Sydney Gazette
6 July 1816
The
late tempestuous
weather has proved fatal to several of our small craft on various parts of the
coast.
The Recovery,
Peter Hibbs, owner, on her passage from Hawkesbury with
grain about a month since, was blown out to sea, and at
length wrecked near Port Stephens. The crew, two men
accompanied by a woman, walked in to Newcastle, a distance
of about fifty miles, keeping by the seacoast. On their
distressing journey they unfortunately encountered a horde
of natives, who stripped them of their clothing, and left
them to the rigours of an inclement season. Their distresses
were humanely relieved by the commandant of Newcastle; and
obtaining a passage for Sydney in another small vessel, the
sloop Windsor, of about twenty two tons burthen, belonging
to Henry Major, were again cast away, this vessel having
been unfortunately wrecked upon the Long Reef, from whence
they
walked in. The latter vessel
had left Hawkesbury for Sydney several weeks before; but
being blown out to sea, had the good fortune to reach
Newcastle and after refreshing sailed again – never to
arrive at her intended port.
John Goold, accompanied by
another man, were at the commencement of the boisterous
weather blown out to sea in an open boat, part of the wreck
of which is reported to have been since seen on the coast;
neither of the men heard of
A man of the name of Holt
left the Heads about ten days since for Hawkesbury, and is
supposed also to have blown off, owing to the force of the
current accompanying a heavy fresh, having prevented his
entering the River.
The Hawkesbury Packet
belonging to Mr. Solomon Wiseman of Sydney and commanded by
Mr. Edward Watson, was driven considerably to the northward,
and was obliged to take shelter in Port Stevens, where she
anchored the 20th ult. When her provisions being
nearly expended, without a prospect of soon getting out
again, or any chance of a supply two of the crew, George
Yates and Nicholas Thompson, tendered themselves to walk in
to the settlement of Newcastle to procure a supply for the
vessel, in which Mr. Watson and two other men remained.
Taking with them a small proportion of the slender stock of
provisions that remained, they set out in the morning under
the guidance of a native, in whose friendly disposition they
thought they might confide; but he treacherously conducted
them to wards an encampment of his tribe by whom the
unfortunate men were immediately seized and stripped naked,
plundered of their food, and compelled without a guide to
resume their journey, in the best manner they were able at a
most inclement season, which was rendered excessive by
incessant torrents of rain. Having travelled some distance
towards the seacoast, Thompson sunk beneath the weight of
cold, fatigue and famine; was seized with a violent
shivering and could proceed no further. In that deplorable
condition his eyes were closed in death; and his companion
reduced to nearly an equally feeble and perishing condition
unable to stand erect, crawled three miles through a bush
and reaching the seaside after dark was taken up by some
people belonging to a lime boat, and conveyed to Newcastle
where his distresses were amply relieved by the Commandant,
who also ordered an immediate rescue.
