The wreck of the barque ‘Cataraqui‘ was to become, and still remains, Australia’s worst maritime disaster . . .
Migration to Australia was already in full swing in the early 1800’s. It is relevant to take a moment and remember that it was only in the May and June of 1835 that John Batman executed his voyage of discovery to Port Phillip – the area had not been successfully settled until he declared that “This will be the place for a village . . . ” on the 8th June 1835. His village would rapidly evolve to become the city of Melbourne – and the capital of Victoria. People flocked into Melbourne, including assisted emigrants from the United Kingdom. Under the Bounty Contract of 1843, the ‘Cataraqui’ was to carry the final quota of emigrants under this contract to Port Phillip.
Setting sail on the 20th April 1845, under the experienced leadership of Captain Christopher William Findlay, the barque ‘Cataraqui’ departed Liverpool, England with 369 assisted emigrants and between 41 to 46 crew on board.
The ‘Cataraqui’ would never arrive in Port Phillip Bay . . .
Only eight crew members and one emigrant would survive the tragedy . . .
A miscalculation of bearings and wild oceans resulted in the ship being miles off course, striking rocks on the south-western shores of King Island, Tasmania.
Outrage would follow as funds had been allocated to build lighthouses at Cape Otway (c 1848) and Cape Schanck (c 1859):
” . . . The Legislature voted a sum of money for a lighthouse on Cape Schanck in 1842. The Van Diemen’s Land Government, also, the same year voted a lighthouse on Swan Island, and another on Goose Island — the route from Port Phillip to Hobart Town. Both these latter works are nearly completed, and but for the wreck of the vessel at the Cape of Good Hope, which was bringing out the lanterns, they would now be illuminated. But nothing had been done for the Port Phillip lighthouse on Cape Schanck. Yet that place was the main route to Sydney and Launceston, and New Zealand, as well as Port Phillip — in fact the high road to the South Seas . . . “
” . . . remarked that he had been given to understand that it was the intention of the Government to adopt measures for the interment of the bodies of the sufferers, and to place over them a monument ; but the best monument the Government could erect over their unhappy remains would be a lighthouse, to afford protection for others, and should such monument be erected by the Government it should be considered rather a commemoration of neglect than anything else, and something in the following strain should be inscribed upon it:—” Erected by the Government of New South Wales to commemorate its neglect which caused the wreck of the ship ‘ Cataraqui’ upon this coast, occasioning thereby measures to be taken to meet such a calamity when too late, by George Gipps and C. J. Latrobe . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘The Chronicles of Early Melbourne – 1835 to 1851 – Vol II’ – by Garryowen – published 1888
The following extract of an article depicts the tragedy:
” . . . IT is our painful duty to lay before our readers the melancholy particulars of the total wreck of the emigrant ship Cataraqui, upon the west coast of King’s Island. We gather the particulars from the Port Phillip Herald of the 13th September, which journal acknowledges the chief mate of the vessel, Mr. Guthrie, as the author of the sad account.
” The Cataraqui, Captain C. W. Finlay, sailed from Liverpool on the 20th April, with 369 emigrants, and a crew, including two doctors, Mr. C. Carpenter, and Edward Carpenter, (two brothers,) of forty-six souls. The emigrants were principally from Bedfordshire, Staffordshire, Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire. About 120 of the passengers were married with families, and in all seventy-three children. Nothing particular occurred until about a fortnight prior to the 4th August, with the exception of the weather being boisterous, with a strong gale of wind from the north west to the south west, and incessant rain. On the night of Sunday, the 3rd of August, at seven in the evening, the ship was hove to, and continued laying to until three o’clock on the morning of the 4th. At half-past four, it being quite dark and raining hard, blowing a fearful gale, and the sea running mountains high, the ship struck on a reef situate on the west coast of King’s Island, at the entrance of Bass’ Straits. No opportunity had offered for taking an observation to enable the captain to ascertain the ship’s course for four days pr¡or to the ship striking ; and from the dead reckoning kept, it was presumed that the vessel was in 141 22 east longitude, and 39 ° 17 south, which would make her between 60 or 70 miles from King’s Island. Immediately the ship struck, she was sounded, and four feet water was in the hold. The scene of confusion and misery that ensued at this awful period, it is impossible to describe. All the passengers attempted to rush on deck, and many succeeded in doing so, until the ladders were knocked away by the workings of the vessel ; when the shrieks from men, women, and children from below were terrific, calling on the watch on deck to assist them. The crew to a man were on deck the moment the ship struck, and were instantly employed in handing up the passengers. Up to the time the vessel began breaking up it is supposed that between three and four hundred were got on deck by the extraordinary exertions of the crew. At this time the sea was breaking over the ship on the larboard side, sweeping the decks, every sea taking away more or less of the passengers. About five a.m., the ship careened right