Chapter 9 - 1860 to 1861
Sunday, 1-Jan-1860 dawned bright and sunny; Harry Medcroft sincerely hoped it would be a better year than 1859. The terrible tragedy of the Admella wreck was still keenly felt in South Australia and Victoria. However, there were some positives during 1859. The new Caledonian Inn had been completed and duly opened. It had a large room suitable for functions; and quickly became the place to hold balls in Robe Town. The publican was a Scotsman, John Park. The new Church of England church building had also been completed and was named Saint Peters. The Bishop of Adelaide came and dedicated the new building.
Harry and Amanda were enjoying their new baby daughter Elizabeth born on Sunday, 16-Oct-1859. They named her Elizabeth in memory of Elizabeth Blakely. It was more than two years since Elizabeth Blakely had passed away. Amanda often thought of her friend; and missed her friendship and advice. Baby Elizabeth was a beautiful baby and was growing well. She seemed to have a sweet, placid nature.
Harry spoke to Amanda, “Amanda, I think it is time for us to move to larger premises. With four children, ourselves and Annie, we could do with more room. This place is getting a bit cramped with all of us in it.”
“Oh Harry, that is a wonderful idea. When can we start looking for a new place?”
“We can start looking right away. We don’t have to take what is presently on offer if there is nothing suitable. It would be better to wait for the right house to come on the market. I will keep my eyes and ears open. If something seems to be suitable, I will have a look at it. If I think it will fit the bill I will show it to you for your appraisal.”
“That seems sensible Harry. Now we better get a move on. I have to get the children ready for church.”
Governor McDonnell issued a public acknowledgement via the newspapers to the settlers and all who helped out at the Admella rescue attempts. He praised everyone involved in the rescues; paying particular attention to the settlers who provided provisions, food, horses and messengers. It left a good feeling in those who had taken part.
Lindsay Gordon was inspired by John Black’s ride to Mount Gambier with news of the tragedy. He wrote a poem about the ride. He called the poem From The Wreck. It captured the essence of the mad dash to Mount Gambier on horseback. Lindsay being familiar with the terrain was able to give a very clear description of the countryside on the way to Mount Gambier. The poem was widely read and appreciated.
As the months rolled around; Harry and Amanda looked at some places they thought were worth inspecting. At the end of March they found a solid, limestone block house; with four bedrooms and an office for Harry. During April 1860 they moved house. Amanda and Annie were thrilled with the extra living space in the new larger house.
Due to problems encountered with the Admella rescue, Harry requisitioned a lifeboat and crew for Port Robe. News came through from Port Adelaide that this had been approved and Port Robe would have its own lifeboat later in the year. The Royal Commission into the disaster was well under way.
Harry had been summoned to Adelaide to appear before the Royal Commission. He also had to give evidence at the Coronial inquest into the deaths of the 89 who perished. Hopefully some positive outcomes would be achieved for the benefit of those who sailed in South Australian waters.
The Admella remains and cargo were resold to a Mr Robert Anderson. Mr Anderson built himself a house at Port McDonnell using some of the salvaged items.
Construction work began about this time on a prison for male inmates at Port Robe. The walls of the new gaol needed reinforcing due to the soft nature of the limestone blocks used in its construction. The builders contacted Mr Anderson and bought a large quantity of iron plates from the Admella wreck. The plates were inserted between the inner and outer walls. If prisoners tried to dig through the limestone blocks they would come up against the iron plates. Thus foiling any escape by these means. The Robe gaol was expected to be finished sometime in 1861.
In June 1860 the crews of the rescue boats involved in the rescue of the Admella survivors were invited to Melbourne. It was a Gala occasion for the public presentation of their medals. A grateful public was lavish in their praise of the heroic actions undertaken by these gallant men. It was a fitting acknowledgement of their brave deeds.
In late spring the new Port Robe lifeboat was delivered by coastal steamer. Harry was glad to see it arrive. He set about having a small slipway constructed and a rolling carriage for the lifeboat. The lifeboat needed to be launched quickly in times of need and a crew would have to be selected and trained.
