Threading the eye of the needle
The approach to Melbourne from England involved a journey around the southern tip of Africa (Cape of Good Hope) to pick up the strong westerly winds (winds are labelled according to the direction they come from, so a westerly wind flows east) which flowed north of Antartica, these winds are reliably strong in both summer and winter, and occurred between the 40th and 50th Parallel and hence were termed the roaring 40's. Wind was essential for sail propelled travel. The further south a ship sailed the faster the winds, roaring forties, furious fifties and screaming sixties, were the phrases on the clipper route. But the further south a ship travelled the greater the risk they would run into ice.
Passage through Bass Strait for entry into Melbourne required the ship to 'thread the needle', or find the 80km gap between Cape Otway and King Island. In this day of GPS navigation 80 km does not deserve the description 'threading the needle' but in the days of sail this was a different matter. So many ships ran foul to this gap that a number of lighthouses were installed along the Southern Victorian Coast. Many of which are still present today.
The following are provided as reasons that the Loch Ard may have missed the gap.
Fog: multiple days of poor weather that would not allow a sextant reference meant that Loch Ard 'ran blind' for the later part of her journey. The Illustrated Adelaide News of 1 Jul 1878 reports,
... we learn that for two days previous to the 1st June, the sky having been overcast, no observation could be taken of the position of the ship
The compass: The high iron load on the Loch Ard may have interfered with the compass. The Illustrated Sydney News and New South Wales Agriculturalist and Grazier of 13 Jul 1878 reports,
Within four or five days of the disaster the compasses got out of order, being subject to unaccountable aberrations, caused, it is supposed, by the presence of iron in the ship.
Loss of time on the ships chronometer: Signage at the Flagstaff Maritime Village suggests another possible cause for the Loch Ard to be off course.
A simple chronometer error of one second per day for three months could place a ship 42 kilometres off course. (Flagstaff Maritime Museum).
Misidentified lighthouse: A Reuter's telegram report in the Brisbane Courier of 7 Jun, 1878, says ...
It is considered in maritime circles that the light at Port Warrnambool was mistaken for the Cape Otway light, thus leading to the disaster.
Getting wrecked through the newspapers.
While photography was present in Australia in 1878, it was not a part of newspaper reportage. An article at ABC RN suggests that the first Australian press photo was taken in 1880, and the first in-situ press photo was taken in 1888. Instead illustrators drew for the paper, albeit sometimes informed by photographs. There is true artistic skill in the images produced, I encourage my readers to follow the links to the images and examine the detail in them.
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| The Loch Ard strikes Mutton Bird Island, note the deployed lifeboat on the right. Source: Illustrated Adelaide News 1 Jul 1878 |
... at four o'clock in the morning of that day the captain found himself within half a mile of Danger Reef, his ship then running under close-reefed topsails before the wind. Orders were given to bring her round, but as she could not weather the land two anchors were let go. These, however, would not hold, and the vessel dragged until very near the rock, when they were slipped, and an attempt made to set sail again. But before this could be done the ill-fated ship struck on the starboard quarter, when one of the masts went by the board, killing two seamen. The boats were now ordered to be lowered, but the heavy seas which swept the decks prevented this from being done, and shortly afterwards the ship went down. Midshipman Pearce, a survivor, states that on the vessel going down, he and five others got into the life-boat, which was immediately afterwards capsized.