over on her larboard side, washing away boats, bulwarks, spars, a part of the cuddy, and literally swept the decks. At this critical period the captain gave orders to cut away the masts, hoping the vessel might right to enable the crew to get on deck the passengers left below. The masts were forthwith cut away and everything done that could, under the circumstances, to get the vessel upright, but it was all to no purpose. At this time the passengers below were all drowned, the ship being full of water, and the captain called out to those on deck to cling to that part of the wreck which was then above water, till daylight, hoping that the spars would be of some service in making a breakwater under her lee, and thus enable the survivors to get on shore in the morning. As the day broke we found the stern of the vessel washed in, and numerous dead bodies floating around the ship-some banging upon the rocks. Several of the passengers and crew (about two hundred altogether) were still holding on to the vessel – the sea breaking over and every wave washing some of them away. Thus those who were able continued to cling to the wreck until about four in the afternoon, when she parted amid-ships, at the fore part of the main rigging, when immediately some seventy or a hundred were launched into the tumultuous and remorseless waves ! The survivors on the deck still, however, continued to exert themselves to recover back all they could ; but many of them were dead, although but momentarily immersed. Ridge lines also were stretched along the side of the wreck, to enable them to hold on. – The remains of the upper deck now began to break up and wash away. The survivors now began to collect bits of rope, so as to construct a buoy, with the view of floating it on shore, and thus enabling one of the crew to land. This measure would have enabled them to save the lives of at least a hundred ; but notwithstanding every effort, the buoy could not be got nearer than twenty yards from the shore, owing to its getting entangled with the sea-weed on the rocks, and there was no one on shore to catch it, and secure it on the sand. The fury of the waves continuing unabated, about five o’clock the wreck parted by the forerigging, and so many souls were submerged in the wide waters, that only seventy survivors were left crowded on the forecastle ! The buoy rope was then hauled on board to rig life lines and lash the survivors, who were then clinging to the wreck. Thus the sea breaking over them, the winds raging, and the rain continuing heavy all night, the poor survivors continued clinging to the vessel’s bow. Numbers died and fell overboard, or sank and were drowned at the places where they were lashed. As day broke the following morning it discovered only about 30 left alive – the survivors mostly dead through exhaustion and banging where they were lashed. The previous evening the quarter boat (the only remaining one) was attempted to be launched, into which the boatswain and doctor (Charles Carpenter,) with four of the crew got, but she immediately capsized and all were drowned. As the morning rose the sea was making a clean breach into the forecastle, the deck of which was rapidly breaking up. About this time, whilst numbers were helplessly clinging to the bows and continually dropping off without the possibility of succour, the captain attempted to reach the shore, but was unable, and with the assistance of some of those who were able regained the wreck. The lashings of the survivors were now undone in order to give them the last chance of life. Mr. Thomas Guthrie, the chief mate, now on the sprit sail yard, was washed out to the bowsprit ; he saw the captain and second mate and steward clinging at the bows, with about 18 or 20 only left alive, amid a host of dead bodies on the fragment of the wreck. Mr. Guthrie was driven to a detached part of the wreck, but soon found it was impossible to live with such a sea breaking over, seized a piece of plank under his arm, and leaping into the water was carried over the reef, and thus got on shore. He found a passenger who had got ashore during the night, and one of the crew (Robinson) who got ashore in the morning. John Roberts, a seaman, plunged in when he saw the mate ashore, and partly swimming and partly driven reached the land. Five other seamen followed, and got ashore dreadfully exhausted. Almost immediately afterwards the vessel totally disappeared. Thus, out of four hundred and twenty-three souls on board, only nine were saved. The names of the saved are – Mr. Thomas Guthrie, chief mate ; Solomon Brown emigrant ; John Roberts, able seaman ; William Jones, ditto ; Francis Millan, ditto ; John Simpson, ditto ; John Robertson, ditto ; Peter Johnson, ditto ; William Blackstock, apprentice. They had neither food nor drink from the time of the ship striking to the Tuesday afternoon, when they found one small tin of preserved fowl; after eating which they went and laid down in the bush, having got a wet blanket out of the water for their only covering and being almost quite destitute of clothes. The beach was strewed with pieces of the wreck and portions of dead corpses in horrible profusion. After a vain search for water, and being unable to find any more survivors, they slept that night in the bush. The following morning they found a cask of water ashore, but were unable to get means to make a fire. However, about nine or ten o’clock in the forenoon, they observed a smoke, which presuming they were on the main land (according to the captain’s calculation) imagined it was a fire of the natives. However, they shortly saw a white man approaching