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Polyphemus, 1840
Type: Sloop ; Armament 5 ;
Launched : 28 Sep 1840 ; Disposal date or year : 29 Jan 1856
Disposal Details : Wrecked on sandbank near Hansholman Light off coast of Jutland - see ship's notes for Court Martial and names of survivors.
BM: 800 tons ; Displacement: 878 tons
Propulsion: Paddle
Notes:

15 Aug 1840 Orders have been received at Chatham to hasten the building of the Polyphemus steamer.

28 Sept 1840 was launched to-day at Chatham. She will be towed to the yard of Messrs. Seward and Co., Limehouse by the Lightning, to be fitted with her machinery.

28 Oct 1840 Woolwich, departed for Chatham.

6 Mar 1841 Chatham, has been commissioned.

6 Mar 1841 Lieutenant John Evans ; Second Master R. S. Rundle, from the San Josef ; Master's Assistant John Matthews, appointed to the Polyphemus."

12 Mar 1841 Second Master W. Balliston, appointed to the San Josef, for the buoyboat, vice Rundle, to the Polyphemus.

10 Apr 1841 Mates Pyne and Vyse, appointed to the Polyphemus steam-vessel.

24 Apr 1841 Sheerness, is being fitted with lightning conductors.

1 May 1841 Portsmouth, departed to-day for Southampton, with Mr. Brunel on board, who is to ascertain by examination if a similar vessel is adapted to be fitted with the Archimedian screw.

8 May 1841 Master�s Assistant W. F. Palmer, appointed to the Polyphemus.

23 May 1841 arrived Malta.

25 Jun 1841 at Malta.

16 Jul 1841 departed Malta for Athens, Constantinople and Trebizond.

28 Jul 1841 departed Constantinople for Trebizond.

5 Sep 1841 at Valetta.

5 Oct 1841 at Malta.

29 Dec 1841 at Malta.

15 Jan 1842 at Malta.

2 Feb 1842 arrived Malta from Gibraltar with the mail of the 15th ult. from England. Her passage to Gibraltar was reported to have been boisterous and took 9 days, expending all her fuel.

11 Apr 1842 departed Malta for Naples.

2 Jul 1842 arrived Malta from Gibraltar with the London mails of 18 Jun..

26 Aug 1842 departed Malta for Patras and the Ionian Islands with the mail.

9 Sep 1842 arrived Malta from Patras and the Ionian Islands.

15 Sep 1842 in port at Valetta.

5 Oct 1842 at Malta.

15 Oct 1842 arrived at Malta from Corfu.

1846 Screw v. Paddle - see below for United Services Gazette report.

22 Aug 1846 carried out sailing exercises off Lisbon with squadron, including the Hibernia (flag), St Vincent, Queen, Vanguard, Canopus, Rodney, Albion, Rattler, Polyphemus, Raleigh, Eurydice, Spartan, and Constance.

9 Sep 1846 further sailing trials were carried out by the squadron between Lisbon and Cape St. Vincent.

17 Sep 1846 departed Cadiz with Squadron, the St. Vincent and Queen, being detached to England that evening.

18-19 Sep 1846 further trials carried out by the squadron, including by the steamers, with their floats unshipped.

20 Sep 1846 off Cape Spartel.

Summer, 1848 Gibraltar.

9 Nov 1848 Reports Piracy in the Mediterranean - see below for report from the London Gazette of 20 Nov 1848 - see also p. 361 at at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

20 Dec 1848 Mediterranean.

5 Mar 1853 Supplied 340 tons of coal to the SS Adelaide at St Helena.

25 Apr 1853 departed Cape Coast Castle for the Bights under sail and steam.

12 Jun 1853 off Lagos. In correspondence with Akitoye, King of Lagos, regarding Portuguese slave traders he has arrested.

23 Jun 1853 off Whydah.

1 Jul 1853 off Lagos, Bight of Benin.

11 Aug 1853 arrived back of Lagos from Sierra Leone having towed the steam packet Faith to Sierra Leone.

12 Aug 1853 Rear Adm. Bruce arrived off Lagos and found the Polyphemus, just returned from Sierra Leone, and Waterwitch, and was informed by Commander Phillips, of the former, "that great disturbance prevailed in the town of Lagos, two of King Akitoye's chief's having risen in open rebellion against him ; that Cdr. Gardner was up the river for the protection of British interests. Cdr. Gardner having seen the Penelope arrive, hastened down the river and informed me of the state of affairs at Lagos; that general consternation prevailed, and that the dispossessed chief, Kosoko, with a multitude of armed men and several large war-canoes, was within a few miles from the place."