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| Four panel image showing the Loch Ard at Mutton Bird Island 10 days after the wreck ... the mast is at the left of the cliff edge (top), portrait of Tom Pearce (bottom left), the wreckage washed up in the gorge (bottom centre) and a portrait of Eva Carmichael (bottom right). Source: Australian Sketcher (Adelaide Edition) |
Pearce gives his account of the occurrence in a plain and straightforward way, and as he appears to be a lad of some sense and knowledge of his profession, his statement may be taken as accurate. He tells me that the ship had fine weather and fresh breezes from the Cape of Good Hope, and the easting was run down with the full anticipation of making a tolerably good passage. Everything went well until the reckoning was worked up on Friday last, after the meridian signs had been taken, and the ship was then made to be 150 miles south-west of Cape Otway. The wind at the time was to the southward to S.E., and the course was altered to E.N.E. by compass, which it was expected, with the wind then blowing, would carry her clear of Cape Otway, and perhaps give them a sight of the light. Captain Gibbs was apparently, however, in some doubt as to the correctness of his compasses, as in the first dog-watch (from 4 to 6 p.m.) he shortened sail until the ship was only left with her three lower topsails and fore topmast staysail, to make snug for the night. The captain remained on deck all night, Mr. Baxter, the second officer, having the middle watch from midnight until 4 a.m. The night had been very dark and hazy, and there was a heavy swell on, but the wind was not blowing very hard. Just as the watch was being relieved at 4 a.m., and before the men had left the deck, the haze suddenly lifted, and the captain saw land right ahead, and at no great distance, and, almost at the same moment, someone on deck heard the breakers, so that it was estimated that the distance was not more than a mile from shore. Captain Gibbs at once gave orders to set the spanker, mizen, and maintopmast staysail, and the helm was at once put down, with a view of bringing the ship round on the other tack and standing off the land. In order to give her still further way, and also to bring her to her round quicker, the order was given to hoist the upper mizen topsail, but as she would not come to the wind the order was given to let go both anchors. The port one was let go first, with 50 fathoms of cable, and was quickly followed by the starboard anchor, with about 60 fathoms of chain. In anticipation that the anchors would hold, the sails were clewed up, and a man was sent into the chains with the lead to see if she were holding, but it was at once seen that the anchors were not holding, as she was getting close in to the cliffs. Captain Gibbs's next order was to slip both anchors, and get sail on the ship, which was now head to wind, with a view of standing on the port tack. An attempt was made to sheet home the topsails, but this appears to have always been a difficult thing to do on the Loch Ard, and after some time had been wasted in an endeavour to do so, the buntlines of the mainsail were let go, and the port main tack got on board and the sheet hauled aft. Just as this had been done the ship struck on a rock, which appeared to catch her just under the starboard mizen chains. As the morning had now cleared somewhat, the cliffs were seen close to the ship, and the captain gave orders to have the boats cleared away and the passengers placed in them. By this time the seas were breaking clean over the ship, and she was bumping very heavily, so much so that the top hamper was falling about the deck. As is usual in such cases, the boats were not in the davits but were on the skids, and of course some time would elapse before they could be launched. Pearce, with five others, including the engineer, were clearing away the port lifeboat, and the gripes having been cut and the chocks knocked out, they were just about hooking the tackles on when a heavy sea struck her, and knocked the boat over the side, and all with her.
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Miss Carmichael refers very strongly to the fact that on board such a ship as the Loch Ard the life-saving appliances were so few. There were only six life belts on board, and only five life buoys, while the boats were securely fastened on the skids instead of being in readiness to lower down. The life belts also were not in good condition, nor were they kept handy and available. From what the young lady tells me it is evident that the captain and passengers were a very happy family during the voyage, although on one occasion a letter of remonstrance was sent from them to him to be forwarded to the owners relative to the quality of the provisions supplied to the cabin table. This did not, however, interfere with the harmonious relations that existed between Captain Gibbs and his passengers. She says, "He was most kind and attentive to all of us, and was always at his post." Some people will perhaps think that a young lady of 19 is no judge of what the captain of a ship should be. Miss Carmichael can, however, explain more lucidly the working of a ship and the sails she was under at different times than many a lad who has been two or three years at sea. Miss Raby Carmichael, whose body was recovered and buried yesterday, had also studied navigation during the voyage, and was in the habit of taking observations for both latitude and longitude with her sister, and working them out so as to check one another, but in no case was there more than a mile of difference between them. On Friday they both worked up the reckoning with the chief officer, and although the sights obtained were bad ones, they all came to the same result, and it was then that the course was shaped for Cape Otway, and although the ship was put under very short canvas during the first dog-watch, the wind was blowing so fresh that, going a point or two free, she was making good headway through the water. During the afternoon the passengers had been busily engaged in packing up their luggage in anticipation of their arrival shortly at Melbourne. Miss Carmichael and her sister, together with Mr. Jones, were on deck that night until midnight, and when the watch was called she heard the captain give orders to take a cast of the deep-sea lead. This was done, and she was subsequently told that the depth of water was 64 fathoms. Both she and her sister slept soundly until about 4 o'clock, when they were called, as she thought, to go up and look at the land. She slipped on her dressing-gown and went on deck, but there was then a good deal of confusion, this being the time when Captain Gibbs was trying to get the ship's head off the land, and she returned to her cabin, where Miss Raby Carmichael was dressing, and who laughed at her for her eagerness to see the land, at the same time recommending her to finish dressing. She did so, and had just put on her hat and veil when the ship struck. In a very short time the cabin was full of water, but she could not say how long elapsed. Dr. Carmichael, with the assistance of the steward, opened the lazarette hatch and got up the life-belts, six in number. These were fastened to Mrs. Carmichael, Miss Raby Carmichael, Miss Evelyn Carmichael, Mrs. Stuckey, Dr. Carmichael, and Mr. Stuckey. These were, however, in such bad condition that the strings broke several times while they were being tied on, and at last they had to be fastened anyhow. Miss Carmichael and her sister then ran up the companion ladder on to the poop, but on the top step, and just before getting on deck, Captain Gibbs, with whom they were great favourites, and who had then evidently given up all hope of saving the ship, took her in his arms and kissed her, saying, "If you are saved, Eva, let my dear wife know that I died like a British sailor—at my post." It should have been said that Captain Gibbs was only married six weeks before the ship left London, to a niece of Captain M'Meckan. Miss Carmichael kissed him in return, and stepped on deck. Almost immediately a sea came on board and washed her overboard. Of course, for a few minutes all was a blank, but the first thing she recollects after that was getting hold of a hencoop. Mr. Jones and Mr. Mitchell soon afterwards got hold of the same article, and it speaks much for the coolness and courage of Miss Carmichael that she could then say jokingly, "So the despised hen-coops have proved useful at last." This was referring to the fact that during the passage the hen-coops had been a source of annoyance to the passengers. They were then floating so near to the vessel that they could hear the screams of some of those on board, but by that time the ship was sinking fast. Here another blank occurs in her recollection, but she states that the last she saw of those in the cabin before running on deck was her two little sisters clinging to her mother's dress and crying, while Mr. and Mrs. Stuckey were sitting down on one of the seats, she crying and clinging to her husband.
