Greyhound (1884/10/18)
Hamelin Jetty
Greyhound was built in Wivenhoe, UK, and had one deck, an elliptical stern and was sheathed with yellow metal. Initially owned by Newman and Co. and used primarily in the Baltic trade, it was purchased by Captain Lloyd of Hobart in 1868 for £2 750. It traded regularly between southern Australian ports, Singapore and other Asian ports, and Mauritius. The brig was described by the newspaper as ‘a tight handy little craft’ (Inquirer, 29 October 1884: 2f). By 1884 the owner was Captain Alfred C. Prescott, of Port Adelaide, and he was the master at the time of the loss. He had taken the Greyhound on two voyages to New Bedford, USA, in the months before being wrecked. The vessel had arrived at Hamelin Bay from Samarang in Java on 13 October 1884, and was loading timber for Madras in India.
THE LOSS
The Greyhound was at anchor at Hamelin Bay when a north-west gale caused the anchor chains to part at about 9.00 p.m., and the brig was driven ashore two hours later about a mile (1.6 km) north of the jetty. After beaching the brig heeled over, with its deck towards the beach and with seas breaking over it. At 6.00 a.m. the following morning the crew got ashore, but without any of their personal possessions. The next day, 20 October, the brig began to break up and much of its deck planking washed ashore.
INQUIRY
A Court of Inquiry was held at Vasse on 1 November 1884 by J.S. Harris, subcollector of Customs, and S. Bompass, J.P., which found that Captain Prescott and crew were not to blame for the loss of the Greyhound, having taken every reasonable precaution to ensure the safety of the vessel.
Ship Built
Owner Captain Alfred C. Prescott of Port Adelaide
Master Captain J.C. Prescott
Country Built UK
Port Built Wivenhoe, Essex
Port Registered Melbourne
When Built 1858
Ship Lost
Grouped Region South-West-Coast
Sinking Gale, parted cables
When Lost 1884/10/18
Where Lost Hamelin Jetty
Port From Samarang, Java
Port To Madras
Cargo Timber
Ship Details
Engine N
Length 37.80
Beam 7.38
TONA 231.00
Draft 4.30
Museum Reference
Official Number 21593
Unique Number 1216
Registration Number 18/1872
Sunk Code Wrecked and sunk
File Number 112/80, 196/75
Chart Number 1472
Protected Protected Federal
Found N
Inspected N
Confidential NO