The London
Dispatch and People's Political and Social Reformer, London.
27 August 1837
(Excerpt)
The Loss
of the Stirling Castle -
Mr. John
Baxter, the second officer of the brig the Stirling Castle,
which was lost on the coral reefs in the voyage from Sydney to Singapore
appeared before the Lord Mayor in order to give a narrative of the
hardships the unfortunate crew had undergone. Mr. Frazer, who on Friday
detailed the awful adventures of the wrecked crew in White Bay, was
present, having been sent for by the Lord Mayor. The following is the
written account of Baxter, who stated himself to be the nephew of Captain
Frazer, who was speared by the savages in the bush in White Bay in the
presence of his wife.............
We left Sydney
on May 15, 1836, with a fine and steady breeze, and so it continued until
May 20, when the breeze began to freshen from the S.E., and continued so
until the 21st when at twelve o'clock, we found ourselves in lat. 25 deg.
5 min. S., and long. 155deg. 12 min E., by observation, and from 45 to 50
miles of the Eliza's reef; but at half past nine the same evening we
unfortunately struck, which we found to be through the rapid set of the
current, which was running at least five knots an hour.......
.............I
have marked those who escaped with their lives, after all our miseries,
with an S those who were speared with SP. Those who were
burned with a B, those who were drowned with a D and those
who were starved to death with SD:
The long boat's
crew consisted of twelve:
Captain Frazer
(SP), Mrs Frazer (S); Mr. Brown (B), First officer;
Mr. Baxter, Second Officer (S); Joseph Corralis, steward (S);
Robert Darge, seaman (S); Robert Hanham (SD), seaman;
Michael Doyle (D), seaman; Henry Yarlden, seaman (SP);
William Elliott, seaman (D); Michael Denny, seaman (B);
Robert Carey, boy (S).
The Pinnace's
crew consisted of:
Edward Stane,
boatswain (SP); Jacob Schofield, carpenter (SP), Jacob
Allen, cook (SD); Robert Hodge (S), seaman; John Copeland,
seaman (SD); John Frazer, boy (D); Charles Wilson, boy
(D).
"We had not
landed long before the natives began to show themselves in large bodies, I
should think about 100 strong, but finding that we were alarmed they
returned to their hiding places, and a few of them were only to be seen.
We then made signs to them for something to eat, upon which they showed
some raw kangaroo and offered it to us if we would go for it, which some
of our crew did, and we found they wanted our clothes, by taking the caps
and comforters from them in exchange for the meat. They now began to go
further in the bush and tried to entice some of us after them; but having
previously seen them so numerous, and most of them having long spears and
clubs, we thought it best to stay close together, and not follow them; but
after we had stopped with them for a few days we thought of making our
escape, which was only to be done by night when they were dancing. It was
agreed upon that we should start that night; but, however, before that
time they came upon us and stripped us of all our clothes; and one having
refused to give his up, was immediately speared in a most brutal manner.
Now, seeing their usage, and what we might hourly expect, made us the more
anxious to get away from them; we, therefore, agreed upon the following
evening, but when the time came there were only nine of us to go. We left
them about ten p.m., and ran and walked till daylight, when we were afraid
of being seen by any of the natives; so, therefore, we lay concealed until
dark, after which we again came from our hiding places. Thinking that then
natives would be in the bush, we walked down on the beach and sometimes in
the surf, so they might not trace our footsteps, not knowing they could go
by scent.
About midnight
we saw them close after us, and about seventy strong; we immediately tried
to hide, but were surprised to find a shower of spears to come from the
same direction. We were then taken, and seven of our number already
speared, four of whom they immediately put to death in the most horrid and
barbarous manner; the rest of us they marched back from whence we started,
and the following day they again speared the captain, this now making the
third time. The first time was for the chronometer, the second when we
were retaken and the third for not fetching them large wood when they
wanted it.
We were now
only six in number, and all separated with different tribes. Mr. Brown was
the next sufferer. In the morning previous he was again brought to the
tribe I was stopping with, and they were more than usually kind to him,
which he remarked to me. They having caught some fish that morning offered
him part of one, but as he had to go and fetch the wood and water for them
he said he would let his remain till he returned. I now advised him to eat
it first before he went, seeing they were displeased at his putting it
away; but, however, he would not eat it then. I now, having finished mine,
set off for the wood; and after we had returned we found two of the red
tribe with the tribe we were staying with. This being unusual, I knew not
what to think; but, however, they took the deceased by the hand, and made
signs to them to go with them for something to eat. Upon my offering to go
with them they made me return back, and about two hours afterwards they
came and took me in the same way, and by the same signs, and after going
about a mile, horrorstruck was I to find him tied to a tree hand and foot,
and a slow fire made at his feet, but much more so to see one of the men
on a stake close by, and writhing in the greatest agony, their last words
being to let their mothers know of their untimely end; but I can safely
swear that our sufferings are not to be imagined, let alone described. -
J. E. Baxter.
The Lord Mayer
asked whether Mr. Frazer was treated with cruelty by the savages.
Baxter replied
that she was compelled to carry wood and light fires for the savages, and
there appeared to be no difference in their treatment of the survivors;
but the unfortunate captives were separated from each other, and at work
for different tribes. The native took great delight in witnessing the
agony of their victims; the moment one of them would lie down to take a
little rest, they would thrust a lighted torch under him; and when the
sufferer would start up and cry out, they expressed the highest degree of
pleasure. They were fond, too, of overturning a white man into the lake,
and enjoyed his struggles in drowning.