13 Aug 1853 sent Cdr. Phillips with the boats of the Penelope, Polyphemus, and Waterwitch, supported by Cdr. Gardner and Act.-Cdr. Leikie, Lieutenants Strickland, Curtis, and Ruxton, to Lagos, "to support and protect the English and the King Akitoye. On entering the river, Cdr. Phillips was informed that Kosoko and his people had made good his footing in the town, and in conformity with his instructions, he immediately opened fire upon the house and position where they were known to be, and so effectually dislodged them by a few shot and shells that they all at once fled," in their canoes, which conveyed them away beyond our reach as night fell.

Cdr. Phillips to wrote to Rear Admiral Bruce as follows:
"H.M.'s Steam Sloop Polyphemus, Lagos Roads, August 14, 1858.
Sir, Yesterday evening, the force you did me the honour to place under my command arrived off Lagos, which I found in terror and confusion, in consequence of the usurper Kosoko having, by the treachery of the Caboceers, A'Pellu and Aginea, established himself in force within musket-shot of the quarters of our ally, King Akitoye.
.......I got the boats into position as fast as they came up, and just as darkness set in opened on the enemy's position with shot and shell ; a few minutes sent them flying out of it, and Akitoye's friends, deriving encouragement from our very forcible demonstration, fired their buildings, seized much of their property, and by daylight had driven them off the island, with such a loss of killed, wounded, and captives, as will, I hope, remove the impediments that have so long existed to deprive Lagos of the advantages our country has been striving to secure it.
By 2 p.m. on this day, Akitoye's authority was so completely restored that I was enabled to direct the boats to return to their ships. The local experience of Commander Gardner, of the Waterwitch, was of the greatest assistance to me, and the conduct of the officers and men engaged with me was such as deserves my thanks and acknowledgments. I have, &c. (Signed) C. Gerrans Phillips.

Later in Aug 1853 following Kosoko's defeat, he was deserted by 7 Accra boatmen, who represented to me that 14 of their companions, mostly natives of the British protectorate on the Gold Coast, were detained at Lomoe (Jaboo of the charts) by Joao Joz� de Lima, denounced to the squadron of H.M. Consul at Bahia as the principal slave-trader on this coast. I therefore proceeded thither on the 28th, and after some trouble and the use of menaces, I succeeded in getting these 21 persons liberated under a protest from the aforesaid slave-merchant. I set them on shore at Lagos.

3 Sep 1853 Akitoye, King of Lagos, died suddenly, and his son Ducimo was elected in his place on the following day, in presence of Lieutenant Pearce, Commander of the Atholl.

5 Sep 1853 Commander Gardner, of the Waterwitch, entered the river with the armed boats, and saluted Ducimo, the new King of Lagos.

8-9 Sep 1853 Report to Rear Adm. Bruce reads : "On my return from a cruize on the 8th instant, I was informed by the Consul, that a division of Kosoko's canoes were in sight off Lagos, on the Lake, stopping the trade, and cutting off supplies of provisions ; and earnestly requested me to make a demonstration against them. I therefore entered the river on the 9th instant with the boats of this ship, and those of the Waterwitch and Athol, and being joined by the war canoes of Lagos, tracked the marauders into a narrow creek, up which I forced my way with grape, canister and musketry for about a mile, the enemy making a very respectable defence till driven out of a village called Madjidoo into the interior, abandoning a great number of canoes, which were captured or destroyed by our Black allies, and the village committed to the flames. Commander A. H. Gardner, of H. M. ship Waterwitch, Lieutenant W. Strickland, of this ship, Lieutenant H. B. Johnstone, of the Waterwitch, and all the officers and men under my command deserve my best thanks for the steady and determined support they rendered me, and the perfect style in which their boats and guns were worked in single column up a very narrow creek, against the fire of foes hardly to be seen through the cover. A seaman of this ship, and a private marine of the Waterwitch, were wounded by the enemy's fire, but not dangerously. "

11 - 17 Sep 1853 off Lagos.

10 Oct 1853 the boats of the Polyphemus, Waterwitch, and Alecto crossed the bar to Lagos where they were joined by African warriors before sailing for Eginna in order to destroy the slave market set up by Kosoko. 2 men from the Alecto died during the operation.

