Wreck of the Governor King

Sydney Gazette 11 May 1806

ON WEDNESDAY – accounts were received from Hunter’s River, stating the total loss of the fine colonial schooner Governor King, of which we last week made mention. The person who brought in the first accounts of her loss came away very shortly after she struck, in order to obtain timely assistance from the owners, if any service could be rendered; but in the course of a few hours from the time he left her she went to pieces, and by the next morning fragments of the wreck were scattered along the shore for several miles. Great part of her freight of pork has been saved, but little else, except about two ton out of 12 ton of iron taken in at Dusky Bay in lieu of ballast picked up from the wreck of the Endeavour.

Sydney Gazette 18 May 1806

THE CONTEST came in from King’s Town on Wednesday, with such fragments as were saved from the cargo of the Governor King. One of the owners who went down purposely to render assistance to the wreck came up in her, and expresses the most lively sense of obligation to the Gentleman in Command at the settlement for the very liberal assistance he was pleased to afford on the distressing occasion; an instance highly worthy to be ranked among the many that have afforded to His Majesty’s Officers commanding these settlements a melancholy occasion of testifying the concern of the British Government in the welfare of the subject and the alacrity and prompt attention of its officers to the duties of humanity.