Page:ChroniclesofEarlyMelbournevol.2.pdf/100

by the whale-boats first, and assisted by the quarter-boats afterwards, every soul was landed in safety by 2 p.m., the captain being the last to leave the vessel. A sufficiency of sails, awnings, and lumber was brought on shore to rig up tents for all hands; and everybody set to work to form an encampment. In a short time the female passengers were comfortably camped, having beds placed for them in a weather-proof tent; the male passengers and crew were equally well accommodated by means of spare sails and awnings. Provisions, consisting of live stock, hams, bread, flour, biscuits rice, tea, sugar, wines, and beer, had been landed during the forenoon, and water, though rather brackish to the taste, was found in abundance by digging. T h e captain next evolved order out of the chaotic mass. Provisions were stowed under a boat turned upside down, to guard them as well from petty depredations as from the weather, and sentinels posted. W h e n order was thus established and provisions distributed for supper, the captain consulted with Mr. D. C. Simson, one of the passengers, and a brother tar, and they agreed upon the desirability, if possible, of starting a boat to Melbourne to obtain succour. Simson, w h o knew the route, volunteered as leader, and was joined by five others, including Mr. Edwards, of the firm of Edwards and Hunter, and the next morning, amidst the cheers of the derelicts, were launched from the beach by them in the whale-boat. Proceeding to the vessel to lay in a store of provisions, they were nearly two hours before they reached the ship, being every m o m e n t in danger of swamping. T i m e was short and precious, and so the most should be m a d e of the present. They procured a supply of such provisions as came within their reach, and after hoisting the Union Jack reversed from the mast-head, the boat's crew shoved off, and committed themselves to the care of a merciful Providence. At 8 a.m. of the 3rd they took their departure, outside the bank, steering for Sealer's Cove. T h e boat was manned by five seamen, and besides oars, had a small lug-sail m a d e out of the awning. Their provisions consisted of biscuit, a ham, a breaker of water, three bottles of wine, twelve of beer, and one of brandy; of the latter article Simson would not take more, dreading its effects upon the crew; but the small quantity was found very beneficial when subsequently administered in moderate portions. T h e voyage in the open boat was attended with its o w n perils, and as it was the first of its kind a narrative of its progress will be interesting. Shortly after leaving the "Clonmel" the wind came from the westward, and they were obliged to down sail, and after six hours' vain struggling against the wind to reach the main land, were under the necessity of running for one of the seal islands, where was found a snug little cove, into which the boat was steered. Here, after refreshing by a three hours' rest and hearty meal, they again pulled for the mainland, and reached Sealer's Cove about midnight, where they landed, cooked supper, and passed the remainder of the night in the boat anchored in deep water. At half-past three a.m. on the 4th three m e n were sent on shore to get the breaker filled with water. Thev had scarcely done so and brought it down to the beach when several natives were observed rushing towards them. T h e m e n hurried on board and the boat got under weigh, the wind blowing hard from the eastward at the time. After a severe pull of four hours they were at last able to weather the southern point of the Cove, to hoist sail and run for Wilson's Promontory, which was rounded at 10 a.m., the sea running very high. At 8 p.m. they succeeded in bringing up in a small bay at the eastern entrance of Western Port, and were glad to get on shore. After a refreshing night's repose on the sandy beach they started the next morning at the break of day, with a strong and steady breeze from the eastward, although they were in imminent danger of being swamped, the sea having risen very considerably, and breaking over them repeatedly. At 2 p.m. they were abreast of Port Phillip Heads, but to their mortification the strong ebb tide caused so m u c h broken water that Simson did not consider it prudent to run over it. A cutter was descried making for the Heads, and bearing d o w n upon her she was found to be the "Sisters," from Launceston, by which they were taken on board and very hospitably treated. Both boat and party arrived in safety at Williamstown at n p.m., having been sixty-three hours from the time they left the ship.