SS Southern Cross (1886)

SS "Southern Cross" was a sealing vessel around the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador which was lost at sea with 173 crew. It was the greatest loss of life in any Newfoundland sealing disaster, more than the 78 crewmen who were lost from the crew complement of the SS "Newfoundland" in the same storm. A total of 251 men were lost in one storm from these two ships.

"Southern Cross" was built in Arendal, Norway in 1886 as a Norwegian whaler named "Pollux". Under the explorer Carstens Borchgrevink in December 19, 1898 it made its first Antarctic expedition where it made marine history by breaking through the Great Ice barrier to the unexplored Ross Sea. The "Pollux" was then taken over by Baine Johnston who renamed it the "SS Southern Cross" and sent it to the Newfoundland seal hunt in 1901 where it continued to do so until 1914.

In 1914 under Captain George Clarke the "Southern Cross" with a crew of 173 men bound for the seal hunt in the Gulf of St. Lawrence experienced some high winds and heavy snow squalls. On March 31, 1914 it was sighted by the "SS Portia", about five miles west-southwest of Cape Pine. It was the last time that the "Southern Cross" was sighted. The "SS Kyle" had aided in the search for its remains, none were found. Three days later on April 3 the "Southern Cross" was officially declared lost with 173 crew aboard. A commission was convened to investigate its disappearance whereas the findings were that it was an "Act of God", where the intensity of the storm, the heavy load of pelts and a low-mounted engine attributed to its loss.

The loss of so many lives on the "Southern Cross" has caused the incident to be written in song.

One of the sailors on board was Sealer John Hiscock from Carbonear, NL.