Thankfully 1860 passed without any major disasters. The Royal Commission into the Admella disaster did not attribute any blame to Captain McEwan for the shipwreck. However, he was criticised for not taking depth soundings when he was unsure of his position. The findings from the inquiry decided a strong inshore current had caused the Admella to come in too close to shore. Questions were also raised as to a magnetic disturbance near Cape Northumberland which seemed to affect the compasses on iron hulled ships.
As a result of the Coroner’s inquest and the Royal Commission a lighthouse was to be built at Cape Banks; which is near Carpenters Rocks, the site of the Admella tragedy. A recommendation for a better method of making watertight bulkheads was handed down. It was decided that the watertight compartments on the Admella had given way where the lines of rivets were used to construct the compartments. This was the reason the ship broke so easily into three sections. The rivets gave way under the enormous strains placed on them.
The year 1861 started out well. The new gaol was completed at a cost of £1,959. The gaol was situated on the cart track on the way to the Obelisk, on Cape Dombey. It was located well outside the town area; over the other side of Lake Butler. It was soon home to its first lot of inmates.
Lindsay Gordon the poet, often rode horses at race meetings at Robe racecourse. It was during a race meeting at the Robe race course that Lindsay met young Margaret Park. Maggie, as she was known, was the daughter of John Park, the publican at the Caledonian Inn.
Sixteen years old Maggie was an excellent horse rider and found the atmosphere of the race meet exciting and stimulating. Young Maggie found the tall, lanky Lindsay Gordon to be quite handsome and shy.
Lindsay Gordon was by now quite the gentleman. His mother had passed away in England in 1859 leaving him an inheritance of £6,944; which he received in 1860. He used some of the money to purchase land in Mount Gambier. He now had the money and the time to write his poetry; and also race his own horses in South Australia and Victoria. He had become a well known steeplechase rider. He also raced in hurdles races. He was known far and wide as a fearless, reckless rider.
He found the new publican’s daughter very attractive. Apparently she was a very accomplished horse woman. She seemed to be quite sensible and straight forward. He thought her Scottish accent was charming. However, no spark of romance occurred at their first meeting.
The months slipped by and summer rolled around again. About mid December two tall ships the Alma and the Livingstone were anchored in Guichen Bay.
The Alma had unloaded its cargo and was in ballast only. She was sitting high in the water and not in the usual anchorage; but was in seven fathoms of water, in a position exposed to the wind and waves.
The Livingstone, in contrast, was fully loaded with a cargo of wool; and was anchored at the usual anchorage, with three anchors out. She was ready for sea and a voyage to London. The crews of both ships had recently been entertained at balls in the Caledonian Inn.
The captain of the Alma was ashore on Saturday, 15-Dec-1861 when the wind began to blow strongly from the northwest. The wind’s velocity increased and the waves in Guichen Bay became boisterous. Heavy rain began to fall; the wind picked up in intensity. A huge storm began to sweep along the south eastern coast of South Australia. The winds built up to hurricane force.
The Alma was straining on her anchor chain. She could not take much more of this. Harry had the lifeboat ready to lau
nch and the crew ready. They would go if the Alma’s crew signalled them. The situation was dire indeed. If they got the lifeboat to the Alma they would not be able to row it back to safety! The risk to all their lives was huge. If they did manage to get to the Alma and rescue the crew; there was a distinct possibility that all hands would be lost in the boiling, raging sea. Harry stayed put.
A newspaper correspondent was scathing in his opinions to Harry.
“What’s the use of the lifeboat, if you are not going to use it? If the Alma is forced ashore, all hands will be lost. Mr Medcroft you are taking risks with other men’s lives.”
Harry said to him, “Mind your own business. No distress signal has been raised. That crew is safer where they are at present.”
Harry could only wait and see. It was a trying time for all concerned. Watching and waiting was testing their patience. About midday the main anchor chain snapped under the terrible strain on it. The 1st Mate ran the Alma ashore in a little inlet on to some rocks; underneath a cliff. The bow was stuck fast. Harry and the lifeboat crew reacted quickly; taking their rescue apparatus to the cliff top above the Alma.
The first rocket was fired with a line attached. It was too high and the gale force wind drove it away from the stern of the Alma. The line was dragged back and attached to a second rocket. Harry had the elevation lowered and fired the second rocket. This was a mistake as the rope was now heavier through being dragged through the sea after the first attempt. The line fell short!
