|
You can also help us to provide you with more resources by making a payment, just click on the PayPal™ button on the left.
The following report was transcribed from The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, 25th March 1846 :
“WRECK OF THE ‘PRINCE GEORGE.’ - The Prince George, late revenue cutter, having been laid on as a packet in the Hobart Town trade, sailed hence on Thursday last. She had occasion to put into Wollongong, and there it appears she became a total wreck, but fortunately no lives were lost. The whole of Captain Miller’s property, money, cargo, and wearing apparel, was lost. Some portion of the cargo, belonging to other parties, however, was saved, also the mails, which by great exertion on the part of Captain Miller, were saved, and forwarded from the Wollongong post office to the general office in Sydney, and arrived on Saturday morning. The following is an extract from a letter from Captain Miller to his agents in Sydney : - ‘To Messrs. Sheppard and Alger, Sydney. - Dear Sirs - I regret it should be my fate so soon after leaving Sydney, to announce the disastrous event of the Prince George being totally wrecked in the harbour or bay here. All I had on board of my own, money, cargo, and wearing apparel, are lost; but, God be praised, no lives. The Almighty spared us, though we had a narrow escape. I am also happy to inform you that Mr. Thorne’s lead is safe, and can be got at at low water with ease. I have also succeeded in saving the mails, which I have delivered over to Mr. Palmer, the postmaster here. I had also the gratification to save a considerable sum in specie, belonging to Mr. Leathes, my passenger. I am writing you this in a great hurry to save post, and cannot therefore state further particulars, being also worn out with fatigue. I remain, dear sirs, yours truly, J. C. MILLER. Wollongong, March 30, 1846.’ The vessel was not insured. Some further particulars as to her loss may come to hand in course of to-day by coasters arriving from Wollongong; but the above is all that is at present known in Sydney of the unfortunate matter. - Herald, March 23.”
The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser, 28th March 1846 :
“THE ‘PRINCE GEORGE.’ - The crew of this vessel arrived last night from Wollongong by the steamer Kangaroo, by which we were furnished with particulars of her loss. She was carried by the sea broadside on to the ledge of rocks at the west side of the pier, where she shortly broke up. Luckily she canted over toward the land, which enabled the crew and passengers to land on the rocks by means of the mast, but not without great difficulty. When the Kangaroo left yesterday, scarce a vestige of the wreck was to be seen, and she has therefore become a total loss to the owners. The crew merely saved what clothes they had on when she struck. - Herald, March 24.”
Colonial Times (Hobart), 10th April 1846 :
“WRECK OF THE ‘PRINCE GEORGE.’ - Subjoined will be found some account of the wreck of the Prince George, bound for this Port from Sydney. The Waterlily, which arrived here yesterday morning from Sydney, picked up the mail of the Prince George; and, with the exception of some trifling damage to the newspapers and letters, the packets have arrived safely, and in good condition : - The ‘Prince George.’ - The crew of the vessel arrived here last night from Wollongong by the steamer Kangaroo, by whom we were furnished with particulars of her loss. Application had been made in Sydney to insure the Prince George, but it having been ascertained that her best anchor and several of the sails had been left in Wollongong, the insurance was not effected. This induced Captain Miller to touch there for the purpose of getting them on board, intending to insure upon his arrival in Hobart Town. After leaving the Heads they had a strong breeze from the north-east, and were abreast of Wollongong about half-past nine on the night of Thursday last. A heavy swell was setting on the land, but the owner, Mr. Macpherson, trusting to his knowledge of the harbour, determined to run into the basin; but shortly after getting into the bight, the wind suddenly lulled, and notwithstanding all possible exertions the vessel was carried by the sea broadside on to the ledge of rocks at the west side of the pier, where she shortly broke up. Luckily she canted over towards the land, which enabled the crew and passengers to land on the rocks by means of the mast, but not without great difficulty. When the Kangaroo left yesterday, scarce a vestige of the wreck was to be seen. The crew merely saved what clothes they had on when she struck. - Sydney Morning Herald, March 24.”
See Also
|
