Page 182 - The British Big Four

recks The Devil’s Backbone off nearby Spanish Wells has ienfuegos Wreck - Cienfuegoes SS was a Ward Line passenger
steam-ship built in 1883 by the John Roach & Sons Shipyard
W Cclaimed many ships over the years, and at least one train. The
train was aboard a barge that sank during the American Civil War in Chester, Pennsylvania, USA. The 292ft iron hull had 6 water-

and can be dived in 30 feet of water. Other wrecks include a 200- tight compartments. The ship ran a round February 5, 1895. There

foot freighter from 1919 and the wreck of a 265-foot freighter that are mixed stories regarding the weather and sea conditions some

sank in 1971. The first known wreck on this reef carried the Eleuthe- claim there was enormous seas and haze and others said it was

rian Adventurers, a group of Bermudians fleeing religious persecu- a calm and perfect visibility. No lives were lost. The Cienfuegos

tion and seeking a new life. They floundered on the Backbone and, was a Ward Line passenger liner. An American steam-ship, she was

once ashore and recovered, gave Eleuthera its name which came launched from the John Roach & Sons Shipyard in Chester, Penn-

from the Greek word for freedom. Evidence of their ship has since sylvania in 1883. She was 292 feet in length, 39 feet 8 inches in

rotted away, but remains of many others are here and visited daily. breadth, had a draught of 22 feet, and weighed 2,332 tons. Her iron

Top sites include Onions and Potatoes, the Cienfuego and the Train hull was divided into six watertight compartments. On February 5,

Wreck, among others. Most are shallow, and the surrounding reefs, 1895, while under the command of Captain B.F. Hoyt Jr., the Cien-

the reason for their demise, offer interesting diving. fuegos ran aground on a shallow coral reef. According to the origi-

C anarvon Wreck - The Carnarvon was a 186ft long steel hulled nal New York Times article, “the vessel struck a reef while the seas
Welsh freight vessel ran aground off of North Eleuthera back were calm.” Days later, one of the members of the Cienfuegos crew
gave a slightly different account; “On the morning of Feb. 4 about

in 1916. She sits on a sand bottom in shallow water of only 25 to 35 4:30 o’clock, during a strong. northwest gale, while enormous seas

feet which makes it possible for long relaxing dives. Her huge an- were running and weather was hazy, the steamer ran on a reef or

chors, propeller, boilers and engines are good photo opportunities. small coral islet, about five miles north of Harbor Island and forty-

The Carnarvon was a 186 foot long, steel hulled Welsh freighter. This five miles from Nassau.” Fortunately, all passengers and crew sur-

vessel ran aground off of North Eleuthera back in 1916. She sits on vived, all very thankful for the skill of the native seamen who were

a sand bottom in shallow water of only 25 to 35 feet which makes it ferrying all to shore. One life boat with women and children aboard

possible for long relaxing dives. Her huge anchors, propeller, boil- capsized, but two natives instantly plunged into the water and re-

ers and engines are good photo opportunities. covered all passengers before anyone drowned.