Admiral Prinz Aldabert

Last Updated on Saturday, 22 May 2010 11:41

1883 - The Admiral Prinz Aldabert , bound from Rochefort to Swansea with a cargo of pitprops, was caught up in the same terrible storm that wrecked the Agnes Jack.   She was swept up channel and seen to be in difficulties off Mumbles Head.   Two attempts made by a Swansea tug to take  her in tow failed and the Mumbles lifeboat was launched, in what seemed “suicidal conditions”.   The lifeboat battled  with the ebbing tide between the lighthouse and the mainland and, because of the rocks, had to approach the vessel from the weather side.   A line was thrown between the two vessels and two men were miraculously transferred.   As a third man, the ship's carpenter, attempted to cross, the anchor on the lifeboat parted.   The boat was flung against the ship, crushing the man and spilling the lifeboat crew into the water.   As they struggled to get back into the boat, it capsized again and was swept over the rocks.   Four crewmen and the carpenter drowned in the battering.   The rest of the crew, smashed and crushed and exhausted, with broken arms and legs, were eventually rescued with the help of the lighthouse keeper's daughters [c.f. The Women of Mumbles Head by Clement Scott.]   The hull of the Prinz Aldabert held together long enough for the fifteen surviving German crew to be assisted ashore.   The Lifeboat Institution gave £800 to the widows and orphans and the Ace sisters received awards from the German government.  (Ref: 106)