25 Oct 1853 the guns of the Polyphemus were used to cover the forces of the King of Lagos when they burnt a slave barracoon at Jaboo, and took 100 of Kosoko's force prisoner, and perhaps more importantly killed and wounded some 6 white slave traders - among the slain are said to be Antonio Joz� Joao, Marquis Marinha, Joaquim Joz� do Conto and Francisco Gil d'Aquia. The notorious Joao Joz� de Lima, (Kosoko's chief engineer and artillerist) with one Rodriguez, escaped into the bush ; J. de Baretti and Juan Avinca afterwards got on board a Sardinian ; Joaquim Joz� de Ferreira, desperately wounded, was subsequently received on board this ship for surgical treatment. The force employed by the King of Lagos on this occasion were mostly Abbeokutans who were exasperated with atrocities committed by Kosoko in recent weeks and the damage he was doing to their trade. In the event it wasn't necessary to fire the ship's guns, her mere presence appears to have been all that was required.

8 Apr 1854 anchored off Loanda for a brief stay.

9 Apr 1854 departed Loanda.

Circa 5 May 1854 arrived back at Loanda.

22 Jul 1854 at Sea in lat. 10� 15' S., long. 5� 55� W.

12 Feb 1856 8 officers and 66 men arrived at Portsmouth by rail to await their trial by court-martial - see below for details.


Screw v. Paddle.- The next week commenced with a trial of speed between the Rattler and the Polyphemus, or screw v. paddle wheel. On this occasion Sir William Parker invited the captains of the different ships to assemble to witness the trial.; but refused permission to several officers who wished to be present. The steam vessels, in order to test the relative amount of. their propelling power, were, by the Admiral's order, secure stern to stern by: two stout hawsers, which left them; when the hawsers were at full stretch; about fifteen or twenty yards apart. By the time the experiment commenced, it had fallen quite calm, consequently there could not have been a better opportunity for testing. their rival powers. If. anything, the advantage was on the side of the Polyphemus, as .the Rattler had a slight westerly swell to overcome. The engines of both vessels are of the same nominal power ; viz., 200 horse, but in tons, the Rattler exceeds the Polyphemus by 80.

This of course gave the former a greater body to propel ; but a must also be remembered that the Rattler has greater length, and con-sequently a better form of body for speed. The Polyphemus, with her head to the east-ward, struggled hard for the mastery ; her paddles lashed the water into foam, and afforded a vivid contrast in appearance to the quiet, but dogged strength of the Rattler. For a long time the victory remained in abeyance. The burr of the sub-marine propeller afforded evidence to the ear that there was a powerful agent assisting the Rattler; while the .loud dash of the paddle gave outward. sign that the steam of her antagonist was doing its work: At length the waste safety-valve of the Polyphemus began to emit steam in greater volumes than it had previously, and the revolutions of the wheels to diminish in number, while, on the other hand, the Rattler's waste steam wholly disappeared, and now and then a bright flash from under her quarter, evinced increased activity beneath, and the ripples under the stern of. the Polyphemus began to show themselves plainly. The Rattler had won the day, and the luckless Polyphemus was dragged astern at the rate of a knot or a knot and a half. an hour, an unwilling spectacle of her rival's greater strength. It was a great day for Archimedes; but the Admiral decided that another test should be tried, and their resistive power, when reversed, be proved. The hawsers were accordingly carried forward, and. the vessels were secured, with their bows nearly touching each other, but the result was the same. The screw was in the ascendancy, even at .its :.worst. point;. and it therefore only remains to remedy certain working difficulties in order to render this invention still more important.. After the conclusion of this highly interesting trial, the two ships were ordered to try their rate of steaming for eighteen miles to, the eastward, and in this trial the screw had again an advantage, the Rattler beating her competitor 3,660 yards in little more than two hours.-United Services Gazette.


Piracy In The Mediterranean.
From the London Gazette)
Admiralty, November, 20, 1848.-Despatches have been received at this office from Commander James J. M'Cleverty, of Her Majesty's steam sloop Polyphemous, addressed to the Secretary of the Admiralty, of which the following are copies or extracts :
(Copy.)
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Her Majesty's steam sloop Polyphemous,
Gibraltar, November 9, 1848.

Sir,-Deeming it of importance that my Lords of the Admiralty should be made acquainted, with as little delay as possible, of the proceedings of Her Majesty's sloop under my command on the 8th instant, I have the honour to enclose duplicates of my communications to the Commander-in-Chief, and to request that you will be pleased to lay the same before their Lordships.

