 2

  ‘A Flag Officer’, 1, 2

  Ford, Inspector, 1

  Forster, Captain R. N., 1

  Foster, Mabel Elizabeth (née Ogbourne), 1

  Frederick (Frittie) Prince of Hesse, 1, 2

  Fry, Mr Henry Gordon (Thames Conservancy Board surveyor), 1

  Fuller, Thomas, 1

  Gilham, P. C., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  Gill, Mr, 1

  Ginn, P.C. Robert, 1

  Gollifer, Mrs, 1

  Grace, W.G., 1

  Gray, Thomas, 1

  Green, Jane, 1, 2

  Gribben, Henry, 1, 2

  Grinstead, Charles Thomas, 1, 2, 3

  Grinstead, Jane, 1

  Grinstead, John James, 1, 2

  Grinstead William Robert, 1

  Grinstead, Captain William Robert Hartridge, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

  Guest, Mr Edwin, 1, 2, E.N. 10:7

  Gullifer, Mrs Matilda, 1

  Gurr, Harriett, 1

  Hagger, Mr, 1

  Haines, Robert, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Haist, Eleanor, 1

  Haist, Mrs Eliza, 1, 2

  Haist, William Frederick, 1

  Hall, Dr Marshall, 1

  Hammond, Alice, 1

  Hanbury, Ella, 1

  Hankin and Turner, the case of, 1

  Hardy, John, (runner), 1, 2

  Harrington, Mr, (Woolwich inquest jury foreman), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

  Harris, Mr George Thomas, 1, 2

  Harrison, Captain, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,3, 8, 9

  Harrison, William, 1

  Hatterly, Lady, 1

  Hawes, Mr Joseph, 1

  Hawkins, Mr, 1

  Hayes, Mr George, 1

  Haynes, William Henry, 1, 2

  Hennessey, Rosa, 1, 2

  Hepburn, Mabel, 1

  Hill, Mr, 1

  Hill, Thomas, 1

  Hinds, Police Superintendent, 1

  Hodgman, James, 1

  Hope, Mrs, 1

  Hopgood, 1

  Hopkins, Elizabeth, 1

  Horsfall, Mrs, 1

  Huddart, Mr, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Hughes, George, 1, 2

  Hughes, Mr, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

  Hunt, George, 1

  Hutchinson, Mr, 1

  infectious diseases, 1

  Irene, Princess of Hesse, 1

  Ivory, Mr James, 1

  James, Lord Justice, 1

  Jamieson, Mr R. Barclay, 1

  Jenkins, Inspector William, 1

  Jenner, Sir William, 1, E.N. 21:6

  Jones, Mr Mansel, 1, 2

  Jones, Mary, 1

  Josling, John, E.N. 7.5

  Kell, Edward, 1

  Kempe, Arthur William/William Hussey Bloomfield, 1

  Kettle, James, 1

  King, Alfred, 1

  King, Edward, 1

  King, Edward (baby), 1

  King, Edward (Senior), 1

  King, Mrs Fanny, 1

  King, Inspector, 1, 2, 3, E.N. 24:5

  Lacey, Dr, 1

  Ladds, Mrs, 1

  Laing, Charles, 1

  Lambert, Mr and Mrs, 1

  Law, Jane, 1, 2, 3

  Law, John, 1, 2

  Law, Susannah, 1, 2, 3

  Law, William Alexander, 1, 2

  Leach, Dr Harry, 1

  Leaver, Albert, 1,
2

  Leaver, Benjamin, 1

  Leaver, Edward, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Leaver, Edward (Senior), 1, 2, 3, 4

  Leaver, Ruth Elizabeth, 1, 2

  Lee, Mrs T., 1

  Lee, William, 1

  Leopold, Prince of Great Britain and Ireland, 1, 2, 3

  Lever, John Orrell, 1, 2

  Lewis, Mr Charles C. (South Essex coroner), 1, 2, 3, 4, E.N. 4:2

  Lewis, Constable, 1, E.N. 24:5

  Linnecar, George William, 1

  London Sanitary Committee, the, 1

  London Swimming Club, 1

  Long, Assistant-Commissary General, 1

  Long, George Thomas, 1, 2, 3

  Longhurst, Thomas, 1, 2

  Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse and the Rhine, 1, 2, 3, 4

  Louis, Lord Mountbatten, 1, 2

  Louis, Prince Battenberg, 1

  Louttit, Dr James, 1

  Lowry, Samuel, 1

  Lucas, Inspector, 1

  Makie, Mr, 1

  Mansion House Fund, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  Marie (May), Princess of Hesse, 1

  Marsh, John, 1

  Masters, Mr Charles, 1

  Maxwell, Dr, 1

  M’Dowell, Thomas Delves, 1

  Mead Corner, Mr, 1

  Meering, Inspector, 1

  Metropolitan Board of Works, The, 1, 2, 3

  Moore, Edmund T., 1

  Moore, Peter H., 1

  Morday, John, 1

  Moss, Mr, 1, 2

  Mouflet, Alexander, 1

  Mountain, Matthew, 1

  Mountain, William Frederick, 1

  Myburgh, Mr, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

  ‘N.A.’, 1

  Nares, Charlotte Sophia, 1

  Nares, George, 1

  National Lifeboat Institute, the, 1

  National Orphan Home, the, 1

  Nelson, Mr, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

  ‘Nemo’, 1

  Nichols, Maureen, 1, 2

  Nightingale, Florence, 1

  Noel, Gerard, 1

  ‘An Observer’, 1

  Page, S. M., 1

  Page, William Samuel, 1, 2

  Palmer, Reverend E. H., 1

  Parfitt, Captain, 1

  Parry, Police Sergeant, 1

  Payne, Police Inspector, 1

  Perou, Disney, 1, 2

  Perou, Mary Ann, 1