Only four bodies were recovered from the wreck they were the bodies, of Mrs Carmichael (Eva's mother), Raby Carmichael (Eva's sister), Arthur Mitchell and Reginald Jones (both passengers). They were placed in two graves, marked with capstan bars (see illustration below). The bars were later replaced with marble headstones, which are still in place at the Loch Ard Gorge graveyard.
The missionary, Mr. McIntyre, provided pastoral service during the aftermath of the disaster, including the funeral service for the four people whose bodies were recovered. Below are some notes of interest from his account to The Sydney Morning Herald on 14 Jun, 1878.
He quotes Eva's account of her struggle with her life belt.
One of the strings attached to my life-belt broke, and the belt shifting up and down forced my head under the water several times, which almost cost me my life.That Reginald Jones (one of the buried men), according to Carmichael had foreboding about the journey.
We had a splendid passage, having encountered but one half-gale when west of the Cape of Good Hope. We were indulging the hope of all safely landing ; but it is remarkable that Reginald Jones had a dark foreboding of disaster. He often told me that he had a presentiment that he should never plant his foot on Victorian soil ; and I have repeatedly endeavoured to dispel his fears. His fears were more than verified, for I am afraid forty-nine have perished with him.He notes that Eva drew her lineage to royalty,
She informed me that her late mother was a Plantagenet, a descendant of King Henry VII., and that she is related to some of the Irish nobility.McIntyre then later recounts this incident at that burial.
Before the lid of Mrs. Carmichael's coffin was nailed down, a countryman of my own, who seemed to have a "wee drap in his ee," said to his companion, " Here lies royal bluid, ma frien'. We dinna drap across a Plantagenet everyday; sae, let's jist tak a wee pickle o' her hair, by way o' a keepsake, ye ken." Whereupon they cut off a small portion of her hair, reverentially wrapped it up in paper, and seriously walked away with their treasure.And further
The initials of the names were roughly carved with a penknife on the lids of their primitive-looking coffins, so that each body might be identified in the case of its being removed by friends or relativesThe Flagstaff Museum will note in it's 'strange but true signage', that the two buried Carmichaels were both keen pianists and were buried in coffins made of piano crates found on the shore after the wreck.
to other sepulture.
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| Headstone for Arthur Mitchell and Reginald Jones. Loch Ard Gorge. |
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| Headstone for Mrs Evory and Raby Carmichael, together with memorial for other family members lost in the wreck but whose bodies were not retrieved. Loch Ard Gorge. |
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| Three panels image showing (top) the route of the Loch Ard, reference to the sow and pigs is the old name for the twelve apostles, scene at the burial of the four bodies recovered (bottom left), the farmhouse (bottom right). Source: The Illustrated Sydney News and New South Wales Agriculturalist and Grazier of 13 Jul 1878 |
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| Three panel image showing (left) the cave into which Mr. Pearce helped Miss Carmichael, (top right) the graves of the four persons whose bodies were drifted ashore ; they are buried in two graves, with a capstan bar standing for sole memorial at the head of each. (bottom right), the gorge leading landward, and exhibits the scrub in which Miss Carmichael had hidden herself when found by the party searching. Source: Australasian Sketcher 6 Jul 1878 |
gave up the dead which were in it" (Rev. xx., 13), the sea proved unwilling to allow the burial of any other crew or passengers. Some of their bodies were seen from the cliffs, and some even identified on the basis of these observations. But conditions did not allow for the bodies to be recovered. The Article in Illustrated Sydney News and New South Wales Agriculturalist and Grazier reports:
The dead bodies have drifted into the bights and indentations west of Pearce Inlet, and all present a mutilated appearance. One stout-built bald-headed man is believed to be Dr. Carmichael, while the other is evidently that of a sailor who was transfixed by the falling mast, as a portion his bowels are protruding from the back. These bodies present a dreadful sight as they are tossed to and fro by the heavy surf ; the rags still clinging to them give the the appearance of stuffed figures most horrible to look upon. The body of the female is conjectured to be that of Mrs. Stuckey, as she was the only lady with fair hair on board the unfortunate vessel. A man from town has been living on the coast for some days engaged in looking out for the corpses of Mr. and Mrs. Stuckey and in all weathers he may be seen religiously carrying out his instructions. I am of opinion that some of the bodies have been washed into the subterranean cave known as the Blow Hole. The entrance to this cannot be observed from the land, but about 500 yards inland among the scrub there is a huge hole about fifty yard long by twenty wide, with sides running vertically down to a depth of about sixty feet. Here the sea rushes in with terrific force through the channel connecting it with the ocean, and after spending its fury against the rocky sides of the hole, passes on through another cave which penetrates further inland, but to what extent it impossible to estimate. Should any of the bodies have been washed in here, they would never be extricated.
