The cutters " Sisters" and " Will Watch " were at once despatched for the scene of the wreck, having on board Mr. Lewis, the Harbour Master, Captain Roach, the agent of the "Clonmel," and Lieutenant Russel, with a detachment of the 28th Regiment. T h e passengers and crew were brought in safety to Melbourne. T h e mail was also with difficulty fished from the wreck. Amongst the passengers were Mr. and Mrs. Walker, of Sydney; Mr. Goodwin, of the firm of Hamilton and Goodwin of Melbourne, to w h o m one-half of the cargo belonged; Mr. Robinson, of the Union Bank, having in his charge ,£3000 of the Bank's notes for the Melbourne branch, which sum was lost and supposed to have been stolen ; Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cashmore, of Melbourne, newly married, and bringing a large quantity of goodsfora new drapery establishment intended to be opened at the corner of Collins and Elizabeth Streets. There were on board 300 tons of coals and 200 tons general cargo. It was a stormy honeymoon for Cashmore, and all he saved was his newly w o n wife and an old silver watch, both of which remained with him, keeping good time for many years thereafter. M u c h of the uninsured cargo was destroyed, and several local merchants were heavy losers. Captain Tollervy sustained a severe injury to one of his ankles, by the tendon of the joint breaking, and it was thought the foot would be rendered useless for life. T h e " Clonmel" ultimately became a total wreck; about ,£1000 worth of cabin furniture, a gig, some spirits, and general stores were saved. T h e vessel had been insured for ;£i 7,000.
BURNING OF THE "AUSTRALIA."
On the 2nd October, 1840, the barque "Australia" Captain Yule, sailed from Leith for Port Phillip, with five cabin,fifteensteerage passengers, and a valuable freight. Calling at Rio she resumed her voyage, and on the 29th December took fire 600 miles westward of the Cape of Good Hope. T h e cargo consisted mostly of deals, oakum and tar, and the accident was believed to have been occasioned by friction taking place in the hold. T h e conflagration broke forth so suddenly about 11 o'clock at night, that the vessel was wrapped in flames as soon as the misfortune was discovered, and it was as m u c h as could be done to save the passengers and crew, leaving the ship to her fate. T h e long and jolly boats were quickly and safely launched, and with the scantiest stock of provisions all on board passed forth; but before the boats had pulled many yards away, the ship, a mass of raging fire, went d o w n suddenly with a report resembling a salvo of artillery. For eight days and nine nights the two boats wandered away on the world of waters, their unfortunate passengers exposed to the severest sufferings from starvation and the effects of the weather, from which there was no protection whatever. They were so short of provisions that each individual was rationed upon a small allowance of biscuit and a wine-glass of water per day, and Messrs. John Chisholm and Pete, two of the passengers, died from exhaustion. At length the boats sighted the coast of Africa, and after m u c h difficulty a landing was effected upon an inhospitable beach. After traversing the country for about twenty miles they came upon a Dutch settlement, where they were treated with m u c h kindness. T h e Governor had them forwarded in waggons to Cape Town, where they arrived after an eleven days' journey. T h e captain, with several of the passengers and crew, returned to England by thefirstopportunity. Phillips, the mate, and others arrived in Hobson's Bay in the barque " Byker," in the month of April. Loss OF THE "PAUL PRY,"
A schooner trading between the ports of Melbourne and Launceston. On a return trip (31st August, 1841), a sudden squall coming on, she was laid on her beam ends, and never righted. T h e passengers were 'at dinner, which they had to leave unfinished and take to the boats. All hands were saved except a Mr. Waite, w h o was drowned in getting into a boat, and after m u c h peril and difficulty the party got safely ashore at Sandy Beach, eastward of Cape Schanck. 1'hey next made Barker's station late in the evening, in a miserable plight, where every kindness and attention were shown to them, and thence they effected a speedy transit to Melbourne. ^
