HMS <i>Lively</i> on the Hen and Chicken Rocks near Stornaway. Illustration for The Illustrated London News, 16 June 1883.<br><p>Volume: 82, page 603. Issue: 2304, page 11<br>
[ Read the ILN]
</p>
WRECK OF H.M.S. LIVELY. H.M.S. LIVELY ON THE HEN AND CHICKENS ROCKS NEAR STORNOWAY. The Admiralty despatch-vessel, IH.M.S. Lively, a gun-boat 'of 900 tons, attached to the Channel Squadron, has lately been employed in the Hebrides, under Commander Parr, for the conveyance to different islands of the Royal Commissioners, Lord Napier of Ettrick and others, appointed to inquire into the distressed condition of the poor "Crofters" or peasantry, in Skye, Lewis, Harris, Uist, and other parts of the West Highland archipelago. On Thursday of last week, about nine o'clock in the evening, when the Lively, with the Royal Commissioners, the newspaper reporters, and other visitors on board, was entering the bay to approach Stornoway, the chief place of Lewis, she ran upon the lien and Chickens Rocks, and has become a total wreck. All those on board, passengers, crew, and officers, got safely ashore, and saved their personal baggage; the Royal Commissioners were hospitably entertained by Lady Matheson, at Stornoway. When the tide ebbed, the keel of the vessel as far as the paddle-box was high and dry on the rocks. It was then seen that the stern under the water-mark was completely smashed. The vessel was full of water, except the fore part, and her stern deck, cabin, and flag-pole, but not the flag itself, were under water. Her keel and planking at the fore part are completely gone, and there is a large rock right through her amidships. She is heeled over to the starboard at an angle of over 45 deg., with her bow high up in the air. The water in the neighbourhood is very deep, and the rocks small, and had the ship been steered her own breadth to either side she would have been safe. The Admiralty sent HII..S. Jackal and two other steamers to render what assistance they could, at least in saving the ship's stores. 1We are indebted to Mr. Horace Beevor for the Sketch that shows the position of the vessel. The Lively was the vessel in which his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, while holding office as Inspector of Naval Reserves, made his cruise of duty, in mid-winter, all round the northern coasts of Great Britain.
<div class="fn value">
ILN staff, from a sketch by Mr. Horace Beevor</div>
16 June 1883<div style="display: none;">date QS:P571,+1883-06-16T00:00:00Z/11</div>
The Illustrated London News