Index  Return to Colonial Events 1836

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.