Thank you so much, Gwen for the information. Must be a horrifying night then... Cheers, Darlene T ----- Original Message ----- From: "G Dundon" <gdundon@bigpond.net.au> To: <AUS-NSW-CENTRAL-COAST-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2005 5:26 PM Subject: CAWARRA shipwreck > To Darlene and Tony, > > Re your enquiry about the loss of CAWARRA. Sorry if this has gone through > twice by mistake. > > This iron paddle steamer was wrecked on the Oyster Bank at Newcastle, NSW, > on 12 July, 1866 in a terrific storm. Only one person survived from the > 60 aboard. The vessel left Sydney on 11 July, bound for Rockhampton, and > during that night she was overtaken by a terrible south easterly gale that > had her struggling. The captain steamed her on and off the approach to > Newcastle for most of the morning before attempting to cross the bar. > She appeared to stop and was hit by tremendous waves which possibly > extinguished her fires. Helpless, she was driven ashore. > > Apparently about 14 or 15 other vessels were lost in the same violent > weather, and more than 100 people were drowned. > > Maritime historian Ronald Parsons of South Australia in his book, > "Shipping Losses and Casualties concerning Australia and New Zealand" > (2003) quotes the "Newcastle Chronicle" of 14.7.1866 regarding CAWARRA. > > There are probably websites that give more details of this wreck (also of > Ronald Parsons and the Australasian Maritime Historical Society) > > Try the State Records Office, Sydney, for the Marine Board of Enquiry > report. > > Best wishes, Gwen > > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.0/63 - Release Date: 8/3/2005 > > ______________________________