
- on H.M.S. Aboukir
H.M.S. Aboukir, Kingston harbour, 1865
Daily Gleaner
MONDAY, MAY 20, 1867.
MR. WALLACK ON H.M.S. ABOUKIR
On Friday evening last, Mr, Wallack gave a performance on board the war steamer "Aboukir" at Port Royal, and the entertainment was in every way successful. The spacious main deck was fitted up as a complete Theatre with a uniquely decorated stage and appointments, and the body of the hall or theatre was decorated with a brilliant display of flags of all nations. The poop had been ingeniously converted into a tier of boxes, which were occupied by the Commodore,
Sir Leopold McClintock, Knt. L. L. D., &c., Commander Smith, Captain Barnard, of H.M.S. "Constance", the Officers of the "Aboukir,'' and "Constance," several ladies, and civilians, and the elite of Port Royal by invitations of the Commodore. On the Deck, or Pit as we shall term it, were portions of the Seamen of the "Aboukir" and "Constance" numbering some two or three hundred. Mr Wallack had the advantage of excellent music - the superior Band of the "Constance'' having been permitted to play on the occasion, and how delightfully they pealed forth Operatic Selections, Waltzes, &c., in the intermissions of the performance.
Mr. Wallack was in good voice, and surprisingly dexterous in his changes of' costume; his Songs were all successful. The string portion of the "Aboukir" Band, with the able services of Mr, Abandana, contributed much to the harmony of the vocalization. We need scarcely add, that the Ladies and Gentlemen were much delighted and amused.
The treat afforded to the Seamen will be long remembered on the " Aboukir;" and the kindness of the gallant Commodore, in proposing so great a recreation and enjoyment afloat is well appreciated by the hardworking TARS in Her Majesty's Service. - (COMMUNICATED.)
Sir Francis Leopold McClintock- famed as an explorer in the Arctic, McClintock arrived in Jamaica in late 1865, in the immediate aftermath of the "Morant Bay Rebellion", replacing Peter Cracroft who had died months before. He remained in the West Indies, in various capacities, until 1872, becoming an admiral in 1871. |
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H.M.S. Aboukir
Memorials in Southsea - HMS Aboukir
'HMS Aboukir was the third ship of that name. It was named after The Battle of the Nile (1798) which was fought in Aboukir Bay. She was a ship of 3,080 tons, 204 X 60 feet and draught 19 feet. She carried 90 guns and a crew of 830 men and was launched at Devonport Dockyard on 4th April 1848 She later became a screw ship with engines of 400 h.p. and 3,091 tons and from 1863 - 1877 she acted as receiving ship at Jamaica, where she was sold on 23rd November 1877.'
The Aboukir, as a receiving ship, would have 'received' sailors before they were assigned to other vessels. In the fall of 1865, however, after the 'rebellion' in St Thomas in the East, she was used to 'receive' suspected 'rebels' arrested in Kingston, for transfer to Morant Bay, where military courts were operating. This procedure was, it would seem, illegal, since Kingston was excluded from the area under Martial Law at the time.
Advertisements offering the Aboukir for sale appeared in late 1877, giving all the details of the ship; however I have so far seen nothing further on its fate until this advertisement in 1881:
Daily Gleaner, July 7, 1881
Spanish Town,
July 7, 1881.
The Blowing up of the Aboukir.
It is particularly requested by the Operators
that all Boats be kept away from the
above vessel, and the public are hereby in-
dicated that the shore is the best place for
viewing the operations, which is fixed for 2
p.m. on Thursday, 7th, inst.
G A LYON
In the archive I am using the issue for July 8, 1881, is missing, so I have no account of that 'big bang'.
Click on the article below for a description of the Aboukir at the time it was offered for sale in 1877:
- on H.M.S. Aboukir
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