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PS Comet
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==''Comet II''== Bell built another vessel, ''Comet II'', but on 21 October 1825 she collided with the steamer ''Ayr'' off Kempock Point, [[Gourock]], Scotland.<ref name=PrecipitatedEternity /> {{Quotation|The ''Ayr'', we learn, had a light out upon her bow, but the ''Comet'' had none. As the night, however, was clear, it is obvious that a bad look out had been kept up, and most reprehensible neglect shown on both sides. At the moment the accident took place, those on the deck of the ''Comet'' were, it is said, engaged in dancing. The passengers who were below were in high spirits, amusing themselves telling and listening to diverting tales. The first stroke hit about the paddle of the ''Comet''. The Captain and passengers immediately ran upon deck to see what was wrong; when β the next fatal stroke took place with such force, that the ''Comet'' filled, and in two minutes went down head foremost. The moment this look place, the ''Ayr'', instead of lending any assistance, gave her paddles a back stroke, turned round, and went off to Greenock, leaving them to their fate.|''The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser'', 25 Mar 1826, p3}} ''Comet II'' sank very quickly, killing 62 of the estimated 80 passengers on board,<ref name=PrecipitatedEternity /> including the son-in-law of [[John Anderson (carpenter)|John Anderson]], a friend of [[Robert Burns]]. Also drowned were recently married Captain Wemyss Erskine Sutherland of the 33rd Regiment and Sarah nΓ©e Duff of Muirtown.<ref name=PrecipitatedEternity /><ref>National Library of Scotland MS 9854 ff 177-180</ref> After the loss of his second ship, Bell abandoned his work on steam navigation.<ref name=PrecipitatedEternity />
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