Lovspring (1900/07/22)

Mushroom Rock

Lövspring was a Norwegian barque built by N.O. Gjömle, having one deck, two tiers of beams and was sheathed with yellow metal. It was owned by J. Jörgensen, and had arrived at Hamelin Bay from Madagascar in June. Also in the harbour at that time were the barques Katinka and Nor’wester. All these vessels were there to load timber from Maurice Coleman Davies’ sawmill, and all the cargoes were insured with the Commercial Union Assurance Company. The barque Arcadia was also at anchor awaiting repairs after having previously been stranded. The Lövspring was under the command of C. Sand, with a crew of nine.
THE LOSS
One of the most severe storms to hit the South-West occurred in July 1900. This storm occasioned much damage and caused the loss of three vessels and the stranding of a fourth in Hamelin Bay. There were two phases to the storm—the first phase with winds from the north-north-west on 22 July, and a second phase when winds swung round to the south-west the following day. The Lövspring survived the first phase but was blown from the jetty during the second phase.
The Lövspring was moored to the north side of the Hamelin Jetty when the severe storm struck from the north-north-west. The barque was being pounded and ‘trying to jump on top of the jetty and smashing herself to pieces’ (McGregor, G.F., letter to McGregor, W., 1 August 1900). The wind then swung round and blew with equal ferocity from the south-west. The bow hawser on the barque snapped and the Lövspring was driven onto Mushroom Rock. It struck heavily and then slid off to sink in water deep enough to cover the hull, leaving only the top of the bulwarks and the spars and rigging above water. The captain and crew clung to the rigging during the night. The following morning, with the wind slightly abating, they managed to launch a boat and pull to the jetty. This boat was later used in the rescue of survivors from the wreck of the Katinka.
INQUIRY
There appears to have been no inquiry into the loss of the Lövspring (most probably because it was foreign owned).
INITIAL SALVAGE
After survey by Captain Webster, the Lloyd’s surveyor from Fremantle, the wreck of the Lövspring, along with two of the other vessels wrecked in the storm, was offered for sale by auction:
For Sale by Public Auction, on account of whom it may Concern, at Hamelin Harbour, at Noon 4th August, the Barque Norwester as she now lies stranded, the Barque Katinka as she now lies submerged, the Barque Lovspring as she now lies submerged.
For further particulars apply to
M.C. Davies
Karri and Jarrah Company, Ltd (West Australian, 1 August 1900:8d).
The amounts paid for the three barques were very low, and there appears to be only a record of the buyer for the Nor’wester, which was bought by M.C. Davies:
On the 4th inst., the stranded barques were sold by public auction, and realised as follows:- Nor’wester, £21; Lovspring, £27; Katinka, £2.10s (West Australian, 9 August 1900: 5b).
The lifeboat from the Lövspring in which the crew came ashore was apparently the only item salvaged at the time the barque sank.
EXCAVATION AND ARTEFACTS
An anchor reputed to be from the Lövspring is displayed on the foreshore at the Hamelin Bay car park, and the ship’s bell was in the possession of Mrs Peggy Davies in 1986. Mrs Davies is the wife of M.C. Davies’ grandson. A letter from John Clarke in the museum file dated June 1991 reported the finding of some timber, yellow metal sheathing, stud link anchor chain and iron fastenings close to Mushroom Rock that may be associated with the barque.