Coroner for the Jurisdiction of the Eastern District of the County of London

The PRINCESS ALICE was a paddle steamer owned by the London Steamboat Company. On September 3 1878 she was on the return leg of a routine trip from London Bridge to Gravesend. At 7:40 pm she was in sight of North Woolwich Pier, off Tripcock Point, Plumstead Marshes. The steamship BYWELL CASTLE, a cargo ship which usually took coals to Africa and was on its way to collect a fresh cargo, was also in this area. The Captain of the BYWELL CASTLE was following traditional navigation rules rather than an 1872 ruling that oncoming vessels should be passed on the port side. The captains of both ships realised there was a problem and attempted to change course, however, their course changes only brought them closer and the ships collided. The PRINCESS ALICE was much smaller than the BYWELL CASTLE and was split in two by the collision, sinking in just 4 minutes. Passengers were either trapped on the ship or thrown into the river. Around 600 people died, many of whom were never identified and were buried in a mass grave in Woolwich Old Cemetery.