St James' Cemetery.  Liverpool

William Harrison was the Captain of the great Iron Ship, The Great Eastern.   Built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and launched (sideways) in January 1858, the ship was dogged by misfortune.   The actual launch took three months and pushed the cost of the ship to astronomic proportions, such that the ship had to wait two years for it's maiden voyage, in June 1860.    Built to such huge proportions to make the England - Australia run with as few stops as possible, it's maiden voyage was to New York, with about 230 passengers aboard, she could hold almost 4,000! Bad luck followed the ship, on her fourth trip across the Atlantic she got caught up in a storm which broke her rudder and she had to drift for three days, until repairs could be made in Cork, Ireland, at a cost of £60,000.   In 1862 the ship carried its record amount of fare paying passengers, 1500, and tore a gash in its hull some 45 feet long and 4 feet wide, she stayed afloat thanks to her double hull.   After these, and other mishaps, the Great Eastern spent the remainder of its life as a cable laying ship.

She was chartered by the Atlantic Telegraph Company to lay a cable between America and Great Britain.   After several tries she completed her mission in 1866.   In the final few years she was bought for the paltry sum of £26,000 to be used as a floating advertising board.   Finally, in 1888 she was sold to a scrapping firm in Birkenhead for £16,000.   While the ship was being dismantled, a skeleton was found in the double hull.   Could this trapped shipbuilder have cursed the ship when no one answered his cries?   As for William Harrison, he died in Southampton harbour when the boat he was travelling in capsized.

The Great Eastern at Sea

The grave of William Harrison has stood neglected for many years, recently however, some members of the Harrison family have visited the site and have left flowers and messages. The following has been very kindly provided by Jane Campbell and is an excerpt from the Liverpool Daily Post Newspaper, 1860.  Jane's excellent website consisting of old newspaper cuttings can be viewed by clicking Here

The grave of William Harrison

 FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT IN THE SOUTHAMPTON WATER

Capt HARRISON, the Purser’s son and Coxswain drowned.

Misfortunes crowd heavily upon the noble but unfortunate GREAT EASTERN. The last, but not least calamity is the death of its able and esteemed commander.  Capt William HARRISON, experienced seaman, able engineer, thorough man of business and honest and independent servant, the originator and designer of the GREAT EASTERN.  The announcement of his death has thrown a gloom over everyone connected with the company in Southampton.

The circumstances in which his death took place are distressing.

Yesterday morning Capt HARRISON had occasion to leave the ship moored in Southampton Waters and to proceed to Southampton on business concerning the GREAT EASTERN. A boat was lowered shortly after breakfast and in the company of Dr WATSON the ship’s surgeon, Capt LEY the purser, his son aged 14yrs and 6 crew, the Captain proceeded to Hythe, where his wife and daughter were residing. After leaving them Capt HARRISON and the other officers of the ship proceeded to Southampton.

The wind which had been blowing fresh increased to a violent gale from the S.E, before the boat reached the dock. As the boat entered and while lowering the sail a heavy gust caught the boat and capsized it. The whole occupants were thrown out, some managed to hold on to the rigging, or boat, Capt HARRISON clung to an oar, by which he was supported for some time.

The INDUS lying in the dock put out two boats and after considerable exertions the men managed to pick up Capt HARRISON, who was then in a state of unconsciousness. Capt LEY was picked up and was bruised about the head and was bleeding. Dr WATSON was rescued in a state of extreme exhaustion, as well as six men who were also in the boat. The son of Capt LEY was not found till some time later, drowned.

The rescued men were attended to with great kindness from the INDUS crew and others connected to the Peninsular and Oriental Company. No fewer than six medical men attended to Capt HARRISON and everything possible was done to restore him to consciousness.

The Coxswain died on Saturday night from the affects of the accident.

Capt HARRISON possessed the confidence of the late Mr BRUNEL and when it became necessary to appoint a commander of the great ship, he reported to the directors his opinion of the qualifications necessary for the Captain.

He stated such an officer ought not to be merely an experienced naval man but should have practical knowledge of naval engineering and should be able to comprehend and deal with many important practical questions arising in the development, to carry out the great experiment. Such a man in every respect was Capt HARRISON.

The Funeral of Capt HARRISON

Yesterday consigned to their last resting place on earth were the mortal remains of Capt William HARRISON.

Although the weather was unfavourable with a cold, cutting wind and sharp, showers of sleet and rain, thousands of people were present, their anxiety to do all honour to the departed sailor.

Many of the shops and houses were closed along the route as the cortege wended its way from Lime St, Railway station to St James cemetery, the ships on the river had their flags at half mast, faces showed infeigned sorrow, that a stranger would imagine some relative would have been snatched away by death.

The deceased arrived at Lime St Station at 3am yesterday and remained in the carriage till removal to the hearse. By 10 am the gathering at the station was immense. Shortly before 10 am the coffin was removed in solemn silence, the sad procession slowly wending its way to the cemetery.

At half past one the corpse left the house at Hill, preceded by the crew of the GREAT EASTERN, walking two and two, headed by the warrant and petty officers of the ship. On either side of the hearse walked Capt M. W. KETT, Acting Captain and Dr WATSON Surgeon

Mr BOWEN 3rd Officer, Mr SEWELL 5th Officer, Mr GUNN 7th Officer and Messers RUMSEY and ROWLES, former officers, who had come from London to show their respect and esteem.

These gentlemen acted as bearers and pall bearers on removal of the coffin from the hearse.

Many shops on the route were closed, and the blinds drawn in private homes, the streets were full of people not withstanding the wetness of the weather.

Minute guns were fired from the Platform battery during the transit from the house to the railway station, at 3 the train left for London with the corpse and relatives and friends above named.

Funeral arrangements were conducted by Mr C. BROOKS in conjunction with Mr E. MAYES, the latter gentleman accompanied the corpse to Liverpool.

The body of the youth LAY is to be interred in Southampton cemetery on Saturday, OGDEN the Coxswain was taken to London yesterday to be buried.

 

A fuller discussion of the Great Eastern, can be found at The Great Ocean Liners Website