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Sydney Gazette, 22nd of May 1808:
“PIRATICAL SEIZURE
OF THE
BRIG HARRINGTON.
“On Monday morning last this vessel was missed from her anchorage in Farm Cove, which was directly in view of Captain Campbell’s house there. Between eight and nine the captain reported the extraordinary circumstance to his honour the lieutenant-governor, who issued immediate orders for a search to be made to discover whether any of the convict workmen were absent the result of which was that one [Robert] Stewart, and several others had not joined their work that morning. Upon further inquiry it next appeared, that a vessel had been seen at daylight from South Head, standing off; from which joint circumstances, no further doubt was to be entertained of her having been taken away by a body of desperadoes. A small vessel called the Halcyon [built in Tahiti by William Shelley], was manned about nine o’clock, and with ten privates of the New South Wales Corps, commanded by Serjeant Windsor, was towed out to pursue the delinquents, accompanied by a fleet of boats, filled with other parties of the military and a number of officers and inhabitants who volunteered on the occasion; but so dead was the calm that prevailed within the Heads, that it was dark before the Halcyon could make any kind of progress, and the small boats were obliged to put back; the Harrington being then out of sight for many hours. Between three and four in the afternoon, Mr. [Arnold] Fisk, chief officer of the Harrington, arrived with the hands belonging to her, in two boats, who jointly report, that about ten on Sunday night, while the vessel was riding at two anchors, the ship’s company being in bed within the steerage, Mr. Fisk was suddenly awaked in his cabin by two men at his bed-side, one of whom held a pistol at his head, and commanded him to be silent, on pain of instant death; that others had proceeded in the same manner, to the steerage unshipped the rudder, and menaced also with immediate death the first that should offer to make any alarm; and the villains appeared to be very numerous, that they cut away both anchors, and towed the vessel out; and that at about seven in the morning, when upwards of twenty miles at sea, they had ordered Mr. Fisk and the crew to go on deck, one by one, in which order they were put into two boats, and sent away from the vessel. Captain Campbell, who was owner as well as commander of the vessel, had intended to sail for the Fejees [Fiji] during the present week; and had provided all the necessaries for the voyage. The whole of Monday being employes in a pursuit that proved ineffectual, the Pegasus [a prize ship] was the next day taken up for the purpose of following the delinquents; but she had only her standing rigging up, much exertion was necessary to the emergency of the case. The government artificers and indeed every hand that could be usefully employed were immediately set to work; and with such wonderful energy was it prosecuted, that in less than twenty-four hours she was equipped, and furnished with water and provisions, several carriage guns, many stands of arms, sufficient ballast, and every thing else necessary for the expedition. On Wednesday afternoon she went out, having on board Captain Symonds, Captain Bunker with his first and second officers, Captain Graham, and Captain Campbell, Mr. Fisk, and part of the Harrington’s crew, the military detachment consisting of Serjeants Johns and Stadley, two corporals and twenty privates, of His Majesty’s New South Wales Corps. It is a fortunate circumstance that the gentlemen above mentioned are well acquainted with the navigation of these seas, which must give them a considerable advantage over the fugitives, who have neither an anchor, boat, or time-piece on board, and to procure which they must of necessity commit some new enormity, which may tend, in all probability, to their immediate capture, should the Pegasus not come up with them beforehand. It is supposed their intent is to run away for the Bay of Islands, for the purpose of attempting the seizure of the American brig Eliza, which sailed thither the 22nd of last month from hence, as they might thereby supply their wants, and at the same time make themselves master of all the specie Captain Coley took for his cargo at this port. Should this turn out to be their plan, the Pegasus will, we trust, soon fall in with them, as there is much reason to suppose that Captain Campbell will make this the first part of his pursuit.”
Sydney Gazette, 24th of July 1808.
“On Friday returned the Pegasus, after an unsuccessful cruise of nine weeks in search of the Harrington. She was last off Tongataboo [Tongatapu; Map], and returned by way of New Caledonia; having for some weeks past felt severely a scarcity of provisions, as she took on board only a sufficiency for six weeks for fifty men, and the actual number were fifty-eight, including the military detachment.”
Sydney Gazette, 20th of August 1809:
“Intelligence is received by the Lady Barlow, of the capture in the Indian seas of the snow Harrington, which was taken piratically from this port the 16th of May, 1808. The account states that she was fallen in with by the Phoenix frigate on her way to Manilla, and Stuart [Stewart] and others taken out, many remaining in custody on board the Harrington; but unfortunately the vessel going on shore on the coast of Luconia [Sarawak], the prisoners once more effected an escape.”
Sydney Gazette, 27th of August 1809:
“EXTRACT
FROM
A CALCUTTA NEWSPAPER.
“A young man of the name of Stuart [Stewart], a convict from New South Wales, has been brought on shore from the Phaeton frigate, and lodged in jail, by an order from government. It appears that this young man had been convicted of an offence in England, for which he was transported to New South Wales, from whence, in concert with several other convicts, he carried off in May last the brig Harrington, and made the best of his way to Manilla [Manila]. On the passage thither, when off the coast of Luconia [Sarawk], the Dedaigneuse frigate fell in with the brig Harrington and sent a party of seamen on board to take possession, and transhipping the party above named to the frigate, brought him to Prince of Wales Island [Penang Island], where he was transferred to the Phaeton, in which frigate he was brought on to this port.”
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