What if a ship sank not at sea, but just as it was born? Right here in Glasgow, the Monument to SS Daphne stands as a stark reminder of such a tragedy. The SS Daphne was a passenger-cargo vessel built right here in Glasgow by Alexander Stephen and Sons. It was launched on July 3, 1883. Imagine the excitement, the crowds gathered to witness the ship’s maiden entry into the Clyde. Instead, they witnessed horror. The Monument to SS Daphne commemorates the 124 souls lost that day when the ship capsized moments after launch. Around 200 workmen and onlookers were onboard, anticipating the smooth transition from shipyard to water. As the Daphne slid down the slipway, the anchors meant to halt its momentum failed. The starboard anchor barely budged. The port anchor dragged, offering little resistance to the river’s current. The current caught the Daphne, flipping it onto its port side. It sank rapidly, trapping many within its hull. Only 70 lives were saved. The Monument to SS Daphne is a solemn testament to this devastating event. The disaster led to an inquiry, but the shipyard owners were exonerated, sparking controversy and accusations of a cover-up. One lasting impact of the Daphne disaster was a change in launching procedures. The number of people allowed on board during launches was limited to only those essential for mooring. The Daphne itself was later salvaged, repaired, and given a new name and a new life as the Rose. But the memory of those lost lives on the Clyde that day, just moments after the SS Daphne’s birth, continues to echo in the shadow of this monument.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to