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These contemporary reports describe the wreck of the Rover at Broulee, on the South Coast of New South Wales, in 1841.
Sydney Morning Herald, 25th of October 1841:
“WRECK OF THE ‘ROVER.’
 “BROULEE, OCTOBER 17. - At a little before sunset on the evening of the 13th instant, during a  most furious hurricane a schooner deeply laden, was perceived by the inhabitants of Broulee standing into the harbour apparently for shelter, and in short time came to anchor, and great fears were entertained for he safety during the night, as there is very poor shelter from the southerly winds here, and in the morning of the 14th, at daylight, it was discovered to be the schooner Rover [Illustration], from Sydney to Port Phillip. She had driven from her anchorage on to the beach, and was fast becoming a wreck amidst a terrible surf, the storm having rather increased than abated during the night, the sea running exceedingly high, and the wind from S.S.W. blowing a hurricane, no possible assistance could be rendered from the shore, and by about eight o’clock, a.m., all the people had been driven from her and it was ascertained that of 13 persons who had been on board only 11 were saved. The accompanying list will shew the number and description of the crew and passengers. The crew consisted of the captain, the mate, and six sailors; the passengers were 11 prisoners of the crown, under a military escort, consisting of one sergeant, two privates, and a drummer of the 28th regiment. Her cargo consisted principally of coal. Persons saved: Sergeant John Logan, one private, and a drummer named Michael Hannahan, of the 28th regiment; three seamen, named Thomas Stephenson, Allan Miller, and William Coyle; five prisoners named John Wallace, Charles Jones, John Maher, James Curly, and William Callaghan. Persons drowned: Captain Nathaniel Florence, native of England; mate William Nelson, Norway; - seamen, William Findlay, Glasgow; Charles Wheatley, Cork; and William Middleton, Dublin; - private, 28th regiment; Duncan Chisholm. Orisoners of the crown; - Pater Mayo, John Lolly, Archibald Pitman, William Newland, and John Darby. Up to the present time (16th October) no more than two of the bodies have been found (the captain and a prisoner.) We are informed that the Rover was insured in the Union Assurance for L1,500.
“FURTHER PARTICULARS. - Copy of received by Mr. Dawson, from Capt. Stevenson relative to the loss of the ship Rover, 120 tons, belonging to Messrs. John Lord and Co. and Edye Manning: - ‘Broulee, Oct. 11, 1841. - Sir, - I am sorry to inform you of the loss of the schooner Rover, in Broulee Bay, and twelve of the people that perished. Sunday, October 9th and 10th. I saw the schooner Rover off Broulee, in company with a brig and schooner, on Wednesday morning, off Twofold Bay - blowing strong from S.E.; at daylight bore up for Broulee - at six in the evening run into Broulee Bay, and brought up with a small bower [type of anchor], the sea was running very high, breaking occasionally - parted from the small harbour, let .... .... .... ..... [illegible] that the remainder of the small bower to the kidge [kedge anchor] and let go under foot. The wind about S.S.E. - the bay drawing the wind more southerly - the sea running in the bay E.N.E., which caused the ship to lay in the trough of the sea - at two in the morning shipped a heavy sea, which hove the boat out of the chocks, shifted the cargo - the ship almost on beam ends; - trimmed the ship again at  daylight - drove ashore on the N.W. part of the bay, on a sandy beach - water low. I slept little or none all night - at daylight now that the ship was on shore, I called the inhabitants and went to the wreck - found one man ashore - the people hanging by the wreck - a heavy sea breaking over her. Great praise is due to Mr. Macauley (the innkeeper) [The hotel was called the Erin-Go-Bragh; Ireland Forever] and several others, as well as the black fellows, for their exertions in saving the few lives that were saved. I am not able to give you their names; - but if I had had a boat I could have saved the ship as well as the lives; but Capt. Oldrey’s was at Bateman’s Bay. The masts are all gone - bowsprit swept clear fore and aft, and as the shell has has been turned over several times every thing is out of her. If the weather keeps good the hull might be got off as it remains partly whole, but as it is very much shaken, the question is whether it is worth the trouble; but if you send directions to me I shall do everything in my power for you. Had there been a harbour-master the vessel would not have been lost. There is not a roadstead between Sydney and Corner Inlet, nor a place where a vessel can ride at anchor. I am your obedient servant, JOHN STEVENSON. - To Mr. R. Dawson.’”
