Perseverant

The French whaler Perseverant was driven ashore during a gale on 16 March 1841. The crew were stranded on Dirk Hartog island for ten weeks and five men died of scurvy during that time. The remaining crew were becoming desperate and set off in four small boats from the wrecked ship. Only one of these boats was eventually rescued. There is no clear evidence that these survivors had contact with Aboriginal people while on the island. However, early reports of a wreck at this time were received in Perth via information circulating from northern Aboriginal tribes. The Perth Gazette was scathing about these reports, suggesting they were fabrications. They can be linked to the stories about the Mercury and the Zuytdorp.