Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 16 May 1891, page 19 National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221189176 WRECK OF THE JOSEPH H. SCAMMELL ALL HANDS SAVED. GEELONG, Friday, MAY 8. This morning a fisherman named Felix Ross, residing at SpringCreek, despatched, news of a ship on the coast near Spring Creek. When daylight brokethoseon the shorecould see a large wooden four- mastedvessel firm and fast on the reef about400 yardsfrom Point Danger, which is nearly a milefromthe mouth of SpringCreek. The dense rain storms prevented the signals from the vessel being distinguished and it was some time before any intelligence was conveyed as to the nameof the ship. The seaswere breaking right over the doomedvessel and fears were entertained that she wouldbreak up before assistance could be obtained. Many willing hands weresoonin attend ance, anxious to render aid,and the crewwas brought safly ashore at 7 o'clock this morning. Therewere altog
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Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 16 May 1891, page 19
National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221189176
WRECK OF THE JOSEPHH.SCAMMELL
ALL HANDS SAVED.
GEELONG,Friday,MAY 8.This morninga fishermannamed Felix
Ross,residingat SpringCreek,despatched,
newsof a shipon the coastnearSpringCreek.
When daylightbrokethoseon theshorecouldsee a largewoodenfour-mastedvesselfirm and fast on the reef
or beatingoff shorein ordertoawaitthe nextmorninglightbeforegoingonto the Heads.We thenjudgedthe vessel
about15 milesfrom the shoreand per-fectlysafe.The firstofficer,Mr.V.
Bellanger,
and myselfwere on deckabout10 o'clock,when we went below,
as Ithought
it wellto showhimwhereIreckonedwe were located,feelingthat weweresnugand safe.Havinglookedat thechart,the matethenwentout by the fore-cabin,and I,
delayinga few
moments,fol
lowedby wayof thesalooncabin.Justas Igot upondeckI heardthe firstofficergivethe orders,"Putyourwheelhardup, andsquarecrotchetyards.''The matesaidtome, "See the breakersahead."Lookingshorewards I saw a dark volume,whichlookedmorelikea squallthanland.I didnot thinkit was the "darnedland."
Mrs.Chapman(whowaspresent):
I thinkit was verygood"darned"landwhenwegot on shorethismorning,
for I neverlanded
on shorewith greaterpleasurewhenI found
our darling littleone and all the crewweresafe.I justcallit
blessedland.
The captain,smilingat his wife'ssenti
Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 16 May 1891, page 19 (4)
National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221189176
right;but it wouldhavebeenbetterif hehad had the shipinsured,as every"blessed
dollar" hepossessed
in the worldwas investedin it.
Then we found ourselvesaground.Shefirststruckas any ship wouldstrike,and a littleswellcomingshe was lifted,andcomingdown remainedhardand fast.It justmademe mad to findat thismomentthatthe
wind droppedquitecalm;for if therehadbeena windfromoff shore,I thinkthe shipwouldhavecomeoff.I tellyou whentheswellset her down,it justdid makethings
kinder rattle round.
At the firstglimpseof daylightwe sawthatthe shorewas about400 yardsaway,
and thattherewerepeoplearounda big fireon the land.Soon afterthis we lowered ourboats,and sent the ladiesashore.By 7o'clockall the peoplehad leftthe vesselexceptingmyself,the firstofficer,and carpenter,who remaineduntilabout10 o'clock.
GEELONG, Saturday.At 4 o'clockthis morningthe
policeand fishermenwho were watching on the shorehearda load crashamidstthe howlingwind and roaringbreakers,and it was correctly surmisedthatat leastthe timbersof the vesselhad given.
It was verydarkat the time,and the
Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 16 May 1891, page 19 (5)
National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221189176
watcherscouldnot see what damagehadreallybeen done. When daylightapproachedit was
discoveredthat the after
part of the vesselhadcompletely
disappeared,leavingthe midhouseand forecastle
standingon the reef.Cargowas floating
about everywhere,and the whole coastline for a mile or two was strewnwith