I have, &c., James J. M'cleverty, Commander.
H. G. Ward, Esq., Admiralty."

(copy.)
- - - - - - - - - - - -

Her Majesty's steam sloop Polyphemous at Gibraltar, November 9, 1848.

Sir, I have the honour to inform you that on the 7th instant I received a communication from Mr. Glasgow, merchant, of this place, enclosing a letter from Mr. J. Forster, late master of the brig Three Sisters, of Liverpool, copies of which I herewith enclose.

We started the same evening to the Rif Coast, and at daylight ran into Al Khoyamich Bay, and coasted from thence close to the shore towards Cape Tres Forcas, for the purpose of discovering the brig, if they should have taken her to the westward.

At 11 A.M. of the 8th, on opening the Point of Calla Tramontana, we discovered her anchored close to the shore, in a small bay, partly surrounded by an amphitheatre of precipices, high rocks, and ravines, all of which places were crowded with men armed with long muskets, evidently for the purpose of protecting the brig, which lay considerably within musket. shot range.

Their boats, seven in number, were hauled up on the beach, and in the mouths of caverns, with a strong party of armed men lying under cover for the protection of part of the cargo, which they had landed. Their whole force appeared to consist of at least 500 men. On approaching close to the brig they opened fire of musketry from all points, which was immediately returned with grape, canister, and musketry, doubtless with very good effect, as a very large number of them began flying about in all directions, and taking up more secure positions. Having dislodged them from the beach, we proceeded to take the vessel! in tow which service was performed by Lieutenant Gardner, who volunteered to take the cutter, with a hawser, and weigh the brig's anchor. Just at this time a fire was opened from a gun, supposed to be a six or nine rounder, and as unavoidably, our stern was towards the nearest point of low rocks, and therefore could make no return, it encouraged them to approach us quite close, and open a well-directed fire of muskets, which I regret to say, severely wounded Lieutenant Wasey, and slightly two seamen, on board the ship, and one seamen severely, in the cutter.

It was my intention to have landed and burnt the boats, but from the secure position taken up by so numerous a body of well-armed men, I deemed it very imprudent to risk so severe a loss as must have inevitably taken place, particularly as the fire from our great gun had rendered them unserviceable. Having now taken the brig in tow, we steamed to sea.

From the scattered position taken up by the pirates, it would be impossible for me to estimate their loss ; but from the accuracy of our fire, and many men having been observed to fall, and some carried away as we steamed out of the bay, there is little doubt but it must have been very severe.

In performing this service it would be invidious in me to point out any individual where every one behaved so well; but I cannot omit bringing to your notice the zeal displayed by Mr. Gardner, first lieutenant, who volunteered to board the brig under so severe a fire, and. who has at all times shown the same anxiety to assist in forwarding the service ; also the able support I received from Lieutenant Wasey, in command of the foremost gun, and the coolness and skill displayed by Mr. Taylor, the master, in conducting the ship in so intricate a place.

I beg to return my thanks to Mr. F. Gilbert, Paymaster and Purser, who volunteered to take command of the small arm men.

Having placed Mr. Kirkham, master's assistant, on board the prize, with six men, I proceeded to Gibraltar, where I arrived this day.

As a steamer is about to start for England, I have thought it requisite to forward a duplicate of this communication to the Secretary of the Admiralty.

I have, &c., JAMES J. M'CLEVERTY, Commander.

Admiral Sir W. Parker, Bart., G.C.B., &c."
- - - - - - - - - - - -

List of casualties on board Her Majesty's Sloop Polyphemous in action with pirates on Nov. 8, 1848:

Second Lieutenant E. F. N. K. Wasey, severely wounded, ball lodged in bone of right arm.
Andrew Day, able seaman, severely wounded, ball passed through the right thigh.
Patrick Macken, able seaman, slightly wounded, hip grazed.
Francis Fairweather, able seaman, slightly wounded, contusion in the breast

James J. M'cleverty, Commander..
J. G. Harrison, Surgeon."
- - - - - - - - - - - -

Sir, We beg to forward you a letter we have just received from Captain J. A Forster, of the English brig Three Sisters, captured on the coast of Rif by Moorish pirates, and to request you will take such steps as you may consider to be necessary on this occasion.
Referring to the captain's letter for details, we remain, respectfully,

James Glasgow and Co.,
Consignees of the vessel at Gibraltar.
Captain M'Cleverty, Her Majesty's ship Polyphemus.
- - - - - - - - - - - -

(Copy.)
Messrs. Glasgow and Co.,

Gentlemen,-It is with extreme regret that I have to announce the capture of the brig Three Sisters, by the Moorish pirates, off Cape Tres Forcas, on the 2nd instant.

