The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-12-09 00:00:00

iCOVERY OF WRECKS ON THE
iORTH-WEST OF AUSTRALIA.

Freereantle, Sept. 30.—An official report, dated Cossack,
21st Ripe, of the expedition sent oat in the Victoria
(schooner) in search ot the missing portion of the crew of the
wrecked vessel Stefano, contains information concerning a
quantity of wreckage in the neighbourhood of Point Cloates.
It states:—
On the 2nd June, when rounding the north-west
cape, we descried a native fire landed, and heard from
the natives that Charles Tuckey had rescued two sur-
vivors from the Stefano, but that the rest had "gone
south," some dying. On the 7th, discovered a passage
about six miles south of Point Cloates ; anchored
outedde and proceeded to explore in the whaleboat,
and landed amid a mass of wrech. Next day a
minute examination was made, and it was concluded
that net fewer than four' probably five, vessels of con-
siderable tonnage had been wrecked within seven
or eight months. The wreck of the Sttfano appeared
to be the oldest one on the beach. In tier immediate
neighbourhood, on each side, were two other vessels or
sides Of vessels, partially buried in sand and seaweed,
and piled up with spars and timbers. One of these
was Indian built, hard wood, probably about 300
to 500 tons lourthen. The other was Oregon pine' and
apparently American built, about the same size, Half
a mile further up the beach, south-westerly, was the
deck Pf a soft-wood ship, with main hatch, combings,
&c., complete, but so choked with spars masts, yards,
&c., as well as to a great extent buried in seaweed,
that it was found difficult to identify it as part of one
of the other wrecks. A little farther Routh westerly,
on the beach, just awash, was the aide of a very large
vessel, apparently lately wrecked, hard wood, very
light teak. She was copper- fastened and coppered, the
copper sheathing being but very slightly torn in a few
places, and quite bright, without any barnacles.
Thirteen D'anks, 9 inches wide, were counted between
her copper and covering boards. The wreck appeAied
to consist of nearly the whole length of a vessel's
broadside. Four fifths of the side (being end on) was
under water. She was judged to be a vessel of about
1,000 tone. The other side of apparently some vessel
was afloat about a quarter of a mile from the beach.
. No cargo of any kind, or boxes, &c., were observed on
the beach. Thera were three built masts of very
large eze, not less than 3 feet diameter. A bowsprit
was found to measure 41 feet long and 2 feet 9 inches
in diameter, end a main or foreyard, a small
portion of one end of which had broken off,
measured 71 feet. About one hundred other
spars were strewn along the beach, and it was
remarkable that all the wreckage had come ashore
within a distance of two miles. The native who had
camped with the survivors of the Stefano immediately
after her wreck declared that the other wrecks were not
there when he was last at the spot, and this has since
been verified by the statement of the two survivors of
the Stefano on board the Rosette, The native also
stated that about two winters ago a very large steamer
had been wrecked down at his country (Cape Cuvier),
and all hands were lost, including a woman. The
native, moreover, said that the rest of the survivors
frt.m. the wreck of the Stefano had died a long way
south.