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The following report is taken from The Sydney Morning Herald, of the 10th of April, 1852.
“We mentioned in our Shipping News yesterday, that the ship Nelson had been robbed of 8000 ounces of gold. We have since ascertained the following particulars : - The Nelson, Captain Wright (formerly of the Trafalgar,) loaded with wool, &c., at Geelong, and took on board 8,000 ounces of gold; she then proceeded to Hobson’s Bay to take gold from Melbourne, and procure a crew. On the morning of Friday, the 2nd instant, about 2 o’clock, a number of armed men, said to be twenty, some of them being dressed as women, proceeded on board, overpowered the crew and officers, wounding the chief mate, and took away 23 boxes of gold, worth nearly L30,000, with which they got clear off. The Captain was ashore at the time. From the readiness with which they went to the place where the gold was stowed, it was evident that some of the parties engaged in loading the vessel must have given some information, and we hear that one of the lumpers’ boys at Geelong had been apprehended. A boat containing arms had also been found on the beach, so that the detection and conviction of some of the gang appears pretty certain. The gold is said to be insured in London Insurance Offices. The following is from the Geelong Advertiser, of the 3rd instant : -
“ ‘The information has been officially conveyed from Melbourne to Geelong, and police are keeping a sharp look-out for the perpetrators of this audacious robbery. It is to be hoped that they will soon be able to give a good account of them, for their escape with impunity would sink Port Phillip to a lower level than San Fransisco, and create an uneasiness not felt on the roads leading from Mount Alexander. It is as well, however, that the act has been committed in harbour, as it will doubtless lead to the adoption of more precautionary measures, and thus prevent future attempts of this kind. The whole of the gold stolen belonged to Geelong shippers, but the loss will fall on the English Insurance Companies.’ “
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