120 Years - The Sinking of the SS Stella

For our first Alderney issue of 2019 we commemorate 120 years since the sinking of the SS Stella. The luxury liner hit Les Casquets reef north of Alderney and sank on Maundy Thursday, 30th March 1899.

Ten days after the tragedy, news broke of the heroism of Mary Anne Rogers, the Senior Stewardess. Survivors reported that she had marshalled the female passengers up onto the deck, helped them into their lifebelts and into the lifeboats. Mary then gave up her own lifebelt to a lady without one and helped her into one of the boats. When urged toget in herself, she refused for fear of capsizing it.

The SS Stella sank, stern first in just eight minutes and many failed to make it into the lifeboats. Of the 190 on board, 86 passengers and 19 crew were drowned, including Mary Rogers.

The tragedy generated more press coverage and greater public interest than any other shipwreck of the period and it is often referred to as 'The Titanic of the Channel Islands'.