The Frontier Post which arrived this morning, 5th November, brings most lamentable accounts of five shipwrecks which have taken place during a violent gale from the south-east. We are happy to say that these disasters have not been attended with any loss of life. The following particulars are hastily extracted from the Eastern Province Herald of 31st October, [1846]:

On Wednesday and Thursday last we experienced the severest gale from the south-east which has yet visited us during the season, by which great loss has been occasioned to the shipping, in the wrecks of five vessels driven on shore. The wind commenced to blow on Wednesday morning early, and towards afternoon freshened into a gale, bringing up with it a very heavy sea. The vessels all held on till between three and four p.m. in the afternoon, when the Palestine, brig, parted. Although there were only four men on board capable of duty, all the others being in bad health, the vessel was quickly got under sail, and to the admiration of all, beat for some time with effect against the violent wind. In tacking however, the want of sufficient hands was felt, and after a highly praiseworthy effort of about an hour, the reduced crew were obliged to allow her to go before the wind, when she stranded on the rocks near the bight of the bay, at a considerable distance from the beach. Here nothing could he done to get off the crew that day, and as the wind continued to blow with equal violence on Thursday, all efforts to remove them from their perilous situation were still unavailing. Several times did the Port Captain's boat reach within a few yards of the vessel, when it was violently, thrust towards the shore by the terrible surf which runs at this point. After nightfall the wind considerably abated, and about four o'clock, a.m., the crew were brought on shore in the Port Captain's boat, which was steered by Jack Ham. The poor men endured great suffering from exposure, as they had to station themselves for safety about the bowsprit, the masts having been carried away soon after she struck, and also from want of water, for which in their distress they made signals the whole of the Thursday. It is believed by all that if the whole crew had been capable of duty when the vessel was got under sail, she would have beat out of the bay with comparatively little difficulty.

Soon after the Palestine, the barque Mona parted, and came on shore opposite the stores of the Boating Company. As she was very light, she came well in, and the crew, with the Captain's lady, who was also on board, were immediately got off and arrangements for their accommodation on shore attended to.

No other accident happened on Wednesday, but on the Thursday, and in the afternoon, when the wind again increased into a gale, the schooner Margaret parted and came on shore nearly opposite Jetty-street, where every assistance was rendered, and the crew immediately got off. Soon after the barque Resolution was seen drifting towards the bight of the Bay, where, under light sail, she ran up to a very favourable point, at which she might be expected for some time to hold together. An effort was immediately to be made to remove those on board, who were in number about fifty, but as the danger of landing the men at the time was much greater than that which they incurred by continuing on board of a vessel not exposed to such a sea as was likely to occasion its breaking up, it was agreed that the attempt be desisted from, those on board intimating that they considered themselves safe in remaining by the vessel during that night. Scarcely had the Resolution made any way towards the bight when the schooner Sophia parted, and being put under light sail was run upon the beach opposite the Boating Company's Stores. The crew were without difficulty got off. Three of these vessels, the Palestine, the Margaret, and the Resolution, were loaded with Government stores, and destined for Waterloo Bay. The Sophia was to attempt to enter the Fish River.

The Thunderbolt steamer arrived here on Wednesday by herself, having been obliged by the violence of the weather outside to part from her charge the Sir Edward Ryan, which with a large number of mules on board she was towing to this Bay. We fear that the continuation of the south-easter for so long a time may have driven the Sir Edward Ryan a long way to the westward, and that the attempt by Government to effect a speedy passage by means of the Thunderbolt steamer has been foiled. The display of activity, however, witnessed in such attempts is an indication that failures will no longer be attributable to inaction or apathy, and that a new spirit has been infused - firmness, energy, and foresight. Let these forces come into play, and the greatest difficulties which we can anticipate will speedily be overcome, and matters be yet brought to a happy issue. Although the Thunderbolt was in the Bay during the whole of the violent gale on Wednesday and Thursday, she was unable to render any assistance to the vessels in distress.

SG & SGTL of 19 Dec 1846

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