New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-09
4 Dtsastrous Expedition.

Full accounts have been received of the
| result Of the expedition organized in Syd-
| ney, to explore New Guinea. After months
| OfpreparatiOn the brig Maria was chartered
| to convey the adventurers from Sydney.
! The Maria left Sydney on the twenty-ffth
! Of January, and arrived within two DAYS
sail OF New Guinea on the twelfth of Feb
ruary, when she was met by a heavy gale
! from the northwest, which blew for four
| days, and so injured and strained the ship
that the captain (Stratman) determined 70
run for Brisbane (Queenslandl to repair.
On the nineteenth of February the wind
veered round to the southwark, and the
ships course was directed towards Cleve-
land bay. The Palm islands were sighted
on the night of Sunday, the twenty-ffth Of
February, and the vessel was kept standing
OF and on during the night About three
O'Clock on the morning of the twenty-sixth
breakers were seen, and shortly afterwards
the ship struck slightly She was kept
away before the wind, and fifteen minutes
afterwards she went on a reef and remained
fast. The boats were got out, RATS were
made, and the anchor was let 90 The
pumps were manned and the vessel was
kept dry.
Shortly Afterwards the rudder was u
shipped, and the sternpost was carried
away. The leak then gained very fast on
the pumps. notwithstanding which the
rising tide hoated the vessel off. and she
lay swinging to her anchor. About day-
light Captain Stratman left the vessel in
the second mates surf boat, with six men.
stating that he was going to the shore for
assistance. There was no rush made TO get
into the boat, which left the ship without
interference. A raft was launched shortly be-
tore seven O'Clock in the morning and mOored
asteFn of the vessel, and all hands were en-
ployed in constructing another There was
at that time about six feet of water in the
hold, and the pumps were abandoned
Some of the crew took provisions into the
fore and maintOps. The steamboat had in
the meantime got adrift with three men in
1t, and the second whalebOat went to its as
sistance. The second raft was launched.
and there were fifteen men on it, each I'd
to their hips in water
The water became level with the mort
covering board Of the vessel, and in a few
minutes afterwards she fell on her beam
ends and sank, leaving six men clinring to
her starboard quarter, while twelve more
were on the JOpmOst crOsstrees-the ONLY
exposed places The steamboat was pulled
up to the masts, and took off all but seven.
the Whaleboat meanwhile taking some OF
the quarter. The two boats then pulled of
Tor the North Palm Island, fifteen men in the
steamboat and thirteen in the whaIebost.
but were unable to make it. the tide drift
ung the boat toward Hinchinbrook, the
WhaIeboat parting company and keeping 70
the south. The stern boat made HincbiD-
brook on Monday night, the twenty-sixth OF
February. and the men slept under it. She
was joined on the following morning bv the
whaleboat and crew. Remained on Hinch-
inbrook four days, then pulled round the
south end of the Island, through the chan.
mel, and reached Cardwell at noon on Sun
day, the third of March
Two men, named Waller and Finnie. who
had left the vessel with the captain. arrived
in Cardwell, Queensland, on Tuesday, from
the north. They reported that they had
been attacked by the blacks, and that Can
tam Stratman and man named Wilson
we're murdered on the beach, and that three
other men who were in the boat had gone
into the bush, followed by the blacks the
two who had arrived in Cardwell had been
i've days on the journey. They followed
The beach, swimming all the creeks. until
hey arrived at Card well, one of them,
tlnnie, having fearful wound in his head,
inflicted by wooden sword The Queens
and government Immediately dispatched
'essels IN search of the missing men. About
dozen men were discovered and saved,
'u6 the great majority, some thirty-fve per-
ons, are supposed TO have been either
iroWned while attempting to land, or mar-
lered by the blacks after landing.