Lot Essay
The North Atlantic steamer Ludwig was originally named Hansa and was ordered by North German Lloyd for their Bremen to New York sevice. Built by Caird's at Greenock and launched on 23rd April 1861, she was registered at 2,992 tons and measured 328 feet in length with a 42 foot beam. With accommodation for 75 First, 105 Second and 480 Third Class passengers, she could make 11 knots at full steam and proved a reliable vessel throughout seventeen years of service for her German owners. Sold to the British-owned Adamson & Ronaldson Line in 1879, she retained her name during her four years with them until resold to the White Cross Line in 1883. Her new Belgian owners renamed her Ludwig and, after refurbishment, put her onto their secondary Antwerp to Montreal route. Clearing Antwerp on 2 July 1883 with between seventy and eighty persons aboard, she disappeared without a trace during her maiden passage under White Cross colours and was never heard of again.