them, who turned out to be Mr. David Howie, residing upon the island. It seems Mr. Howie and Oakley, with one black, perceived there was a wreck on the coast through seeing portions of wreck, and most humanely arranged to instantly reconnoitre the whole island, and fortunate, indeed, was it for the poor exhausted and benumbed survivors, to whom he instantly afforded fire and food, and constructed a shed against the weather. As Mr. Howie’s boat was wrecked there was no possibility of leaving the island. The party therefore constructed a hut and remained five weeks, during which time they were most hospitably provided for by Mr. Howie and his party, according to their means ; the supplies having to be carried forty miles over a most difficult road. Last Sunday (September 7th) they saw the ” Midge” beating for the island ; they immediately signalised her by a fire, and from her received every assistance. The ” Midge” took them off the island with much difficulty, by means of Mr. Howie’s whale-boat, on Tuesday last, and they arrived in Hobson’s Bay at half-past ten this day . . . ” “
Source: Excerpt – ‘Courier’ (Hobart, Tas) – Article “Dreadful Shipwreck – Wreck of the “Cataraqui,” – Emigrant Ship of 800 Tons – 414 Lives Lost” – published 20th September 1845
To view the full article – click here
In Memory of Australia’a Worst Maritime Tragedy . . .
” . . . There is another old graveyard, now almost forgotten, around which gloomier memories associate than any of the preceding. Though not within the territorial circuit of the colony of Victoria, as the catastrophe through which it was inaugurated once overwhelmed Port Phillip with a profound feeling of sorrow, it may be regarded as coming within the legitimate scope of this narrative.
On a rising ground at King’s Island, wrapt in the murmurs of the sad sea waves, and washed by the wild storm-spray, are five common graves containing the relics of three hundred and four human beings, the melancholy remnants of three hundred and ninety-nine persons who, in August 1845, perished in the wreck of the “Cataraqui,” an emigrant ship from Liverpool bound for Hobson’s Bay. The spot was enclosed and a memorial tablet erected at the expense of the New South Wales Government. Unable to say if this mournful memento was kept in a proper state of renovation ; and desirous (if possible) of ascertaining its present condition, I sought for information on the subject in various quarters ; but in vain, for no one could tell anything about it . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘The Chronicles of Early Melbourne – 1835 to 1851 – Vol II’ – by Garryowen – published 1888
Following the tragedy, the press lashed out at what it saw as the misappropriation of funds by the governance of the time resulting in the failure to erect lighthouses to safely guide shipping to and from Port Phillip:
” . . . After some discursiveness, Mr. Fawkner unfolded his indictment, containing, amongst others, the following counts :—
” That Mr. Latrobe had wasted the public money, in having expended £450 on a private road leading to the house of Mr. Lyon Campbell, a particular friend, and only a paltry £50 on the Sydney Road ; that he laid out upwards of £4000 on that miserable, abortive cut, the Beach Road, and only £50 on the Main Road of the colony ; that he withheld some £20,000 from circulation in the years 1842 and 1843, when labour was to be had for the very lowest possible price—bricks, at 7s. per 1000 ; timber, 6s. per 100 feet, and all other work in proportion. Mr. Latrobe had delayed the erection of lighthouses at Cape Schanck and King’s Island, and was consequently accessory to the loss of the hundreds drowned by the wreck of the immigrant ship, ‘Cataraqui.’ Again, does he not openly patronise a man notorious for receiving bribes ? . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘The Chronicles of Early Melbourne – 1835 to 1851 – Vol I’ – by Garryowen – published 1888
The Remains were Collected & Interred in 4 Mass Graves
” . . . The wreck was subsequently bought by a Mr. Alexander Sutherland, for a trifle, and his bargain verified the adage about an ill-wind blowing good to some one, as he made a capital thing of it ; for the brandy, wine, spars, deals, copper, and other portions of the vessel recovered were worth between £1100 and £1200. The Government agreed to pay Mr. Howie £50 for collecting all the mortal remains cast ashore, and interring them in a common sepulchre ; the Government to supply any tools required. Howie performed the contract thus — A principal grave, 18 feet long, 16 feet broad, and 12 feet deep, contained the remains of 206 persons. Grave No. 2, 16 feet by 12 feet, and 6 feet deep, held 50 bodies. No. 3, 12 feet by 8 feet, and 6 feet deep, held 20 bodies ; and No. 4, same size, 18 bodies. Lastly, a small grave was made to retain 10 bodies — in all 304 out of 399 perished. The beach was for some distance strewed with human bones, all of which were collected and buried. This group of graves occupied an elevated site within a hundred yards of where the catastrophe occurred. They were protected by a substantial fence, and could be seen from a league off at sea when the weather was clear. Here they have rested in peace, undisturbed year after year, unless by the genius of the storm to whom the place is familiar, murmuring frequent requiems over relics long since forgotten. The Government some time after caused to be erected on the spot a tablet thus inscribed :—
” M E M O R I AL
Of the total wreck of the Immigrant ship
‘CATARAQUI’
From Liverpool to Port Phillip,
C. W. FINLAY, MASTER,
On these reefs,
4th August, 1845.
