Owner

Registration No.
Official No.
Vessel Name
Place Constructed
Year Constructed
No. of Decks
No. of Masts
Type of Vessel

Length (ft)
Gross Tonnage
Net Tonnage
Place of Closure



 

New York, Newfoundland & Halifax Steamship Co. Ltd

127957
Florizel
Glasgow, Scotland
1909

2
Steamer

305
3081
1980.22
Cappahayden, NL



 

The Florizel, a steamer vessel, was one of the first in the world specifically designed to navigate in ice, it was built of steel, equipped with submarine signaling equipment and wireless and was valued at $700,000. It was used in the seal hunt for many years and during World War I it transported the first 500 volunteers, the Blue Puttees of the Newfoundland Regiment, to Europe but was primarily used as a passenger vessel.
 
On February 23, 1918 the vessel headed out from St. John’s for Halifax and New York on a familiar route for it and its Captain, William Martin. There was a bit of snow falling and a breeze of wind but nothing to be worried over. The Captain was sure that they were now a safe distance out beyond Cape Race and ordered the change in course towards Halifax, but he was not as far as he had thought and when he had changed course he had in fact set his ships fate.
 
The ship struck Horn Head Point and for the next twenty four hours those passengers that were not washed overboard with the stormy sea smashing over the vessel stayed on board and awaited rescue. The people of Cappahayden watched aimlessly from shore as they tried to reach the vessel in their small boats only to have them sunk and swept back into the shore. Rescue vessels were sent out from St. John’s as well but some conflicting reports about there being no survivors caused their delay. 42 people survived and 94 were lost.

Read about the tragic end to one of the more well known passenger vessels of this province and view pictures of her demise.