More amazing discoveries - the dramatic account of the arrival of Catherine and Mary Downey to Australia
The Melbourne Morning Herald Thursday 28th April 1853:
THE SACRAMENTO, ship, with 300 Government emigrants, went on shore at Point Lonsdale, at 3.30 a.m. on the 27th. The passengers were all being landed by the assistance of the pilots. The Van Gellan picked up her long boat with first and second officer, drifting out to sea, belonging to above vessel. She also reports the sea breaking over her. She has £70,000 specie [?] on board, which was not landed when this intelligence left. She is expected to become a total wreck.
The Melbourne Morning Herald Friday 29th April 1853:
WRECK AT THE HEADS. - [From the Geelong Advertiser]. - The barque Sacramento, Holmes, master, from London, with 250 Government emigrants, arrived off the heads yesterday. About three o'clock, a.m., the ship struck upon Point Lonsdale reef, about one mile from shore, and four from the lighthouse. The long boat, life boat, and two smaller boats, were immediately hoisted out, and the landing of the immigrants commenced. Some were taken to the shore, and others landed temporarily on the reef. The news was brought to Geelong yesterday afternoon by the Rev. Mr. Lord, chaplain to the Sacramento. When he left the pilot station yesterday morning at nine, the boats were busily engaged in landing the immigrants, but as a heavy surf was running, the process was necessarily slow, and even if the weather remained favourable, it would occupy the greater portion of yesterday to land them all. The condition of some of the poor creatures, crowding into the boats, many of them in their night dresses only, was truly pitiable. From the ship's position she is not likely to be got off, and in the meantime the immigrant's luggage and cargo is in jeopardy; indeed, as the weather has since been very squally, the vessel has most likely already gone to pieces. The Rev. Mr. Lord says that the greatest kindness was shown by Captain Preston, Mr. Foy, and the pilots, and also by Mrs. Dodd, who resides near the station. The Sacramento left London on the 22nd December, and was detained by stress of weather in the Downs for nearly a month. About ten days after leaving, the surgeon died of an affection of the throat. Several other deaths had occurred, chiefly of infants. On the death of the surgeon, Mr. Lord acted in his stead, and was so far fortunate that only one death (an infant) occurred subsequently. Several vessels passed up the Western Channel yesterday, so that the news of the wreck will have reached the Government. Our local immigration agent will proceed overland this morning with supplies of comforts for those who have been landed.
The Melbourne Morning Herald Wednesday 4th May 1853:
THE SACRAMENTO WRECK. - But little remains of this vessel, she is totally broken up. Her deck timbers lie about a hundred yards from the skeleton of the hull, which is broken in two, and apparently not two bullock loads of timber remain. She brought only about 30 tons of cargo, chiefly spirits and ale - consigned to order. Her masts went overboard just twenty-four hours after she struck. The beach between point Lonsdale and the Bluff is strewn with fragments of the wreck. The conduct of Mr. and Mrs. Porter, at the Flag Staff, deserves the highest commendation. Mr. Foy, superintendent of the Lighthouse, displayed great promptitude in sending a dray to convey the shipwrecked emigrants to the Heads, where they were greatly indebted to the hospitality of Mrs. Dodds, at the Government house, whose liberality on this, as on previous occasions, cannot be otherwise than deeply appreciated. Happily no accident to life, or limb occurred to any on board the ill-fated vessel. - Geelong Advertiser.
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