‘Jane Spiers’, 1878

The 36-metre, 309-ton, wooden barquentine ‘Jane Spiers’ was built in Scotland in 1851.

In January 1878 she was travelling from Melbourne to Newcastle under ballast (to, presumably, load coal for transport to Melbourne which would be stockpiled for the then-increasing numbers of coastal steamers) when she struck rocks near Cape Everard (now Point Hicks, south of Cann River) in Victoria, when visibility had been limited by smoke from bushfires. Her captain thought he would be able to nurse the ship into Twofold Bay but was unsuccessful, the vessel sinking a few miles south of Green Cape. The crew was taken aboard another ship, the ‘Ellen White’, that had come to the aid of the ‘Jane Spiers’.

The captain of the ‘Jane Spiers’ provided this detailed account of the incident (‘The Argus’, 19th January 1878):

‘The Jane Spiers made good way on her voyage until, early on the morning of Monday last, she suddenly struck on a sunken rock abreast of Cape Everard. All hands were at once called, and the pumps manned, but notwithstanding all exertions, the water gained rapidly on them, and in an hour from the time of striking she had 5ft of water in the hold.

While one portion of the crew were at work at the pumps, the others were preparing a spare foresail to place under the stern where the water was rushing in. As soon as it had been weighted and guyed it was lowered, and tended to materially reduce the influx of water, but it still gained on the pumps, and by 2 p.m. had risen above the ballast. Between the spells at the pumps, the boats were got over the side in readiness to leave the ship at the last moment, the necessary water and provisions being placed in them.

About 3 o’clock signalled to Gabo Island the fact that the vessel was in a sinking condition, but that he would make for Twofold Bay. Very shortly afterwards the barque Helen White was sighted standing in for the land under short canvas. Signals were exchanged with her, and a request that she would keep by the Jane Spiers. All sail was still kept on her, the Helen White following but, at last finding that it would be impossible to get her into Twofold Bay, Captain Beer headed her in for the land, with the intention of beaching her. It was now 7 pm, and the state of affairs was somewhat critical, as the barque’s port scupper holes were within a foot of the water’s edge and the pumps having become choked with sand were useless.

When about 400 yards from the shore the wind died down, and not being able to run her on the beach, Captain Beer let go the port bower anchor, with a new 7in. Manilla hawser bent to it, in order to prevent the barque drifting into navigable waters and so causing some serious accident.

At 10 p.m. it was decided to abandon her, as nothing more could be done, the water being up to the covering board, and the lower yardarms nearly touching the water. The captain and crew then went on board the barque Helen White, which at once proceeded into Twofold Bay…The barque was last seen about 11 p.m. on Monday last, when she appeared to sink with all sail set.’