The Sydney Gazette 20 July 1816
THE WEATHER
On
Friday evening returned to
Port the schooner John Palmer, Mr. Reibey master. She
sailed hence the 5th instant for Port Dalrymple,
with a number of passengers, among whom were nine children;
but meeting with baffling winds, was not able to prosecute
her voyage, and was at length obliged by heavy westerly
winds to adopt an easterly instead of a southern course. The
wind at length going round to the southward with severe
squalls and heavy gales, she bore up for Newcastle, and was
fortunate in making that settlement, where the numerous
passengers were received by the Commandant with the kindness
which has peculiarly marked the early stages of that
Officer’s authority and which had been previously the case
with that of this worthy predecessor.
During the vessel’s stay of
five days intelligence reached the settlement of the Lady
Nelson’s being driven into Port Stevens by the
tempestuous gales, on her attempted passage from Newcastle
hither.
The schooner Edwin,
Mr. Mathews master, had been wrecked somewhere about Cape
Hawke between 70 and 80 miles north of Port Stevens owing to
the loss of all her sails whereby she drifted into a violent
surf, and was thrown on shore. Mr Mathews, with his wife and
child, and crew of two men, had been blown off on a passage
for lime to Broken Bay, and as soon as the wreck of the
vessel was descried by the natives, they immediately flocked
to the beach, robbed the wreck of all provisions and
plundered the unfortunate sufferers of their cloths, leaving
them in perfect nudity to make their way through a trackless
if not impenetrable scrub, for upwards of 100 miles, or
otherwise much lengthen the journey by keeping the sea
coast; which latter was adopted, not only from its being the
easiest route made out, but from the possibility of
affording oysters or other small shell fish for their
subsistence. Living partly upon grass, and partly upon
shellfish, they travelled 15 days and were then 15 miles
distant from Newcastle. They could travel only in the
daytime, and by night bury themselves in sand and heather,
in some measure to mitigate the rigors of a total exposure
to the severity of the season. When within about 15 miles of
the settlement the unfortunate woman was exhausted, and the
men were scarcely able to proceed further. The prospect of
relief was with in the compass of a few miles, and hope at
once encouraged exertion and sweetened resignation. At this
severe crisis night approached, the poor woman could not
travel further and the men could scarcely crawl; time was
precious, and a prompt decision requisite; It was therefore
instantly determined that the female sufferer should remain
with her infant of 7 or 8 months old in the place where she
was, until relief could be sent out to her; and, after a
painful exertion having reached Newcastle, the worthy
commandant dispatched a party instantaneously in quest of
Mrs. Mathews and her child but the party, in the dead of
night, unhappily passed by them, and travelled to so
considerable a distance beyond the spot of their distress,
as at length totally to give them up for lost, till guided
by an all merciful providence, they found them on their
return, and being provided with necessaries for their
comfort, conveyed them in among the greetings of the many
who had sympathized in their distresses, and rejoiced that
their lives had been preserved.
From the late master of the
Edwin, Mr. Reibey obtained information of the
supposed loss of the Jane a lime boat belonging to J.
Mills, of Cockle Bay, who was master; having parted company
with her off Cape Hawke, and not since heard of. We regret
to state that the account of the Hawkesbury Packet,
belonging to Mr. Solomon Wiseman, having gone ashore at Port
Stevens, is confirmed, the master being on board the Lady
Nelson. The apparel of the vessel was taken into
Newcastle by the directions of the Commandant who dispatched
a party of natives for that purpose.
Sydney Gazette 20 July 1816
