This fine schooner, which left this port for the Richmond River on Tuesday, the 19th ultimo, at noon, with a small cargo and ballast, was lost on Seal Rock Point an Wednesday, the 20th instant, at 3 a.m. It was blowing fresh from the S.E., the weather being very thick, and the vessel was running 9 knots when she struck. She immediately went down, not allowing sufficient time for the men to procure a change of clothes. The captain finding there was no possibility of saving anything from the vessel, got the boat out and went into Seal Rock Bay.

The course given to the mate before the vessel struck was N.E. � N., which was strictly kept ; and Captain Summerville can only attribute the loss of the vessel to a deviation of the compass. From Seal Rock Bay the captain. mate, the six seamen, a little child, (a passenger), walked to Port Stephens, a distance of about 50 miles, during which time they had nothing to eat. On the beach at Port Stephens they were met by Messrs. Frederick and John Manton, who were out on a shooting excursion. These gentlemen treated the shipwrecked people in the most kind and hospitable manner, supplying them with provisions and everything they required. They also conveyed them on board the Avenger, which was lying in the Myall River, bound for Sydney. The provisions fox the passage of the Avenger to Sydney were also supplied by Messrs Manton, gratuitously. Captain Nichols, of the Avenger, gave Captain Summerville and his men a passage to Sydney, and they arrived here on Monday evening. We regret to say, that Captain Summerville has lost all he had, the hard earnings of many years. The vessel and cargo belonged to him, and all that he saved was what he had upon him when the vessel went down. The Planet was uninsured.

SG & SGTL Vol 12 ; Page 9 ; 8 Jan 1855

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