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WESTERN EMPIRE 

 WESTERN EMPIRE WAS A VESSEL OF 1,250 TONS  SHE WAS BUILT / LAUNCHED IN APRIL 1862 BY WILLIAM H. BALDWIN & COMPANY AT SAINT-ROCH, QUEBEC ( THEY BUILT 9 'EMPIRE ' SHIPS ) HER FIRST OWNERS WERE POSSIBLY  R. GIRVIN & COMPANY  AND SHE WAS PURCHASED BY HENRY WILSON IN 1866 AND SOLD TO CEARNES & CO THE SAME YEAR

 SHE WAS OWNED BY THE WHITE STAR LINE IN 1867.

 FOUR YEARS EARLIER THEY HAD OWNED THE SOUTHERN EMPIRE (  WHICH IN 1863 SET SAIL FOR AUSTRALIA AND WAS NEVER SEEN AGAIN )

 WESTERN EMPIRE  TRADED FOR MANY YEARS TO  BOMBAY, CALCUTTA, AND OTHER INDIAN PORTS

WESTERN EMPIRE WITH CAPTAIN JAMES  JAMES CLARK IN COMMAND ARRIVED 30TH  AUGUST 1870  HAVING LEFT  LONDON VIA PLYMOUTH ON THE  1ST JUNE  1870 SHE  LEFT THE LIZARD ON JUNE 5TH 1870 SHE CARRIED  427 GOVERNMENT  PASSENGERS

 SHE LEFT  ENGLAND ON 6 MARCH 1875 BOUND  OF RIO DE JANEIRO. SHE THEN  LEFT PENSACOLA ON 11 SEPTEMBER 1875 WITH A CARGO OF TIMBER.

ON 18 SEPTEMBER,  135 MILE SOUTH OF PENSACOLA, THE SHIP BECAME WATERLOGGED AND WAS  ABANDONED. SEVEN MEN WERE LOST