Helena Bladon Coney

Joseph Bladon and the ocean Monarch Disaster Helena Bladon Coney

On Thursday 24th August 1848, (days before his sons first birthday), Joseph sailed from Liverpool at 5am aboard the 1300 ton barque White Diamond Line 'Ocean Monarch' bound for Boston. At around midday as the ship sailed six miles off the Great Orme, the captain was informed that smoke was coming out of one of the ventilators. Upon investigation, smoke was also found coming from the main cabin. Despite efforts to put out the fire, another part burst into flames. Several ships were in the area and rescued many passengers using their own boats but 178 passengers and crew perished. By 3pm, nothing was left of the Ocean Monarch. The cause of the fire was thought to be smoking amongst the passengers or as other reports give, a passenger making a fire in a wooden ventilator on the third deck. Many bodies were washed up along the coast of England and Wales, sadly many were never identified. On the evening of Friday 8 September and Saturday 9 September, five bodies were washed ashore at Formby being three men and two women and were buried on the 12th at St Peters Church, Formby, only one was identified, that being Joseph Bladon. This book tells the story of Joseph, the disaster and his family