Complex sentence: In 1872, as an engineer, he went on a voyage to New Guinea but the "Maria" was wrecked, and in 1875 he again sailed as an engineer on William John Macleay's expedition to the Gulf of Papua.
Split into simpler sentences: In 1872, as an engineer, he sailed on the "Maria" on a voyage to New Guinea but the ship was wrecked. In 1875 he again sailed as an engineer on William John Macleay's expedition to the Gulf of Papua.