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The Great Liverpool was caught out by a storm in the Costa da Morte which led it to running aground in Gures. It was a wooden-hulled ship with copper lining measuring just over 73 metres long. The ship was propelled by sail and had a steam engine with side rocker and paddles yielding 468 NHP reaching a speed of 9 knots.
It was carrying an assorted cargo, with mail and ivory, covering the route from Alexandria to Southampton, under the command of Captain McLeod. Apparently, the sail-boat had previously hit a reef which caused a major leak. The flooding caused the blackout of the engine’s fires causing it to run adrift until it ran aground on Gures beach.
Two women and a child were killed in the accident when one of the lifeboats overturned