A telegram received subsequently states that dead bodies have been seen in this place, but they could not be recovered.
The Australian Maritime Museums Council notes that -
The following text accompanied the above image in the Australian Sketcher of 3 Aug 1878.
Clearly some drapery was retrieved as the Geelong Advertiser 13 July, 1878 ran salvage sales. Such sales are a common 'hit' if one searches for "Loch Ard" on Trove.
But retrieving material from the Loch Ard was dangerous business. The following report from The Argus was repeated in several papers.
Some days after the wreck about 12 bodies were seen washed into a blowhole to the west of the Loch Ard wreck site. They were all covered in a ‘ghostly green glow’. (true story: the ship was carrying phosphorous matches)These matches are listed as vesta or lucifera in the ships manifest, see my previous blog.
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| Cover of Australasian Sketcher showing an attempted body recovery, note the body floating in the water. Source: Australasian Sketcher. |
The following text accompanied the above image in the Australian Sketcher of 3 Aug 1878.
DESCENDING THE CLIFF.
The attempted recovery of bodies from the wreck of this unfortunate vessel was rendered a most difficult and dangerous operation by the nature of the cliffs, which are at this part perfectly perpendicular, and at places even overhanging. The only means of getting down at such places is by being lowered over the cliffs by a rope. But it was then found to be quite impossible, while hanging by a rope over the heaving sea, to do anything towards the recovery of the body which was tossed like a broken seaweed by the wave beneath, and we believe that it was not found practicable to recover any by this means. The sketch of our artist depicts the descent of the cliff by a rope of a man who was locally known, from his odd dress, by the name of "Robinson Crusoe."
Salvage and Looters
I assume that salvage from shipwrecks was a important consideration and for this reason the newspapers of the day published extensive manifests (see my previous blog post). The papers then would go on to report on the likelihood of return from a salvage operation. There was also interest in the looters or wreckers.Miller and Matthews (who have a share with Mr. Howarth and two or three others) arrived at Cobden on Friday, 14th June, en route to the wreck. They keep a sharp look out after the wreckers, who have completely outwitted police and customs officials, and plundered cargo to an amazing extent. At the Sherbrooke River there is an open beach about half a mile long, on which much of the cargo was washed ashore, consisting principally of broken harmoniums and numberless cases of wax vestas ; also a large quantity of furniture, table tops, and other articles, but these were speedily removed
by persons who came down from Port Campbell, Scott's Creek, and other places with carts and pack horses. It is a well-known fact that hundreds of pounds' worth of goods have been conveyed away by people who honestly believed they had a perfect right to all they could lay hands upon, provided the police did not catch them. A case of toys and another of Birmingham jewellery found their way up to Cowley's Creek.
Clearly some drapery was retrieved as the Geelong Advertiser 13 July, 1878 ran salvage sales. Such sales are a common 'hit' if one searches for "Loch Ard" on Trove.
But retrieving material from the Loch Ard was dangerous business. The following report from The Argus was repeated in several papers.
A selector at the Gellibrand River, named [John] Borlace, is missing under circumstances that lead to the supposition that he had lost his life in endeavouring to recover wreckage on the Gellibrand beach. He left his home on Thursday morning, telling his wife he would return about 10 o'clock. His dog came home about two hours afterwards, but although every search has been made, Borlace has not been seen since. He was traced into the water at the beach, and it is supposed in endeavouring to recover wreckage he has been carried away by the drawback in the surf.
