Found it! Expedition discovers the wreck of an English steamboat, lost in Siberia

By The Siberian Times reporter

07 August 2016

Now The Siberian Times is seeking to find descendants of British mariner Captain Joseph Wiggin.

The wreck was located close to Turukhansk, some 1,474 kilometers (916 miles) north of regional capital Krasnoyarsk. Picture: RGS

Site of sinking of 'The Thames' 139 years ago is located in Yenisei River after Russian Geographical Society hunt.

The vessel was captained by daring 19th century British mariner Joseph Wiggins, who pioneered Northern Sea Route - the icy waters off the coastline of northern Russia - and was honoured by Tsar Alexander III for opening Siberia to the world.

Nikolay Karelin and Alexander Goncharov, who teach history at the Siberian State Aerospace University, announced the discovery after a 30-day summer catamaran odyssey on the Yenisei.

Now The Siberian Times is seeking to find descendants of Captain Wiggins to put them in touch with the researchers who located the steamboat as well as the Russian Geographical Society, and the local authorities in Kransnoyarsk region.

Please email editor@siberiantimes.com.

The wreck was located close to Turukhansk, some 1,474 kilometers (916 miles) north of regional capital Krasnoyarsk, which stands at the confluence of the Yenisei and Nizhnyaya Tunguska rivers.

Expedition finds the wreck of lost English steamboat

Expedition finds the wreck of lost English steamboat
The historic steamboat was said to be the first vessel of its type to sail in the Yenisei in 1876. Pictures: RGS

Captain Wiggins and his crew survived the sinking of the impressive sail and steam vessel, and he went on to deliver future cargos to remote locations in Russia. His crew were sent back to Britain by land after the vessel's loss in 1877.

On his frequent sailings to Siberia, Captain Wiggins even facilitated the construction of the Trans-Siberian railway by carrying a large cargo of rails by water.

In all, he twice sailed up the Ob River - the world's seventh longest - and five times carried cargoes to the Yenisei.

Earlier it was suggested that The Thames sank far upstream close to Igarka.

The historic steamboat was said to be the first vessel of its type to sail in the Yenisei in 1876, but it sank the following year carrying a cargo of graphite destined for Britain.

Now there are hopes now to raise the wreck.

Expedition finds the wreck of lost English steamboat
The researchers believe they have located the Russian clipper Northern Lights. Pictures here and below: RGS

Separately, the two researchers believe they have located the Russian clipper Northern Lights, which also sank on the Yenisei during the 1876-77 winter.

They found the site where sailors spent the winter, and where some died.

They erected a cross as a memorial.

Scientific publications will be sent details of their discoveries.

The expedition was financed by the Russian Geographical Society in Siberian Federal District, and a grant from Russian Fund for Humanities.

Expedition finds the wreck of lost English steamboat