‘Ellen Simpson’, 1866

The ‘Ellen Simpson’ was a 297-ton wooden barquentine that had been built in the United Kingdom in 1847. Whilst sailing from Newcastle to Melbourne with a load of coal, she encountered a storm of such ferocity that the captain decided to beach the vessel to save the lives of the eleven crew members. He did this 30 miles south of Green Cape and 8 miles north of Cape Howe. Nine of the crew, including the captain, lost their lives.

An account of the voyage, the wreck and subsequent events was later provided by the ship’s Chief Officer, one of the two survivors: ‘The barque ‘Ellen Simpson ' sailed from Newcastle about 9 a.m. on 14th May. Nothing worthy of note transpired up to the 16th at 6 p.m.. When off Jervis Bay and the light bearing W. by N., distance about 9 miles, the breeze set in from the eastward, and during the night the wind increased to a gale. The vessel was heading south. Heavy rain and thick weather prevailed up till 3 p.m. on the 19th when the mist cleared away for a few minutes, and the land was then sighted about 1½ mile distant to leeward. The position of the ship was then determined to be about 8 miles north of Cape Howe. The vessel was then under close-reefed topsails.

Orders were given by the captain to make more sail; the reefed foresail was set as soon as possible. The gale still continued with great violence, heavy seas continually breaking over the vessel, which was drifting fast to leeward. The captain could then see that there was no possibility of weathering the land ahead, and as there was no room to wear the ship for the purpose of standing on the other tack, and as night was fast approaching, he made up his mind to beach the vessel before dark to save the lives of the crew.

The barque was then put before the wind, and steered for a small sandy nook. She took the ground near the south side of the land.

After the vessel had struck the beach we discovered that there was a strong current setting in to the southward; and each time the vessel was lifted by the sea she was set further to the southward, until she came abreast the rocks, where she went to pieces.

The jolly boat was launched, but as soon as she reached the water she was dashed to pieces by the first wave. An attempt was then made to get the long boat out, but it shared the same fate as the other. The second officer, Mr. Edwin Moloney, lashed a lifebuoy to himself and jumped overboard, and was washed ashore upon the rocks, very much cut and bruised. The vessel was now fast breaking to pieces, and the remainder of the crew still holding on to the rigging until the masts fell over the side. The ship then broke in two and turned bottom up, and all the crew washed clear of her.

While I was struggling in the surf I caught hold of a spar, which I clung to, and was fortunately washed ashore on the rocks. As soon as I recovered, I looked about to see if I could observe any of the others, but I could only see the heads of five persons struggling in the surf; but the next sea that came they all disappeared, and I saw no more of them. I then proceeded to the top of the bank in search of Mr. Moloney, and found him much exhausted. We both remained there till dark to see if any bodies came ashore, but saw none.

We then proceeded to a bush, a little distance off, to seek shelter from the weather, as neither of us had much clothing. The following morning we came back to the wreck to see if we could discover any bodies, but did not see any; so we proceeded on our way towards Twofold Bay, where we arrived on the 20th May.’

(‘Illustrated Sydney News’, 16th June 1866.)