When I left Gibraltar on the 31st of October I carried a fair wind until midnight, it then fell very light, attended with calms until 8 o'clock the following morning, when a light breeze sprang up from the eastward ; I then stood to the south-east, and finding that I was under the influence of a strong southerly current, I stood to the north at 6 p.m. On the 1st it fell calm, which continued. At 10 a.m. on the 2nd I observed several boats pulling off from the shore, which caused my crew to be greatly alarmed ; however, I waited until I could make out that they were nothing else than pirates, each boat pulling from 12 to 14 oars, with an additional lot standing in mid-ships, with their long muskets, all ready for action ; they also had large guns on their gunwales. After witnessing all the formidable weapons I thought it was high time to look for the preservation of our own lives ; accordingly I ordered the small boats to be got out, in order to keep without the reach of their guns, but to my astonishment, no sooner had we put off from the ship than a volley of shot came tumbling about the boat, but fortunately they all fell a few yards short ; and I am confident had I remained five minutes longer, there would be no person to tell the tale. However, we saw six of them abreast of the ship keeping up their firing at the ship at a distance, leaving one to chase the boat, but, fortunately, he gave up the chase in about ten minutes; he then returned to his companions, and assisted them in towing the vessel within their own dominions. We then made the best of our way across towards the Spanish coast ; and thanks to Providence, we were picked up by the brig Dawn, at midnight, otherwise the boat must have been swamped before morning, owing to her being so deep with all the ship's company and sundries.

I beg you will transmit this information to the authorities, and probably they will look after the vessel. I remain, &c.,

J. H. Forster, Master."


Summary of the Court Martial investigating the Loss of Her Majesty's Steam Ship Polyphemus

A court-martial, consisting of Rear-admiral the Hon. Sir Richard Saunders Dundas, K.C.B., &c. president ; Captains H.J. Codrington, C.B.; Sir Thomas Maitland, C.B.; G. R. Mundy, ; the Hon. H. Keppel, C.B.; G. Eliott, J. Hope, C.B. ; the Hon. F. T. Pelham, C.B.; C. Robinson, J. Robb, H. Lyster, the Hon. J. R. Drummond, C. B., and Mr. W. J. Hellyer, deputy-judge-advocate of the fleet, assembled on Monday morning, at nine o'clock, on board her majesty's ship Victory, in Portsmouth harbour, to try Commander Frederick Pelham Warren, who was in command of her majesty's late steam sloop Polyphemus, and the surviving officers and crew, for the loss of the said steam sloop.

It appeared from a despatch and enclosures, dated the 30th of January last, and addressed by Commander Warren to the Secretary of the Admiralty, that the Polyphemus was lost on the shore seven miles south of Hansholm Light, on the west coast of Jutland.

The usual proceedings relative to the other officers and ship's company having been gone through, the court acquitted all but the commander of all blame in the loss of the vessel. After hearing evidence on the part of the prosecution, the court adjourned till Tuesday morning to allow the prisoner to prepare his defence.

At the opening of the court on Tuesday, Commander Warren read a long defence, with a view to show that he had used prudence and caution in steering the ship according to the master's reckoning by the chart, and that the occurrence was attributable to the prevalence of fog. The prisoner called witnesses in support of his statement.

The court deliberated for two hours and found as follows:-" The court agree that the loss of the said steam sloop is to be ascribed mainly to the irregularity of the currents on that part of the coast of Jutland on which her majesty's steam sloop Polyphemus was wrecked; but, while the court consider that there is evidence of much attention having. been paid by the commander, and no want of general vigilance was imputable to him, it is nevertheless the opinion of the court that blame is attachable to the said Commander Frederick Pelham Warren, in -not having slackened the speed of the vessel to obtain accurate soundings, especially when running in thick weather in the neighbourhood of land, where the currents are known to be irregular; the court considers that every exertion was used after the wreck, and, upon consideration of all the circumstances of the case do adjudge the said Commander Frederick Pelham Warren to be reprimanded for his neglect on the occasion." Commander Warren is a son of the late Admiral Warren, of Cosham, near Portsmouth and brother of Captain R. L. Warren, of her majesty's ship Cressy, 80, at Spithead.