The third and last rocket was prepared for firing. Meanwhile, the Captain of the Alma had made his way to the cliff top. He gave his opinion to Harry.
“The crew won’t leave the ship; even if you do get a line to her. They would be fools to leave the ship on the line. They are safer where they are.”
Harry hesitated, ‘Maybe the Captain is right. He knows what his ship is capable of.’
Harry turned to the Coxswain of the lifeboat crew and asked him his opinion.
“Coxswain, what do you think?”
“Oh, she may remain jammed in the rocks, or she may not.”
Harry had a decision to make. ‘Should I try to establish communication with the Alma; with the rocket line, or not?’
Harry thought long and hard then made his decision. ‘I have only one rocket left. It’s my duty to use it to try and establish communication with the Alma. If I get a line to the ship and the crew don’t want to leave it, my conscience will be clear in that I have done my duty.’
Harry spoke to the crew of the lifeboat.
“It is our duty to try and establish a line of communication to the Alma in her predicament. Prepare the rocket for firing and fire when ready!”
The rocket zoomed across the top of the Alma and the line got caught in one of the masts. Harry was relieved. However, all was not well. In order to effect a rescue operation; an endless loop had to be made with the line so the cradle buoy used to rescue people could be worked from ship to shore, and vice versa. The Alma crew was not familiar with the apparatus and let go one end of the line. There was only one solution; one of the rescuers had to make the trip to the Alma, show them how to do it and get the first man started on his way.
Several volunteered, but the Coxswain was considered the best man for the job. He was tall and heavy; however they managed to get him on to the Alma. He explained to the crew what to do and then made the journey back. Unfortunately for him the line (called a warp) dipped as he passed over a boulder and he hurt his back severely.
Great care was needed to get men safely off the Alma. As the vessel lifted in the heavy surge from the waves it put a tremendous strain on the warp line. The crew on the cliff had to slacken the warp. As the ship lowered in between the surge of waves; they hauled the cradle buoy, with the sailor on board, a few yards. Then the warp had to be slackened again. It was delicate, time consuming work; with no room for error. When the cradle buoy was finally clear of the waves it was an easy matter to haul it to the cliff top.
It was a very anxious time for all concerned. If the warp line broke; the cradle buoy would have dropped into the raging waters. The person in the cradle would have perished. What then the fate of the others on the Alma? One by one, the Alma’s crew made it precariously to the cliff top.
Harry had a very anxious time of it. If they had lost any of the Alma crew and the vessel managed to hold together; Harry would have been severely reprimanded. Fortunately for him all hands were rescued safely to shore.
Meanwhile the Livingstone seemed to be riding out the gale on her three anchors. The Livingstone was not as exposed to the fury of the storm as the Alma was.
Harry and his crew packed up their apparatus and returned to Robe Town. This was the worst storm he had ever been in! Harry got to bed about 1:00 am for a well deserved sleep.
It was not to be; a short time later he was woken up with the news that the Livingstone was drifting. She had snapped her main anchor chain and was dragging the other two anchors along. About daybreak she ran aground. Fortunately the storm was abating and they did not hold any fears of the Livingstone breaking up. The Port Robe lifeboat was manned and all aboard the Livingstone were safely taken off the ship as a precautionary measure.
Daylight on Sunday, 16-Dec-1861 revealed the fate of the Alma. During the night the heavy breakers had lifted the Alma on to the rocks where the hull had been smashed into a myriad of pieces! Only a few feet of the bow was visible stuck in the rocks. Wreckage from the Alma covered about ten miles of Long Beach!
Harry felt justified in his decision to rescue the crew of the Alma. Every soul on board would have perished during the night. Harry did not find out what the Alma’s captain thought of the matter; nor was he interested in finding out. A ‘Thank You’ dinner was given to the crew of the Port Robe lifeboat for their rescue of the 24 men.
Harry was galled to think that his own Chief in Port Adelaide gave no recognition at all of their splendid rescue work. Harry thought to himself, ‘He won’t give any prominence to anything, or any of his officers, where his own cocked hat is not seen!’
Harry indicated to his Chief that the Coxswain, Fergus Fullarton should receive a medal for risking his life in aid of his fellow men. Nothing came of it.
‘What a way to end the year!’ Harry thought to himself.
Chapter 10 - 1862 to 1863