SS Home
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | SS Home |
| Owner: | Red Bank line, New York City |
| Builder: | Allaire Works, New York City |
| Launched: | 1836 |
| Fate: | Wrecked off Hatteras in 1837 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 537 |
| Length: | 220 ft (67 m) |
| Beam: | 22 ft 6 in (6.86 m) |
| Propulsion: |
steam engine 2 paddles amidship |
| Complement: | 40 |
The SS Home was a steam packet ship built in 1836 and sunk in 1837 and commanded by Captain Carleton White.
The Home was built for Mr. James B. Allaire, of New York City, a ship of 537 tons (487,158 kg), 220 feet (67 m) long and with a beam of 22 feet (7 m), propelled by two paddle-wheels mounted amidship. Like other ships of its day, the Home had masts, sails, and rigging as well.
On Saturday, 7 October 1837 the Home set out from New York City bound for Charleston, South Carolina with about 90 passengers and 40 crew on board. The Home had only made two voyages to Charleston prior to this voyage. The Home struck a sandbar off the New Jersey coast. Unaware of the extent of the damage, her captain proceeded on schedule to Charleston when it encountered the 1837 Racer's Storm and started taking on water as she rounded Cape Hatteras. She was put aground to ride out the developing storm. Before rescue operations could be effected the next day, the Home was torn to pieces by the surf and 90 lives were lost.
The Home had been originally constructed for river trade, but converted into a passenger liner. The ship’s interior was paneled in deep mahogany and cherry wood with skylights, saloons, and luxurious passenger quarters.
A total of $115,000 had been spent converting the Home for ocean voyages but it was equipped with only three lifeboats and two life preservers. The Home was insured for only $35,000.
Notable passengers
- The Hardy Croom family of Tallahassee, Florida. Hardy Croom established one of Tallahassee's premier cotton plantations called Goodwood Plantation.
- Oliver H. Prince and wife Mary Prince. Oliver was on the Board of Trustees of the University of Georgia and had been a United States Senator from Georgia as well as Georgia State Senator.
References
- Hurricanes from the Handbook of Texas Online
- biography of the SS Home's owner, James Peter Allaire
- North Carolina Hurricane History
- Flagpole Magazine, p. 10 (6 September 2000).
