SS Home
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | SS Home |
| Owner | Red Bank line, New York City |
| Operator | Carleton White |
| Builder | Allaire Works, New York City |
| Launched | 1836 |
| Fate | Wrecked off Cape Hatteras, 7 October 1837 |
| Notes | 130 on board-40 crew and 90 passengers |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 537 |
| Length | 220 ft (67 m) |
| Beam | 22 ft 6 in (6.9 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Notes | 90 lives lost |
The SS Home was a steam packet ship built in 1836 and sunk in 1837 and commanded by Captain Carleton White.
The Home was built for Mr. James B. Allaire, of New York City, a ship of 537 tons, 220 feet (67 m) long and with a beam of 22 feet (6.7 m), propelled by two side paddle-wheels mounted amidships. Like other ships of her day, Home had masts, sails, and rigging as well.
The Home had been built for river trade, but converted into a passenger liner. Her interior was paneled in deep mahogany and cherry wood with skylights, saloons, and luxurious passenger quarters.
A total of $115,000 had been spent converting the Home for ocean voyages but it was equipped with only three lifeboats and two life preservers. The Home was insured for only $35,000.
On Saturday, 7 October 1837 the Home left New York City for Charleston, South Carolina with about 90 passengers and 40 crew aboard. Home had made only two previous voyages to Charleston. Home struck a sandbar off New Jersey. Unaware of the extent of the damage, her captain proceeded on schedule to Charleston when she encountered the 1837 Racer's Storm and started taking on water as she rounded Cape Hatteras. She was put aground to ride out the developing storm. Before rescue operations could be effected the next day, the Home was torn to pieces by the surf and 90 lives were lost.
Notable passengers lost in the disaster
- The Hardy Croom family of Tallahassee, Florida. Hardy Croom established one of Tallahassee's premier cotton plantations called Goodwood Plantation.
- Oliver H. Prince and wife Mary Prince. Oliver was on the Board of Trustees of the University of Georgia and had been a United States Senator from Georgia as well as Georgia State Senator.
References
- Hurricanes from the Handbook of Texas Online
- biography of the SS Home's owner, James Peter Allaire
- North Carolina Hurricane History
- Flagpole Magazine, p. 10 (6 September 2000).
- Contemporary Newspaper accounts of the loss of the "Home" 1837-1843