The Sydney Gazette of the following day, 26th October 1841, published the following letter from a survivor of the wreck:
“Sir,
“Being unfortunately one of the sufferers on board the schooner Rover, I hasten to send you a true account of the wreck of that vessel, as there are different statements sent to other places in Sydney which I am confident are not quite correct. The schooner left Sydney on Friday, the 8th instant, with a N.E. wind bound for Port Phillip, having on board 23 persons - 8 seamen (including the Captain), 1 serjeant and 3 privates of the 28th Regt. escorting 11 prisoners of the Crown; her cargo consisting principally of coal. When leaving Sydney Heads the wind shifted to S.; the vessel stood out to sea till 12 that night. Saturday, 9th, between the Sydney Light house and Botany. About 11 A.M., the wind N.E., which continued till 2 o’clock P.M. on Sunday the 10th, when it shifted again S.; the vessel was then between Bateman’s Bay and Broulee. When off Broulee saw the schooner Falcon, the cutter Trial, and the cutter Elizabeth. From continuance of the southerly light wind, made very little headway till Monday night, the 11th. About 8 P.M., light five knot breeze from E. till 12 P.M., which increased to half a gale, and continued till Tuesday, 12th, at about 12 A.M., when it changed to S., when being close to land; made the land between 5 and 6 o’clock A.M. Wednesday, the 13th, the weather very hazy, a terrible sea running, and the wind increasing, compelled to ware ship and run her before it, the vessel being near Twofold Bay, but impossible to make it. Continued running before it till 6 P.M., when the schooner was abreast of Broulee. Stood into the bay for shelter, it blowing a hurricane at the time. On the N.W. side of the bay let go anchor, when the chain cable broke, by which the vessel was in great danger of drifting on to the rocks, which she would have done had we not cut away the best bower anchor with no delay, which brought her up. Immediately furled the sails and got a small kedge anchor out to assist in holding her, being in such danger, the violence and fury of the wind and water rising, she continued to ride with out any particular damage till 2 A.M. of the 14th, when she shipped a very heavy sea over her larboard quarter which swept away the boats which were lashed on deck, and her cargo was also shifted by the shock to the starboard side, and the schooner lay on her beam end about half an hour. As soon as a light could be procured the 11 prisoners and 1 sailor commenced getting her on an even keel. The captain, mate, and half the sailors (except one who was sick in his berth, and the one that was at work with us in the hold) were busily employed on deck in consequence of the danger. About 4 A.M. she dragged her anchor, one of the seamen calling out that the vessel was going down, when she struck, and every one strove to be first on deck. She continued rolling from one side to the other on the beach, and no one could leave her to try for the shore till 6 A.M. by which time they were all in such an exhausted state that they were dropping one after another into the water, and out of 23 only 11 lives were saved, some of them being washed lifeless away from her, and such an awful sight is easier imagined than described. As the men dropped from her their only chance was to get washed in by the surf within reach of the blacks, who were doing their utmost to save as many as possible, for which they merit great praise, and also the inhabitants of Broulee for their humane treatment. The following is the number of lives lost and saved, viz. - The persons saved were 3 sailors, 3 soldiers, and 5 prisoners - total saved, 11. Lives lost the captain, the mate, 3 sailors, 1 soldier, and 6 prisoners - total lives lost, 12. The only bodies that were found were that of the captain and 1 prisoner who were buried near the beach on Friday the 15th. Up to the present time the only part of the cargo that has come on shore is a few bags of flour and 1 chest of tea spoilt by the salt water.
“I am Sir,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN CALLAGAN.”
The following advertisement was placed by the owners in the Sydney Gazette of the 6th November 1841:
“SCHOONER ROVER.
--------
“TENDERS for the purchase of this Vessel with Masts, yards, Sails, Anchors, Chains, &c., as she now lies stranded in Broulee Bay, will be received at our office until MONDAY next, the 8th instant, at 12 o’clock.
“An approved Bill at 3 months, will be expected in payment, every information will be given to intending purchasers on application to us
JOHN LORD, & Co.
Commercial Wharf.
4th Nov. 1841.”
 There is only one marked grave in the area, and this is on Broulee Island, and not related to the wreck:
The Lone Grave of Elizabeth Maleber
What was Broulee and the surrounding area like in 1841 ? Read a contemporary description here.
See Also
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