Evidence given on the second day of the Court Martial per The Manchester Guardian of 13 March 1856:

Lt Fred. Pyne deposed - I came on deck of the Polyphemus about one bell after 8 am on Tuesday the 20th January. The ship's head was then E. by N. It was a very dull day, but I could see a long distance. Nothing was in sight. We went to divisions. Mr. Tracey, midshipman, was officer of the watch, and I relieved him after the drum had beaten to divisions. He gave me the orders. Course E. by N., 7 knots. We were about half an hour at Divisions. It was then coming on a thick fog. The captain and the master were both looking out after divisions. Mr. Tracey relieved me, and I told him the orders were the same, and that no alteration had been made in the course. Between 10 and 11 am I proposed to the captain to scrub some hammocks, as we might not have a chance again. He replied - "No ; I am afraid you will have to put off your hammocks; we are surrounded by fog." We then commenced drilling the watch at great-gun exercise. I was walking forward and near abreast of the engine room when the ship struck. I immediately gave the orders- "Stop her : go astern full speed," which order was immediately carried into execution. I cried out to the quartermaster to put the helm amidships. I met the captain and the master on the quarter-deck : the latter officer having just come up from below, I said - "We are on shore, sir." The ship was then striking repeatedly. The captain ran upon the bridge, and the master got a line and commenced sounding over the stern. I stood on a gun, and looked round, but could see no land or rocks. It was then a thick fog. The captain gave the order, "Out paddle-box boats." I omitted to say there was a leadsman in the chains. Directly the captain gave the above order, I took my station on the quarter-deck and proceeded to carry the order into execution. The boats were turned over, and in lowering the starboard paddle-box boat, a sea struck her, and she was instantly swamped. The port boat was lowered, the master, Mr Herbert, having charge of her, and he commenced taking in the stream anchor and cable. The quarter and stern boats were lowered, to tow the port paddle-box boat. The engines had them broken down. I then observed the ship was near some heavy rollers, and that land was in sight, covered with snow. The anchor and cable was laid out by Mr. Herbert in three fathoms water, on the starboard quarter ; but on returning to the ship, to take in the small bower anchor, the boat got broadside on, and was swamped. The cutter and gig were ordered to pull into the surf and save the crew. Two men were picked up, but the surf breaking over the cutter and gig rendered it dangerous for the boats. They were then order to keep outside the surf. The rest of the crew of the paddle box boat were drowned - the master and eight men - although the dinghy was launched overboard and everything that would float was thrown to them. The ship was then filling with water ; the engines had broken down, all pipes and machinery being carried away, whilst the engine room was full of water. The pumps were rigged, but could not be worked, as the ship was breaking up below. I got up some bread, and secured the keys of the spirit-room and magazine, firing signal guns of distress to a ship in the distance, to call her attention to the gig and cutter, which could not come near the ship. The captain asked me if I could suggest anything to save the ship, but I said enough had been done, and that nothing could prevent her becoming a wreck by night. The captain then said, "I must save the crew before night ; we have a good opportunity to cut away the masts whilst the ship has a rolling motion." By orders of the captain the pinnace was lowered, and by his orders everybody went before the mainmast. All the head braces were let go, the main lower rigging cut, and the mast fell over on the starboard side. Every one was then ordered before the foremast, the lanyards of the fore lower rigging were cut, and the foremast fell over on the starboard side. The ship was not striking very heavily and making a great quantity of water. Captain Warren then gave permission for any one to land on the hawser, and said the sooner they did it the better. I ordered a match to be lit, and after seeing all lights and fires out and sentries relieved, I reported the same to the captain, and he ordered me on shore, and to take charge of the men as they landed. The captain remained onboard until after the last man was out of the ship. It was now coming on dark, and Captain Warren piped all hands on the beach, and read the Articles of War. We were preparing tents for the night (having landed some sails), when a Danish coast-guard officer came and said, "If we slept under the tents nearly all the ship's company would be very ill the next day." He suggested to the captain to allow the ship's company to go to some fishermen's huts, about two miles off. The men were then marched to the huts, where they were billeted for the night, with orders to assemble at daylight. This they did, and under Captain Warren's superintendence, assisted by some Danish officers, every exertion was made to save the stores on board the ship.

