Duchess of Kent (1895/08/28)

Police Dept Jurian Bay [Near Cervantes Island, south of Geraldton]

Duchess of Kent was a wooden ketch with an elliptical stern built in Franklin, Tasmania in 1875. Its first owner was William Frederick von Bibra of Dunorlan, Tasmania, farmer. There is also a record of it as having been owned at one time by John Wishart of North Adelaide, South Australia, and being registered at the Port of Adelaide in 1879. This reference also gives the tonnage as 70 (Jackson, 1879: 235). This agrees with the tonnage given by O’May who also says that at launching the vessel was schooner rigged (O’May, n.d.: 79). Duchess of Kent was first registered in Fremantle on 30 April 1894, although McKenna (1959) indicates that the registration was transferred to Fremantle by instrument dated 28 February 1893. William Reid, Master Mariner of Fremantle, bought it on 23 August 1894 and was the owner at the time it was wrecked.
THE LOSS
The Duchess of Kent was under charter to the Western Australian Government to carry explosives from Fremantle to Geraldton. The ketch was on its way back to Fremantle to pick up another cargo, and had departed Geraldton at 6.00 a.m. on 28 August 1895 under the command of Captain Ehlert. Note that this date indicates that the wrecking took place on 29 August, not 28 August as shown in official records quoted by Dickson and McKenna. During the evening of 28 August the wind strength increased. About 7.30 p.m. the mainsail and mizzen were reefed, but the mizzen sail was subsequently damaged. This was repaired, and later reset while the vessel continued south. About 2.30 a.m. on 29 August Captain Ehlert climbed the rigging in order to check what was causing the sharp increase in the swell. It was very dark, but he could see breakers on a reef to leeward. He was too close to wear ship but the vessel successfully passed over an outer reef. The anchor was dropped but the cable parted and the ketch struck the inner reef at Cervantes Island.
Morning light showed the Duchess of Kent to be hard and fast, and it was abandoned about 11.00 a.m. The crew made for the shore with little in the way of provisions, only a kettle of water and three wet loaves of bread. The next morning they set out southwards in the dinghy, but were forced to come ashore again because of the numerous reefs. They spent another miserable night on the beach in the rain, but their situation was somewhat improved when they caught a sheep which they cooked and ate. The following morning the crew located a shepherd who directed them to William Bashford’s sheep station where they arrived about 3.00 p.m. The next day they were taken to Moora via Yatheroo station, and then on to Fremantle.
INQUIRY
A preliminary inquiry into the wrecking of the Duchess of Kent exonerated the master, as the cause was found to be due to the stress of weather.
INITIAL SALVAGE
Nothing could be salvaged from the vessel.