There are many more shipwrecks in
the waters surrounding Norfolk Island than is
commonly known. One of these lesser
known shipwreck stories is that of the Oscar
Robinson, a wooden hulled sailing vessel of 61 ton that became stranded on
the reef close to the narrow entrance into Emily Bay.
The
Oscar Robinson was originally a
trader off the coast of NSW, built in 1883 at Williams
River in NSW and registered in Sydney to Mr John Pinto
of Balmain. This schooner became a
regular trader between Sydney, Lord Howe and Norfolk Island, providing a vital freight and passenger
service between these ports.
On
this particular voyage in January 1898 she was headed from Sydney
to Noumea via Lord Howe and Norfolk Island;
offloading passengers and loading up with fifteen ton of onions at Norfolk. The ship was
anchored off shore at Kingston,
towards the south. Captain Garth was not
on board having left the vessel in charge of the mate Mr. Bezer and a local
pilot, Guildford Adams. On 16 January about 2 p.m. a heavy, black,
nasty-looking squall gathered to the south-west, the decision was taken to
manoeuvre the schooner out to sea. The wind being favourable for this direction
her course was set to go between Nepean and Norfolk Islands, a passage occasionally used by
small vessels. Unfortunately the squall
produced little wind and that which did arrive came from the east south east
put the vessel in difficulty. The anchor
was lifted and she started with the foresail and inner jib. Shortly afterwards
the mainsail was partly hoisted, then lowered and the outer jib set. All to no avail, the vessel drifted
dangerously close to the breakers and an unsuccessful attempt was made to
change course but as she would neither tack nor wear she struck
the reef.
Onshore
the desperate scene was witnessed by many including the Norfolk Island Council
of Elders as they were just about to hold a meeting. Seeing the dangerous position of the vessel, the
elders rushed to the boats, two were quickly launched but they were not able to
reach the schooner before she struck.
The rescue boats proceeded through the narrow passage into Emily Bay
and worked continuously throughout the afternoon until all the cargo and mail
was recovered, fortunately the two men on board were not hurt beyond exhaustion
and disappointment and everything was landed undamaged. The Oscar
Robinson was the second trading vessel lost at Norfolk within a five year
period, the other was the Mary Ogilvie,
both ships were under the command of Captain W.G Garth, we can only imagine his
dismay.
During
the evening Mr Young and a crew of locals made fast a line from the stranded
vessel to a pine tree, they carried a small anchor and hawser (travelling
block) out into the bay and at high tide that night the vessel floated off the reef into Emily Bay, where she sank in
shallow water.
The
Chief Magistrate appointed Captain Bates, Captain Champion, Sen. and Mr Snell
as surveyors to survey the vessel, and an auctioneer for its sale. The next day the wreck was surveyed and it
was recommended that she be sold. She went
to auction on 20 January, the hammer went down on the sale at £46 10s and Mr.
Charles Chase Ray Nobbs was the new owner of the sunken Oscar Robinson.
Thirty
men and boys were employed with casks, buckets and pumps to bale her out at low
tide, succeeding in keeping the water down and managing to take her broadside
onto the beach. The men from the No. 2
whaling company were then engaged and put her further up onto the east corner
of Emily Bay.
There begun the stripping of the copper sheathing and other repairs,
most people who had carts and other appliances also provided assistance. It is
not known whether this work was undertaken for remuneration from CCR Nobbs
however it is known that Captain Garth was presented with a salvage claim for £299.
Charles Chase Ray Nobbs stated his intention
to patch up the vessel and then send her to Sydney for final repairs. He intended to keep her for the inter-island
trade. The Oscar Robinson was given a new master and a new name. The new master was Captain Bezer, the chief
mate that had struggled alongside Guildford Adams attempting to save her from
shipwreck. Agnes was the new name. CCR
Nobbs renamed his new schooner after his wife Agnes and the Agnes was the first vessel to be
registered at Norfolk Island.
Janelle
Blucher
