Halo - a general history

Completed July 1879; Official No. 81652: Code Letters SPJH.

Owners: 1879 George Horsley, Hartlepool.

Masters: 1879-81 H Powell: 1882 Willis: 1883-84 Lennard.

South Durham & Cleveland Mercury 6 September 1879:

‘On Monday afternoon, about five o’clock a serious collision occurred in Hartlepool Harbour between the newly built screw-steamer Halo belonging to Messrs G Horsley & Co of West Hartlepool & the Port & Harbour Commisioners. The Halo, which is a fine iron vessel of about 2000 tons burden, was coal-laden & bound to the Baltic on her second voyage & was in tow of a tug at the time of the accident. The dredger was moored on the east edge of the channel, &, in her endeavour to pass to the westward of it, the Halo, probably owing to the falling tide, did not answer her helm properly, &, the towline breaking, she collided with the dredger; one of the massive brackets projecting from the stem of which penetrated the port bow of the Halo, which, for a few minutes, could not be backed clear. As soon as this could be accomplished the latter vessel, caught on her broadside by the strong westerly breeze, was driven over to the eastern edge of the channel near the old pier, where she took the ground. Although it is hoped that she may be got off on the morning tide, it is by no means improbable that she will have to be discharged on getting into dock before her injuries can be efficiently repaired. The dredger has also received considerable damage.’

Halo left the Danube in early December 1883 bound for Rotterdam with a cargo of grain & a crew of 20. On New Years Eve 1884 she ran onto a reef at Cape Finisterre. The crew took to their boats & Halo went down soon after.  No lives lost.

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