Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-07-11
Sad Disaster to an Exploring Party.

Sad tidings have been received of the
result of an expedition organized in
Sydney some months ago to explore New
Guinea. After months of preparation
the brig Maria was chartered to convey
the Adventures from Sydney. The
Maria left Sydney on the Gath of January
and arrived within two days sail of New
Guinea on the 10Th of February, when
she was met by heavy gale from the
northwest, which blew for four days, nd
so Injured and strained the ship that the
captain (Stratman) determined to run for
Brisbane (Queensland) to repair, On
the 10Th OF February the wind veered
round to the southwark, and the ships
course was directed toward Cleveland
Bay. The Palm Islands were sighted on
the night OF Sunday, the 24oh February,
and the vessel was kept standing of and
on during the night. About three
o'clock on the morning of the 26th
breakers were seen and shortly afterward
the ship struck slightly. She was kept
away before the wind, and fifteen min
utes aiterward she went on reef and
remained fast.
The boats were got on, RATS were
made. and the anchor was let go The
pumps we're manned, and the vessel was
kept dry. Shortly afterward the rudder
was unshipped and the sternpost 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 daylight Captain Strautman 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 before seven
o'clock in the morning and moored
astern of the vessel. and all hands were
employed in constructing another one.
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 foe aud main tops.
The stern boat had, in the mean tune,
got adrift with three men in it, and the
,econd whalebOat went to its assistance.
The cond raft was launched and there
were fifteen men upon it, each up to his
hips in water. The water became level
with the port covering board of the
vessel and in n few minutes afterward
she fell on her beam ends and sank,
leaving six men clinging to her starboard
quarter. and twelve more were on hel
topmast crosstrees, the only exposed
places. The stern boat was pulled mp to
the masts, and took off all hut seven, the
wbaleboat meanwhile taking some off the
quarter. The two boats then pulled off
for the North Palm Island, fifteen men
in the stern boat and thirteen IN the
whaleboat, but were unable to make it.,
the tide drifting the boat toward Hiuch-
inbrt ok, the whaleboat parting company,
and keeping to the south. The stern boa
made Hinchinbrook on Monday NIGHT,
the 26th February. and the men slept
under it. She was Joined on the follow
ing morning bv the wba1eboat crew
Remained on Hiuchinhrook four days.
then pulled round the south end of the
island, through the channel, and reached
Cardwell at noon on Sunday, the Sd
March.
Two men, named Waller and Finnie,
who had left the vessel with the captain.
arrived at Cardwell, Queensland, on
Tuesday, from the North. They re-
ported that they had been attacked by
the blacks, and that Captain Stratman
and man named Wilson were murdered
on the beach, and that three other men
who were in the boat bad gone into the
bush, followed by the blacks, The two
who had arrived Mt Card well had been
five d Tvs on the journey. They followed
the beach, swimming all the creeks, until
they arrived at Cardwel!, one of them,
Finnie, having d fearful wound in his
head, inflicted by a wooden sword The
Que nsland government Immediately
despatched vessels in search of the mis-
sing men. About dozen men were dis
cover 4 and saved but the great major,
ity. some thirty-fve persons, are sup
posed TO have been either drowned
while attempting to land, or murdered
by the blacks alter landing.