Sank at launch!!! The incredible disaster of SS Daphne in 1883 in Scotland
- Adrian Bonaparte
- Jul 24
- 1 min read
Updated: Aug 10

SS Daphne was a steamship which sank moments after her launching in one of the Glasgow shipyards on 3 July 1883. The naming ceremony was at 11:25 AM, followed by the launching at 11:30 – on the day of Mars and hour of Saturn!
Around 200 workmen were on board the ship at the time it was launched, ready to begin fitting out work as soon as she was properly afloat. According to the usual practice during a launching, anchors were attached by cable to each side of the ship. As the Daphne moved into the river, the anchors failed to slow the ship's forward progress. The current of the river caught Daphne and flipped her over onto her portside, sinking her in deep water.124 people died including many young boys, 70 lives were saved.
The chart is shown for the naming ceremony using the sidereal zodiac. Mercury rules the Ascendant and is exact square Uranus, which close to the Ascendant. Uranus is conjunct Denebola, the tail of the lion, traditionally associated with misfortunes from the elements. Mars rules the 8th house of death and also the third house of trips. It is in the 8th house, conjunct Algol and applying conjunction to Pluto, also in the 8th House. The Moon, standing for the common people, is at the MC conjunct Betelgeuse, another fixed star associated with disasters. Neptune, Mars, Pluto and Saturn form a stellium accupying the 8th house.
The outstanding features of this chart is the stellium in the 8th, and the multiple conjunctions with fixed stars. The relationship of Algol with the stellium was particularly ominous.

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