The next day, too, everything was done to save the stores, but the ship was fast breaking up. On Friday I proceeded to Thisted, with 7 officers and 42 men, with orders to proceed to Hamburg, reporting myself to Colonel Hodges, her Majesty's consul-general. This I did.

In reply to questions from the Court, the witness said, "The ship when she struck was going at between seven and eight knots per hour. He could not state whether any soundings had been obtained on the morning the ship struck. The engines were not stopped to get bottom. He had not consulted with the Captain, or the master respecting the navigation of the ship nor after leaving the Spurn light. Witness would not have considered it necessary to have stopped the ship to get soundings. He believed there was no land going when the ship struck ; it was not expected they would make the Hansholmen light on the coast of Jutland before night. When he gave up charge of the deck they could see a distance of about five miles. He though they were running parallel to the land. He thought they were in deep water, over 100 fathoms. He was not aware that any soundings had been taken since the ship had left England. A considerable number of other questions were put to the witness, but they were of a purely professional or technical character.

Lieutenant England and other witnesses were called, but their evidence did not afford any particularly new facts. They however confirmed the above testimony as to a laxity in taking soundings and observations.

This morning Commander Warren entered on his defence. It was very long, but it spoke of the death of Mr. Herbert in generous and feeling terms, and did full justice to his character.

The officers of the ship were then called, and they deposed to the zeal, attention, and assiduity which Commander Warren had displayed.

The court remained in consultation two hours and then acquitted the crew and officers of the ship, and with regard to Commander Warren found: "That the loss of the steam sloop Polyphemus is to be ascribed mainly to the irregularity of the currents on the coast of Jutland, where she was wrecked ; but while the cour consider there is evidence of much attention having been paid by the commander, and no want of general vigilance was imputable to him, it is nevertheless the opinion of the court that blame is attachable to the said commander, Frederick Pelham Warren, in not having slackened the speed of the vessel to obtain accurate soundings, especially when running in thick weather in the neighbourhood of land where the currents are know to be irregular ; the court considers that every exertion was used after the wreck ; and upon consideration of all the circumstances of the case, does adjudge the said Commander Frederick Pelham Warren to be reprimanded for his neglect on the occasion."

The following is the list of the crew of the Polyphemus extracted from various newspapers of the day - so it may well have errors and ommissions :

George Arthur, gunner
Jno. Askel, A.B.
Edward Avery, stoker
Wm. Axford, cooper
C. Balls, steward
John Barnes, stoker
Jno. Barnett (Barnitt), private
T. Bassett, private
J Bavistock, private
Thos. Biddlecomb, carpenter
Jno. Bragg, boy
George Briggs, ord.
Mr Burnett, master's assistant
John Bymes, private
Ed. Caffley, boy 1st
Samuel Carter, stoker
John Case, gunner
Jno. Cassidy ? musician
Mr Chambers, engineer
Jno. Chisholm, ord
Charles Cook, boy 2nd
Wm. Coombe, stoker
John Cooper, AB
Jno. Cork ?, private
John Crosby, boy 2nd
M. Cunningham, stoker
Wm. Davis, boy 2nd
John Donahen? , stoker
Hy. Dowling, carpenter
John Dutton, carpenter
Thos. Elderton, stoker
John Etherage, ord
George Everest, Surgeon
John Faundell (Paundell), capt. adj.
Jno. Fawkes, private
Samuel Fletcher, captain forecastle (also described as Quartermaster)
John Ford, boy 1st
William Ford, private
Charles Foster, boy 2nd
Wm. Francis, stoker
Wm. Gammon, A.B.
Ed. Goodwin, private
Benj. Green, boy 2nd
Jas. Hardy, Ord.
Robert Harris, captain M.T.
H. Harrison, bombardier
Mr Hay, clerk
Edw. Hayward, private
John Healey, boy 1st
Rob. Hence (Hance), ord
Thos. Herbert, stoker
Charles Howes, stoker
John Holdbury, boy 1st
John Hunt, stoker
W. James, cook
Jas. Jenkins, AB
Pat. Jennings, private
T. Johnston, blacksmith
Mr. Jones, engineer
Thos. Jones, private
William Jordan, ord
Pat. Keith, ordinary
Thos. Kirby, ropemaker
Edward Luke, cook
McLacklan, c.m.t.
McLellan, captain's steward
Edward Malone, sick bay
John Marks, stoker
Wm. Martin, boy 2nd
Wm. Martin, boy 1st
Wm. Martin, stoker
William Mitchell, boy
Jno. Moore, ord,
Mr Morris, engineer
David Newman, private
Jas. O'Connor, ord.
Mr Parsons, gunner
Charles Persey, AB
Charles Pragneil? , boy 1st
William Puttick, boy
Pyne, Frederick, Lieutenant, First Lieutenant
Hy. Raymond, capt. cox..
John Richards, boy 1st
Gar. Riley, ord.,
P. Roach, ord.
James Robinson, A.B.
James Robinson, boy 1st
John Russ, stoker
Charles Ryan, boy 1st
Edwd. Scantlebury, sailmaker
Rich. Smith, steward
Henry Stephens? , boy 2nd
H. Suiter, private
Alex. Sutherland, ord.
Thos. Tiverton, captain F.T.
John Tootle, private
H. Torrington, drummer
Mr Tracey, midshipman
R. Twiney, sergeant
John Vincent, private
Thos. Walker, sailor
Warren, Frederick Pelham, Commander (Commanding Officer)
Mr Warrington, paymaster
John Webb, A.B.
Jno. Wheeler, private
Charles Wilson, stoker
Mr Wood, engineer
Josh. Woodford, marine

