Price: $250.00
SKU: 50847
PUBLISHER: Publish'd July 1, 1797, by T. Whitewood Junr. Town of Prtsea.
MEDIUM: Aquatint and engraving,
DATE: 1797
EDITION SIZE: Image size 12 1/4 x 17 1/16" (310 x 433 mm).
DESCRIPTION: Drawn by Captn. T. M. Waller RN. The Explosion by Mr. Guest Junr. J. W. Edy fecit. This print shows the destruction of HMS Boyne, a 98 gun second rate ship of the line launched at Woolwich in 1790 and serving as the flagship of Vice Admiral John Jervis. On 1 May 1795, while lying at anchor at Spithead and conducting firing practice, a fire broke out, most likely caused by the funnel of the wardroom stove setting light to papers in the Admiral’s cabin. The flames were not discovered until they burst through the poop, and by then the ship was beyond saving. Within half an hour she was ablaze from end to end. Boats from the surrounding fleet quickly came alongside and managed to rescue most of the crew, though eleven men lost their lives. As the heat increased, the loaded guns began to discharge on their own, posing further danger to rescuers. Eventually her cables burned through and the ship drifted eastward, grounding opposite Southsea Castle, where she soon after blew up in a violent explosion that brought a sudden end to one of the Navy’s most powerful ships.
ADDITIONAL INFO:
CONDITION: Fair to poor, several losses in the top margin, tear lower right into image, traces of foxing. A nice impression of this rare print.
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