To the Editors of the Sydney Morning Herald

Gentlemen, Having arrived yesterday from the Clarence, I beg to forward you full particulars of the unfortunate loss of the Phoenix steamer, on that bar. On her arrival at the entrance of the river on Wednesday, the 14th April, in crossing the bar she struck. She was then taking the south channel. Captain Benaud informs me that he immediately ordered the engine to be stopped, which the engineer did very quickly, it only making a stroke and a half after. I am no engineer, but I believe that leaves the machinery in a more dangerous position than if it had made another half-stroke The engine unfortunately broke down, but the vessel drove over into deep water ; and I understand that on Captain Renaud letting go his stream anchor the warp parted, and the vessel was then completely unmanageable. She drifted on the middle of the North Spit a little to the northward of where the Susan was lost. I see in your impression of yesterday, that you state the passengers and crew had great difficulty in getting on shore. They, on the contrary, all landed very comfortably.

I believe the only animals lost were two fine rams, belonging longing to Dr. Dobie, and one or two dogs. I arrived down the river at the bar on the 16th, and arranged with Captain Benaud to convey his passengers to Grafton, in the George, upwards of forty in number. There was a heavy fresh in the river, and the water was very muddy, and so fresh at the bar that we filled our water-casks there out of the river. Several persons I believe have endeavoured to make it appear that Captain Benaud was to blame in losing his vessel. In justice to him I must say, that I do not at all consider him so. The south channel has always been considered the deepest water, but I am now of opinion that it is entirely blocked up at the entrance, and I did not find in the north channel more than nine feet of water. Some have said that he ought to have sent his boat and sounded first. The appearance of the bar on my arrival there was sufficient to convince me that it was impossible for any boat to live in it. It certainly would have been wiser to have stopped out, but there are many considerations which excuse his not doing so, and take from him all blame on that account.

I am sorry to say that the passengers lost all their clothing and property, but unfortunately there were a great many very bad characters amongst them, as they were robbing one another in every way they could. A great many chests of tea, bags of sugar, casks of wine and spirits washed on shore, and were immediately seized, particularly the two latter articles. I certainly must consider Benaud to blame as regards them ; were I in his place, I should have ordered every cask to have been broken up immediately it made its appearance, as it would then have prevented much of the drunkenness that I found on my arrival at the wreck. The poor blacks, it appears, must come in for their share of disgrace. There certainly was a great many congregated there, but I did not hear of any depredation being committed by them. Captain Benaud, with my advice, at once dispersed them, choosing from them only such as were well known to stop and assist him, which they did a great deal. The steamer does not appear at all broken up, but has sunk so deep in the sand that I consider it next to an impossibility to ever release her again. I should have stated that when her warp broke the water poured into her in all directions, through the stern windows, port holes, hatches, &c. Many of the passengers tried to prevent it by holding pillows up to the ports. Although I do not consider Captain Renaud in the least to blame for the loss of his vessel, but I do think his conduct in many instances after, but I shall leave the circumstances to appear in their due time. He is now assisting in finishing to fit out a new schooner belonging to Mr. Chown, who has built her on the Clarence, and I expect she will shortly arrive in Sydney, as Captain Benaud and his crew come with her. I never recollect witnessing such heavy rain before as fell for three days in the river.

SG & SGTL ; Vol. 9 p. 125

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