” Of four hundred and eight souls on board, but nine survived —
The Chief Mate, Thomas Guthrie, seven sailors, and one emigrant, Solomon Brown. This memorial records and deplores
the loss of the Master, C. W . Finlay ; Sugeon-Superintendent, C. Carpenter; Assistant Surgeon, Edward Carpenter, and
twenty-seven officers and men of the ship’s company. Of sixty-two emigrant families, comprising three hundred and
thirteen souls of unmarried female emigrants, thirty-three ; of unmarried male emigrants, twenty-three : in all, three
hundred and ninety-nine souls. This tablet is erected at the expense of the local Government of Port Phillip. “
The Memorial Tablet, erected by the Government, is inscribed showing that there were only 408 souls on board, and that the exact number perished was 399.—ED. The monument consisted of a painted board, supported from a base by two columns of Gothic design. The inscription was done in elevated metal letters pegged into wood, and the whole was pronounced to be a specimen of neat workmanship, and creditable to Langland’s Foundry, where the symbols were prepared . . .“
Source: Excerpt – ‘The Chronicles of Early Melbourne – 1835 to 1851 – Vol II’ – by Garryowen – published 1888
The Community Rallies Together in Response to the Tragedy of the ‘Cataraqui’
The residents of Melbourne were devastated to hear of the tragedy:
” . . . Towards the middle of the same month Melbourne was astounded one morning by the terrible intelligence that the “Cataraqui” emigrant ship, from Liverpool to Port Phillip, was totally wrecked on a reef at King’s Island, when there was a frightful destruction of human life, the only survivors being the chief mate, one immigrant, and seven seamen. These arrived by a schooner in the Bay, and their heartrending narrative produced the most intense consternation. Immediate steps were taken to raise funds for their assistance, as well as to reward a sealing party stationed at the time on the island, by which the unfortunates were saved from death by starvation. Coppin, though in a certain sense commencing the world, unsolicited offered a theatrical performance in aid of the Relief Fund. This was the first occasion of the proprietor or lessee of a theatre giving a benefit for a charitable purpose in the colony, and it will be interesting after such a lapse of time to read the manifesto by which Mr. Coppin made the announcement:—
QUEEN’S THEATRE ROYAL, QUEEN STREET,
Under the immediate Patronage of His Honor the Resident Judge and His Worship the Mayor.
Upon which occasion the proceeds of the evening’s entertainment will be given in aid of the survivors from the late melancholy
SHIPWRECK OF THE EMIGRANT SHIP “CATARAQUI,”
And to reward Mr. Howie’s party for their meritorious assistance.
N.B. – The manager does not think it necessary to solicit the support of the public for this evening, feeling assured (from the well-known liberality of the Melbourne inhabitants) the above announcement will in itself-without taking into consideration the attractive entertainment — fill the theatre for the relief of the unfortunate.
On THURSDAY EVENING, I8TH SEPT., 1845,
The entertainment will commence with Sheridan Knowles’ celebrated play, entitled,
THE HUNCHBACK; OR, NO MAN’S LOVE.
To conclude with the Nautical Drama of
THE SEA ; OR, THE OCEAN CHILD.
The public cheerfully responded to the call, and the house (of course much more restricted in dimensions than our present places of entertainment) was crammed. There were 177 persons in the boxes, 453 in the pit, and 313 in the gallery. The gross proceeds amounted to £91 11s., which (less £25 11s expenses) brought £66 to the charity — a considerable help as things went then . . . “
Source: Excerpt – ‘The Chronicles of Early Melbourne – 1835 to 1851 – Vol I’ – by Garryowen – published 1888
Additional Sources: Website: ‘King Island Shipwrecks’
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