The Daily News of 8 Mar 1856 reports:

Admiralty 7 Mar 1856 ( # 13 Feb - bodies found and interred)
The following is the list of officers and men who were lost when Her Majesty's sloop Polyphemus was wrecked on 29 Jan 1856:

Henry Forbes, captain forecastle #
James Hardy, ordinary seaman
Mr Herbert, Master #
Stephen Longhurst, boy 1st class
Dunam M'Stockline, captain maintop
Thomas Maunder, boatswain's mate #
Samuel Pearce, boy 1st class #
John Reynolds, captain after guard #
Giles Wilkes, boatswain's mate


Commander Phillips to Rear-Admiral Bruce.
(Extract.) H.M.'s Sloop Polyphemus, off Lagos, September 11, 1853
I beg to acquaint you that Akitoye, King of Lagos, died suddenly on the 3rd instant.
His son Ducimo was elected in his place on the following day, in presence of Lieutenant Pearce, Commander of the Athol, and on the 5th, during my absence on a cruize, Commander Gardner, of the Waterwitch, entered the river with the armed boats, and saluted him.
I have the satisfaction to report that Lagos has enjoyed tranquillity since the expulsion of Kosoko and his party on the 13th ultimo, and that 25 of his canoes were captured by Akitoye's warriors on the 19th ultimo, and brought into Lagos.
On the morning which succeeded Kosoko's defeat, he was deserted by 7 Accra boatmen, who represented to me that 14 of their companions, mostly natives of the British protectorate on the Gold Coast, were detained at Lomoe (Jaboo of the charts) by Joao Joz� de Lima, denounced to the squadron of Her Majesty's Consul at Bahia as the principal slave-trader on this coast.
I therefore proceeded thither on the 28th, and after some trouble and the use of menaces, I succeeded in getting these 21 persons liberated under a protest from the aforesaid slave-merchant. I set them on shore at Lagos. On my return from a cruize on the 8th instant, I was informed by the Consul, that a division of Kosoko's canoes were in sight off Lagos, on the Lake, stopping the trade, and cutting off supplies of provisions ; and earnestly requested me to make a demonstration against them. I therefore entered the river on the 9th instant with the boats of this ship, and those of the Waterwitch and Athol, and being joined by the war canoes of Lagos, tracked the marauders into a narrow creek, up which I forced my way with grape, canister and musketry for about a mile, the enemy making a very respectable defence till driven out of a village called Madjidoo into the interior, abandoning a great number of canoes, which were captured or destroyed by our Black allies, and the village committed to the flames.
Commander A. H. Gardner, of H. M. ship Waterwitch, Lieutenant W. Strickland, of this ship, Lieutenant H. B. Johnstone, of the Waterwitch, and all the officers and men under my command deserve my best thanks for the steady and determined support they rendered me, and the perfect style in which their boats and guns were worked in single column up a very narrow creek, against the fire of foes hardly to be seen through the cover.
A seaman of this ship, and a private marine of the Waterwitch, were wounded by the enemy's fire, but not dangerously.
It is my intention to send a copy of this despatch to the Secretary of the Admiralty, C. Gerrans Phillips.