HM schooner Bramble returned from Gabo Island on Saturday last, having been unsuccessful in securing the supposed runaway convicts on that island, they having made their escape prior to her arrival there. She experienced very bad weather during the whole of the passage down, and did not arrive there until Thursday se'nnight having sailed hence on the 3rd instant. The night she left this port she encountered a heavy gale from the southward, and had the misfortune to carry away her jibboom and topsail-yard, she also lost one of her boats. The following letters, one from Mr. Powell, Inspector of Water Police, respecting the supposed convicts, and the other from Dr. M'Clatchie, Assistant Surgeon of the Bramble, giving a description of Gabo Island, have been handed to us by Lieutenant Yule for publication :
H. M. S. Bramble,
14th July, 1847.
Sir,
I have the honour to lay before you the following statement relative to the course pursued, and the information I received concerning the six runaway convicts who escaped from Van Diemen's Land in May last, and supposed to be on Gabo Island.
On my landing on the said island about 12-30 p.m. this day, accompanied by two officers, two marines, and a boat's crew belonging to HMS Bramble, we proceeded to the dwelling of Mr. Rogers, where we saw Mr. Morris. I stated to him the purpose of our visit to the island, namely, that I had been sent by the Government of New South Wales to assist in the capture of six runaway convicts from Van Diemen's s Land. The following is the information I received from Mr. Rogers, the person in charge of the island:
That on the 13th ultimo, a boat with six men, who represented themselves as shipwrecked seamen, touched at the island, but did not land, although advised to do so by Mr. Rogers. On the following day, the 14th, three of the men again came to the island, in a boat belonging to a person named Robinson, who resides near Cape Howe, and agreed to remain and work for Mr Morris, the contractor. From the description given of the said three men, and other information which I received, I have not the slightest doubt but they are the men named in the margin
Robert Callaghan, per Waterloo 2, 1831 ;
Thomas Jackson, per Strathisla, free, 1837 ;
John Grounds, a native of Parramatta
The other three men not again making their appearance, it is supposed that they made the best of their way to some of the stations in the interior. On the night of the last mentioned day, Messrs. Morris and Rogers, not believing the men's statement, thought it advisable to adopt some means to secure them on the island ; they accordingly called their workmen together for that purpose, but the whole of them refused to assist to secure the men. In consequence of which Mr. Morris wrote a letter to Mr. Brierley, the magistrate at Twofold Bay, stating the circumstance, and requesting assistance from that quarter, but received no answer. The letter was despatched on the 15th ultimo, and the next morning the three men left the island in the same boat they came in, and proceeded in the direction of Cape Howe ; they have not since been seen. Mr. Morris further states that he wrote a second letter to Mr. Brierley on the 9th instant. I examined the whole of the workmen on the island, and found them to be all free men, and from my knowledge of Mr. Morris, I have every reason to believe the whole of his statement to be correct.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
Thomas J. Powell,
Inspector of Water Police.
To Lieutenant C. B. Yule,
Commanding H.M.S. Bramble.
HMS Bramble,
July 14, 1847.
Sir,
In accordance with your request, I made the following observations on the progress of works for the erection of a light house on Gabo Island. The whole island is a series of sand-hills. In the highest of these, situated on the north-east side, an excavation has been made, and the super-stratum removed to the depth of sixty-five feet. Iron bars drove in show that only five feet remain to be excavated before the site for the foundation on solid rock will be available. The loose nature of the upper material, and its continually falling in, must have made this a work of no mean perseverance.
On the south side of the island is a quarry - stone of durable nature is being obtained there in considerable quantities. A line of railway from this to the site of the light-house is being levelled, (the distance is about a mile), but owing to the number of sand-hills to be cut down, and intervening valleys to be filled up, a considerable time must elapse ere the rails can be laid down. At low water shell can be obtained for burning into lime, as was practised at our beacon on Raine's Island, a large quantity of which is now collected. Wood, and that scrub only, is very scarce, but close to the anchorage is an abundant supply of the best fresh water. The island is described as healthy, although several deaths have taken place, some from consumption ; but it is believed that the subjects attacked were in a diseased state prior to their arrival. The number of the party is reduced to twenty-five, from deaths, and the leaving of others, and I understood the contractor that it was his intention shortly to repair to Sydney for an increased supply of labourers.
It may not be out of place to mention that the Bay is frequented by black whale.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
Archibald M'clatchie.
Lieutenant B. Yule,
Commanding HMS Bramble.
The Bramble remained at the island about an hour only, and did not drop her anchor. She has not seen any vessels on the passage.
SG & SGTL ; Vol 4 ; Page 204.
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