Gentlemen - As various reports and surmises are abroad respecting the loss of the Beaver, which was reported in your paper of the 4^th instant, may I request the favour of your inserting in your next publication the enclosed statement of Captain Malcolm, of the Rhoderic Dhu, who was in company with me shortly before the disaster occurred.

Your obedient servant,
COBBAN
Sydney, 8 October 1851

Statement of Mr. Malcolm, master and owner of the Rhoderic Dhu schooner, with reference to the loss of the Beaver, on the Solitary Islands.

The schooner Rhoderic Dhu, under my command, was off the Solitary Islands on Monday afternoon, the 22nd September ultimo, in company with the Beaver - both vessels had been standing in during the day for the land (wind strong at north-east) on the starboard tack ; Beaver some two or three miles to leeward of the Rhoderic Dhu. As the Beaver was lost that night, I am in a position to bear testimony to the fact, that no blame whatever is attributable to the master of the vessel ; and that, under the circumstances, no human skill could have saved her. The following are my reasons for forming this conclusion, which, I conceive, may be entitled to some consideration, as I have been trading on the coast for the last four years.

The Solitary Islands are about 25 miles to the southward of Shoal Bay, and 9 to 17 miles from the main land, and lie in the usual track of vessels bound to the northward. The Beaver was evidently standing in for the land with the same intention as myself (and that of other vessels still further in shore), viz., to avoid the strong currents setting to the southward, and with hopes of getting the wind off the land during the night. On reaching the Islands, both vessels went about on the other tack - the South Solitary at this time bearing about south and by west - the wind suddenly failed, and it became quite calm, a heavy swell at the same time setting in from the northward, which must have rendered the position of the Beaver exceedingly critical - the swell and current setting her bodily down towards the island. Had the Rhoderic Dhu been two miles further to the southward nothing could have saved her from the same fate that befel the Beaver. As for attempting to tow the vessel in such a heavy swell, it was out of the question ; a boat could have rendered no service. The vessel being consequently unmanageable, there was, in my opinion, no alternative but to anchor ; indeed, it was the only chance of saving the vessel - that the manoeuvre was not successful is to be lamented. From the conversation I had with the captain and mate, and from my own knowledge of the place, I am satisfied that every expedient was resorted to which skill could suggest to avert the destruction of the vessel.

Captain Cobban is a perfect stranger to me ; but I feel convinced that had the vessel been my own, and I had been in his position, the result would have been the same.

I am the more earnest in making this statement, because it is a casualty to which all shipmasters are liable, and may some day be my own case ; but if I thought that the captain of the Beaver was at all culpable in this matter, either by unskilfulness or want of judgment in approaching the shore, or in his subsequent efforts to extricate the vessel from her position, I, as an owner of vessels, and from a sense of duty to others of my profession, should consider myself bound to make it known. As the case at present stands I consider him most fully exonerated from any charge of the kind.

WILLIAM MALCOLM,
Master of Rhoderic Dhu.
Also signed by :
A. STEEL, Master, schooner William.
JOHN BROWN, Souvenir.
Sydney, October, 1851

SG P 292 1851

^ back to top ^