This barque, which has been plying between Melbourne and Newcastle, N.S.W., for some time, was wrecked on the 14th instant. The following is the account of the disaster, furnished by Captain Peacock late master of the vessel ; and by the second officer, Mr. Law ; and by the carpenter, Alexander Robertson :-

Saturday, July 14th, 1855, begins with fresh breeze and cloudy weather. Hands employed variously. Carpenter repairing jolly-boat At 5 p.m. tacked ship to the westward. At 8, Cape Schanck bore N.E., distant seven miles. Thick hazy weather ; wind N.W. Took in top-gallant-smile and furled the mainsail. Head W.S.W. At 10, heavy rain and strong breeze; midnight same weather. At 3 a.m. tacked ship to the northward. At 4, heavy rain and hazy weather. At 5, same, running along the land, supposing it to be the Port Phillip side, steering N.E. by N. At 7.30, thick and heavy rain. Ship struck, and found we had been steering into Port Western. A strong current must have been setting to the northward ; and in consequence of the thick weather, mistook the Shanck for Sandy Point. Ship struck heavily ; started the stern-post, and on sounding, found twelve feet water in her hold. At 11, got off the spit, and ran her on shore full of water. Master chartered the schooner Caroline, for �60 to save all possible. Hands employed stripping ship. The following additional particulars are furnished by the master:- Immediately on the striking every effort was made by the officers and crew to get her off, but without effect, she remaining sticking till high water, when she floated, but with the water above the 'tween decks; and, from the sand coming up the pumps, she had evidently bilged. The stern-post had risen a foot, and there was just time to run her on shore on the beach, where she now lies, and without a hope of ever coming off. The crew are busily employed in saving all that is possible, and working willingly and well. This serious accident is the more to be regretted, as the ship had just received a thorough repair in Sydney, at a heavy expense. From the course steered, after passing Cape Shanck on the previous evening, when that bore N.E., the ship should have been over near Cape Patten, and on seeing toe loom of the land ; such was supposed to be the case ; when it appears, after reducing sail at 8 p.m., the tide must have set her to the northward, and the course up to the Shanck being the same as running along the other shore, prevented any suspicion of error. Argus ; July 16.

SG & SGTL Vol 12 ; Page 176 ; 30 Jul 1855

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