Burmah (ship)
The Burmah was a passenger ship, which disappeared en route from England to New Zealand in 1859 or 1860.
Last voyage
The Burmah was chartered by Willis, Gann & Co. The ship left London for New Zealand on 27 or 28 August 1859.[1] Burmah was seen by the ship Regina on 17 November, about 14 days sailing distance west of New Zealand, at 48°S 97°E / 48°S 97°E. The Regina passed icebergs the day after it passed Burmah.[2] Burmah never arrived at New Zealand and was officially declared lost by Lloyds on 6 May 1860.[3]
Burmah was carrying passengers and an assortment of breeding livestock.
The novelist Samuel Butler was booked to travel on the Burmah to New Zealand, but he changed to a different ship, the Roman Emperor at the last moment, and therefore avoided the wreck of the Burmah.[4]
References
- ^ Otago Witness, 10 October 1859 p.4
- ^ Otago Witness, 11 February 1860 p.5
- ^ Otago Witness, 4 August 1860
- ^ Lyttelton Times, 28 January 1860