|
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 Hive was the only convict transport wrecked in New South Wales waters on Bherwerre Beach at Wreck Bay in the Shoalhaven area.
The Sydney Morning Herald, 14th of December 1835:
“ANOTHER SHIPWRECK.
---------
“Despatches were received at the Brigade Office, early yesterday morning, from the Governor, at Parramatta, containing intelligence that the ship Hive, Captain Luscombe, from Ireland, with male convicts, was on the coast near Jervis’ Bay. Orders were immediately given to despatch H.M. brig Zebra, and the Revenue Cutter to the assistance of the unfortunate people on board. In the course of the afternoon yesterday, the Tamar steam-packet was sent on the same errand, on board of which were Colonel Snodgrass, Captain Nicholson , a Commisariat [sic] Officer, Captain Clunie, and a detachment of the 17th Regiment. The accident, it is said, happened on the night of Thursday last, when an officer of the guard went overland to Wolongong [Wollongong], and informed the Police Magistrate of the circumstances, when a policeman was immediately despatched with particulars to headquarters. It is reported there was L40,000 in specie for the Commissariat on board the Hive. No other particulars have, as yet, reached Sydney.
“Since writing the above, we are informed that John Lamb Esq. [Parliamentary Career] and Alexander Berry, Esq. [Parliamentary Career], who have estates near the wreck of the Hive, sent up expresses to Sydney relative to the catastrophe, from which it appears that the vessel had lost all her boats, and that the prisoners were being landed in Mr. Berry’s schooner; it is not stated that any lives have been lost.”
The Australian, 15th of December 1835:
:Shipwreck of the Hive.
-------
“By the Tamar, which left the above vessel on Wednesday, we hear that there is every reason to expect that she will be ultimately got off and saved, though at present apparently fast imbedded in sand; all the particulars we have been able to glean are as follows : - The Hive left Dublin with 250 male prisoners, and L40.000 in gold and silver for this Colony, on the 24th August, with Lieut. Lugard, H.M. 21st Regt, H. Lugard, Esq. Engineer, Ensign Kelly, 17th Regt., and 29 rank and file of the 28th, 8 women, and 11 children. On Thursday week last, the Hive was off the coast, blowing fresh, and a thick fog; by some mistake or other, of which there are several versions given, she ran on the shore near the Pigeon-house, ten miles from Cape George; the passengers and prisoners, soon after she struck, engaged to get safely on shore by means of a hawser, without any accident, except the loss of one of the boats; some of the party made their way to the neighbouring farm of Mr. Lamb, who sent express to the Police Magistrate at Wollongong; Mr. Berry, whose farm was also close at hand, despatched his schooner to their assistance, though they fortunately had no need of it, the weather having continued favourable; the next night one of the boys fell overboard, and the boatswain, in jumping over after him, unfortunately was drowned - this is the only life lost. The Revenue Cutter went down with the Tamar to her aid, and took out the specie, which was transhipped into the Zebra which arrived soon after; several of the prisoners and some of the soldiers have come up in the Tamar; the others will remain there to assist in getting her off the beach; the mails, and indeed every thing else were saved. It is providential that she went to shore at that particular spot - if, at almost any other neighbouring point, she would probably gone to pieces with the loss of every life.
“Great credit is due to J.T. Wilson, for the handsome way in which he despatched the Tamar to the assistance of the Hive, without waiting to make a bargain, as was done by the Sophia Jane; this later required payment of L100 per day !”
A leader on the Hive was published in the Sydney Morning Herald, 17th December 1835:
“THE ‘HIVE.’
 “The report which reached Sydney on Sunday last, of the Hive, convict ship, being on the Coast, having on board upwards of 300 souls, was the means of producing much excitement in Sydney for the last four days, indeed so much anxiety was felt by the inhabitants for the fate of the vessel and those on board, (expecting an addition to the late melancholy shipwrecks near our shores) that as soon as the Tamar steam-packet, was signalled yesterday, great numbers of Townspeople were observed flocking to the Dock-yard and other places where information might be obtained relative to the accident. The following particulars have been derived from authentic sources, principally from a gentleman passenger in the vessel.
“The ship Hive, Captain Nutting, (not Luscombe), left Portsmouth, for Dublin and Cork, on the 3d of August, with L10,000 in specie for the Commissariat Department of Sydney. She took prisoners at Dublin, and completed her complement at Cork, from which port she sailed on the morning of the 24th of August, having on board John Donohoe, Esq., Surgeon, R.N., Lieutenant Lugard, 31st Regiment, Ensign Kelly, 17th Regiment, Henry Lugard, Esq., of the Royal Engineers, 29 rank and file of the 28th Regiment, 8 women, 11 children, and 250 male prisoners. The vessel touched nowhere on the passage, and nothing occurred of any consequence, except the death of one of the prisoners, up to the night of Thursday the 10th instant.
