En route to Auckland laden with immigrants, the Cospatrick caught fire and sank off South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope. Although the tragedy happened far from New Zealand, it has been described as this country’s worst civil disaster.
When the Cospatrick finally sank, 40 hours after the fire had been discovered, two lifeboats were left afloat with 62 passengers and crew aboard. Lacking food or water, they became separated and one was never seen again.
The second boat was found by a passing British ship 10 days after the fire. Only five of its occupants were still alive, and two of them died soon after being rescued. Of the 473 people on the ship when it caught fire, just three survived.
Read more on NZHistory
British and Irish immigration 1840-1914 – British & Irish immigration, 1840-1914New Zealand disasters timeline – New Zealand disasters timeline
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How to cite this page
'Cospatrick fire kills 470', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/em-cospatrick-em-fire-kills-470, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 17-Sep-2020
