Henry Pearson Maples

Henry operated paddle and screw steamers from Brighton to across the channel to Jersey and France in the 1850-60's He appeared an entrepreneur of his time. He offered "cheap excursions to Rouen via Newhaven, excursions to Boulogne, special trips to Dieppe Races, Jersey Races, Paris Grand Military Fete" His ships were the Alar, Viborg,and Rouen. His paddle steamers Scud, Petrel, Foam, Paris and Ladybird, and the steam yacht London. The vessels left from Brighton or Newhven You could apply for these trips through the Brighton Railway Company Source-Ian Pearson 06/08/2008

Wikipedia-Shipwrecks in the Channel The paddle steamer, Paris ,left St. Malo on 28 July 1863 with 24 passengers and 12 tons of cargo, chiefly butter & eggs. She was under charge of a Jersey pilot of considerable experience named De La Cour, the day was beautiful and the sea smooth as a mill pond. Shortly before 9am the steamer was observed just off Elizabeth Castle, which, with The Hermitage forms an outwork of rock a short distance from the entrance to Victoria Harbour, Jersey. The tide was just beginning to flow. The captain (Hemmings) asked the pilot which passage he was going to take. The Selette or the middle passage. The pilot replied that he would take whichever passage the Captain chose, to which the latter replied that it was not his province to interfere, adding that it was high time the pilot made up his mind. The Captain again warned the pilot of the danger that was now clearly apparent. The warning was scarcely off his lips when the vessel struck on a rock known as "Grune Vaudin" The engines were stopped and set for astern. It was then the Captain ordered the lifeboats to be lowered. Ten minutes after the vessel struck she went down in 5 fathoms of water. The Paris was valued at 7000 pounds and was not insured. The masts were clearly visible from the shore.

It appears that there was no loss of life . LB