“During the whole of Thursday, the Hive, it appears, kept within sight of land, and it is said, passed the Royal Sovereign; in the night it blew fresh, and a dense fog came on. Our informants here leave us in the dark, as well as the ship, and we next hear of the vessel being stranded on the coast near the Pigeon House, within 10 miles of Cape George. - All hands were immediately called up, and the boats lowered, one of which was stove in the attempt, and the persons capsized, - one of whom reached the land, by whose exertions a hawser from the ship was made fast ashore. This enabled the Captain and crew to lower the rest of the ship’s boats, lines being made fast stem and stern, where as soon as one boat was filled with persons on board, those on shore dragged to boat towards them, and they were landed. By this means the whole of the men, women, and children were discharged from the ship, which was done with out the least confusion. On the morning of Friday, Ensign Kelly, of the 17th Regiment, by the assistance of some blacks, found his way to the station of John Lamb, Esq., to whom he reported the circumstance. From this place Ensign Kelly travelled to the estate of Alexander Berry, Esq., a few miles further on, and from whence a messenger was despatched to Wolongong [Wollonong]; the Police Magistrate there being requested to forward the account of the accident with all despatch to head quarters. The people belonging to the ship were, during this time, engaged in getting the luggage and store from the ship, and the prisoners ashore forming bowers for resting places at night. Mr. Berry, in the most prompt manner, as soon as heard of this  circumstance, sent his schooner to the Hive well manned, but her assistance was not required - the weather being fine and the vessel close in upon the land. One accident happened during the night, the boatswain in attempting to save the life of a lad belonging to the ship, was unfortunately drowned, the boy being washed ashore by the surf. On Sunday the Revenue Cutter started for the Hive, and took charge of the specie, all of which was saved. Shortly after the Revenue Cutter, the Zebra, brig of war, and the steam packet Tamar, reached Jervis Bay; and, as soon as practicable, Dr. Donoghoe, Surgeon Superintendent of the Hive, Mr. Lugard, of the Royal Engineers, part of the guard, and 100 of the prisoners, were forwarded in the steamer to Sydney. The Zebra also to charge of the specie, all the mails, and 100 prisoners, the rest being ordered to remain near the ship to render assistance in getting her off the beach, if possible. The Zebra is expected in port to-day, with the mails, &c. Several gentlemen who have been to the Hive, state that she has not the appearance of being damaged in any way - and that every thing on board has been preserved; the only difficulty remaining is the hauling of the vessel off the shore - in which she is unfortunately embedded in the sand. Ensign Kelly, chief officer, part of the crew, and the guard, are mentioned in terms of commendation for their praiseworthy exertions after the vessel grounded. We have now given every particular that we could give on this ‘mistake,’ as it is called, waiting the explanation of Captain Nutting when he reaches Sydney. It was a most providential circumstance that the vessel did no go ashore a few miles higher up the Coast, or but few would have been left to tell the tale.”
Sydney Morning Herald, 21st of December 1835:
“SHIP NEWS.
“His Majesty’s brig Zebra, from Jervis Bay, has brought up another lot of prisoners from the Hive, and part of the guard. The rest of the prisoners were detained to assist in the attempt to get the unfortunate vessel afloat, which appears almost improbable, for when the Zebra sailed she had sunk about nine feet in the sand. The south-east gales which blew on Thursday and Friday night last, it is conjectured; would make the Hive a complete wreck; such, we hope, will not be the case.”
The Australian, 22nd of December 1835:
“Form Jervis Bay, same day [Friday 18th]; having sailed from thence on Thursday last, H.M. brig Zebra, Capt. M’Crear with 94 male prisoners from the wreck of the Hive, and 10 soldiers of the 28th regiment.”
Sydney Morning Herald, 4th of January 1836:
“THE SHIP HIVE. - It is known to the readers of the Herald that L10,000 in cash has been saved from the ship Hive. This sum of  money will now circulate, and be the means of adding to the physical enjoyment of the colonists......”
Sydney Morning Herald, 25th of January 1836:
“THE BLACKBIRD - We regret to hear of a serious accident to the Blackbird schooner, belonging to our industrious townsman, Mr. W.H. Chapman [ aslo an Auctioneer, owner of Yarranbandinni Station]], of which the following are the particulars. On Monday, the 11th instant, the schooner started for the wreck of the Hive, for the purpose of saving the stores and other articles left ashore: Captain Nutting, Mr. Chapman, Mr. Osmond, and about twelve men going in the vessel. The wind blew strong from the southward, and the Blackbird did not reach Jervis Bay until the 15th, when an anchor was let go in about ten fathoms of water, within about two miles of the beach, upon which lay the wreck of the Hive. The weather was remarkably fine at this time with very little surf, and the whaleboats were hoisted out for business. The boats continued to work to and from the shore with the principal part of the provisions and other stores, and made twenty-two trips during the day. The little vessel was getting fast loaded, and everything seemed to be proceeding prosperously, when the men came on board for the night. At about nine P.M. a sudden gust of wind from the southward came on, which terminated in a violent gale. The schooner commenced drifting, and an attempt was made, without the slightest success, to get the vessel under weigh; but she continuing to drive in upon the beach, another anchor was let go which held for about half an hour, when the first cable went, and was followed almost instantaneously by the second, taking along with it the windlass. At this time the night was extremely dark, the wind blew a hurricane, attended with rain, thunder, and lightning, and the sea was amking a complete breach over the schooner - all on board expecting nothing else than death, for it was so dark, that the situation of the shore could not be strictly defined. The vessel appeared to be getting into broken water, shipped several heavy seas; the whale boat which was made fast to the vessel, also broke adrift. To save the lives of those on board, it was found necessary to throw overboard very portable article, the sails were furled, the fore-top-gallant yard and main-top-mast struck, and the yards pointed to the wind. The appearance of the gale abating, it was thought advisable, as a last hope, to make as much sail as possible, and run her ashore, which was done. The vessel, after striking several times on the sand, and the surf making clean breeches over the schooner, (all on board expecting to be swept away) at half-past two, the whole of the cargo was thrown overboard, and the Blackbird fortunately carried up high on the beach, out of danger. At daylight the vessel was dismantled, and Mr. Chapman and Captain Nutting returned to Sydney by land, leaving the Captain of the schooner and the other persons in charge.”
See Also
|
