Mary Ann (1869/04/28)

West of Rocky Island, Dampier Archipelago

The following has been handed to as by the Colonial Secretary for publication :

Government Resident's Office,

Roebourne, 25th May, 1869

SIR,-Herewith I have the honor to forward the statement of the master of the Mary Ann relative to the wreck of that vessel.

I believe Mr. Mc'Kenzie proceeds per Mary

to Fremantle.

I have the honor to he, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

R. J. SHOLL.

The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, &c, Perth. Statement of Mr. John McKenzie, master of the

schooner " Mary Ann," relative to the wreck ot that vessel. Taken before the undersigned at Roebourne, this 18th day of May, 1869.

I was master of the " Mary Ann." That vessel left Port Walcott on the 1st April, 1869, having on board besides myself Mr. D. Chap- man, Mr. E. Chapman, Miss R. Chapman, C. J. Wilcox, and E. Percival. On the 3rd April we had a heavy gale of wind which carried away jib and staysail. We were at the time in Flying Foam Passage. On the 5th got three bolts of canvass from the " Mary" and made new jib and staysail. Left the passage on the l0th of April. We went among the islands collecting guano, and nothing particular occurred until the 28th of April. On that day at 4.30 p.m., while bearing up up for Rocky Island to anchor for the night the " Mary Ann" struck on a sunken rock with 3 fathoms all round her. The rock bears due W. from the centre of Rocky Inland, and two miles from low-water mark. The Rocky M m 1 bears N.E. from the Mangrove Islands, distant about 7 miles. It is about equi-distant between the Rivers Ashburton and Fortescue, and perhaps 12 miles from the main land. We saw that she was filling, and in five minutes the water was over the guano in the hold. Mr. Chapman went below to get provisions and I got out the dingy. We all got into the boat after taking sail off the vessel. When we left the water was over her deck and she was settling down. Landed the people on the island with one bag of flour and some clothing. I then went off to the vessel and found that she had slid off the rock and had slewed round with her head to S.W. She was full of water and very buoyant. Took the jib and staysail out of her, unbent the mainsail, which could t obtakein the boat. Took a cask of water and got back to the Island about 9 p.m. On the morning of the 29th April Mr Chapman, E Chapman, and myself, went off to the vessel and found she was on her beam ends with her weather side just awash. E. Chapman dived and cut the yard ropes of the main boom, and the main and fore gaffs. We towed them ashore. We removed some of the running gear and took it off to the island. On the 30th April I was making sails for the dingy, while Mr. Chapman and his son went to the vessel and brought ashore the jib-boom and part of the running gear. At the time the vessel struck it was ebb tide with a light wind from the N. W. ; Mr. Chapman was piloting us in, he having been there before ; we were stearing due E. straight for the Island. Mr. Chapman and his son left in the dingy on the 1st May, for Port Walcott They left on 11 30 a. m We then had two-thirds of a bag of flour and a'ioufc 6 gallons of water. On the 11th May we had some rain, and seeured about 12 gallons of water; on the afternoon of the lltb. the cutter Pilot arrived, and on the 13th we em- barked and sailed for Port Walcott, at which place we arrived on the morning of the 15th May. When we left the Mary Ann had drifted towards the Island about a mile, and was laying on a sandy bottom. I do not consider her a wreck.

JOHN MACKENZIE.

Taken before me this 18th May, 1869.

R. J. SHOLL, Government Resident.