FATAL BLOW: At about 02:00 on Thursday, 26 February 1852, a violent shock was felt. There was a tremendous crash and the ship shuddered - it had struck the peak of an unknown rock about 1 or 2 miles off Danger Point. This rock is less than 4 metres below the surface and is difficult to see. Had the sea been even a little rougher the rock's wave swirls would have been seen by the lookouts and, at that slow speed, an evasive turn would in all probability have saved the ship. The impact tore open the bottom of the Birkenhead and the brittle iron easily gave way. In an instant the lower deck flooded and many soldiers in the crowded forward decks were immediately drowned. Few are thought to have escaped from that part of the ship. The crew quartered in the top forecastle deck survived this stage of the disaster. [BACKGROUND] [HER LAST VOYAGE] [FATAL BLOW] [HUMAN ERROR] [PROCEDURE] [WOMEN & CHILDREN] [ORDER & DISCIPLINE] [SHARK ATTACK] [RESCUE]