Hulks on the River Thames

[slingerone]

Where can I find info on the hulk Goliath, and who wrote the poem about the fire on it, and where can I find that. thank you.

[lcullen]

I think maybe you have your ships mixed!

The Goliath was an English vessel that fought in the Battle of the Nile against a French fleet. I think the poem you refer to ('The boy stood on the burning deck...') actually refers to the fire on board the French command ship called 'L'Orient'.

Incidentaly, the peom is by a woman called 'Felicia Hemans' and the peom is called 'Casabianca' and NOT 'The boy stood on the burning deck' as some might tell it.

Hope this helps...

[slingerone]

Icullen, Thanks for the response. a.i.u.i, when the Goliath had reached the end of her usefil sailing life she was brought into the river Thames, and moored at Grays Essex, and used accommodation. I have included the first verse of quite a long Poem, which I thought was very good, although at the time it was quite a tragedy. THE BURNING OF THE GOLIATH A dirty, foggy morning 'twas: Grays loomed large, close a-lee: The watch was holy-stoning decks As white as decks could be: There were five hundred workhouse lads A training for the sea. I'll send the rest e-mail, if I knew how :-)

[lcullen]

Slingerone,



I see! Well, a little more information goes a long way. I managed to have a little hunt around for more information regarding this and found the following regarding the disaster: Check out the URL:
http://www.mariners-l.freeserve.co.uk/ScrapD-H.html

The poet still elludes me though. I will keep an eye out however...

Regards,

Lee Cullen

[slingerone]

Lee, Thanks very much for that informatio, even as I type this I am wondring why I have not been to the Grays local history Museum to see if they have any info. Pete.