Sea Flower (1923/09/20)

Near Moore River, Cape Leschenault

Sea Flower was built in Balmain, NSW, in 1886 by Alfred Penther (or Pettree). In 1909 it was owned by Alfred Le Messurier of Port Adelaide and registered at that port. The owner in 1913 was Percy Ayliffe of Carnarvon, although the vessel was still registered in Port Adelaide. The registration was changed to Fremantle during 1913. Frederick Iverson, master mariner of Carnarvon, owned it for some years. He sold the Sea Flower to Cyril Richard Cornish, William Neilson Hancock and Eileen Beatrice Stenning in March 1922. The vessel was used for trading along the coast between Fremantle and Port Hedland.
THE LOSS
The Sea Flower was under the command of Axel Hansen with five crewmen, one of whom, the mate Cyril Cornish, was a part-owner. The other crewmen were Albert Anderson, Oscar Anderson and James Gray. Hansen had 23 years experience of sailing along this coast. The schooner was carrying a cargo of 200 barrels of whale oil and 35 tons of guano for the North-West (Aust.) Whaling Company, a cargo arranged by the agents J. & W. Bateman. The vessel left Point Cloates on 12 September 1923 (see Stanbury, 1985: 16). After three days of fine weather a strong gale from the west blew up and buffeted the vessel for the following four days. It was rolled upside down by a mountainous wave about 8.00 a.m. on 19 September, some four miles from shore. The mate was the only survivor and he estimated the height of the wave at 60?ft. He managed to cling to some wreckage and was washed ashore about four hours after the wrecking. After searching for survivors he made his way inland and after walking about 10 miles came to a farm.
The body of one of the crewmen, Albert Anderson, was found on the beach and an inquest held on 29 September 1923 brought down a verdict of death by drowning.
A wreck has been found in the shallows at the town of Seabird, very likely that of either Sea Bird or Sea Flower, more probably the former. These vessels probably lie very close to each other.
EXCAVATION AND ARTEFACTS
Mrs M. Cornish, widow of the sole survivor of the Sea Flower, recently donated the ship’s compass to the Western Australian Museum.