Salve (1878/09/25)
Port Augusta, Flinders Bay, first at Lockeville
Salve was built by R.E. Lorah in New Brunswick, Canada, and was described by its owner and master, John Campbell, as being very strongly built. The brigantine was registered at Melbourne in 1878 (No. 6/1878). It was loading jarrah sleepers for Wallaroo in South Australia.
After being stranded during a gale at Lockeville on 15 September 1878 the Salve was salvaged and after a survey the cargo was reloaded and it left for South Australia on 24 October 1878 (see entry).
THE LOSS
The following day while rounding Cape Leeuwin the Salve was caught in another gale, losing the fore topsail yard and springing a leak. To save the crew Captain Campbell ran the brigantine ashore near Augusta in Flinders Bay. All the crew were saved but the vessel was a total wreck.
INQUIRY
In the case of the loss of the Salve, the Court of Inquiry held that ‘Captain Campbell was justified in beaching his vessel to save life’ (quoted in Goldsmith, 1946: 218). The vessel ‘though passed by the surveyors as fit for the voyage was no doubt seriously injured in her bottom’ (Goldsmith, 1946: 219).
INITIAL SALVAGE
There is a report that portion of the deck of the Salve floated ashore, on which was a cannon now in private hands in Busselton. This is 1.5 m in length, has a bore of about 8.9 cm and weighs around 0.5 tonne. It has also been suggested that the cannon may be associated with either the Deadwater wreck or the Grace Darling (see entries).
Ship Built
Master John Campbell
Country Built Canada
Port Built New Brunswick
Port Registered Melbourne
When Built 1870
Ship Lost
Grouped Region South-West-Coast
Sinking Sprang a leak and was beached
When Lost 1878/09/25
Where Lost Port Augusta, Flinders Bay, first at Lockeville
Port From Wonnerup
Port To Adelaide
Cargo Jarrah
Ship Details
Engine N
Length 37.50
Beam 9.20
TONA 433.00
TONB 424.00
Draft 5.10
Museum Reference
Unique Number 449
Sunk Code Wrecked and sunk
File Number 112/80
Chart Number 1034
Protected Protected Federal
Found N
Inspected N
Confidential NO