An Account of The wreck of the Barque Jenny Lind on Kenn's Reef
Sept 21st 1850
Latitude South 21`15' Longitude East 155`49'
Sept 21, 4 a.m. Just turned in remarking the peculiar motion of the vessel, she tumbled as if to foretell the approaching danger. About 20 minutes past 4 I heard the sudden cry from the man on the lookout."Breakers ahead", The mate was on the forecastle immediately & perceiving the breakers he sung out to the man at the wheel to "put his helm hard up"
We jumped out of bed instantly but before we had time to get out of the forecastle she struck very heavily and fell on her broadside, the sea washing into the forecastle before we had time to dress ourselves, and picking up our trousers we jumped on deck, everyone stood amazed at the scene and on looking around could see nothing but a reef of rocks. The ship was swaying around very much & we expected to see her going to pieces. The masts were then cut away & fell away over the side all clear which eased her a little. The boats were then the only things to save our lives. We got the Pinnace turned over on deck and the long boat all clear for going overboard but the sea was too high and the vessel rolling and knocking about so much we were unable to save either of them. We then lower'd away the Quarter boat from the Davits & 3 hands jumped into her but the breakers were so heavy that she could not lay along side: and for fear of being swamped in her they dropped in over the reef and moor'd to a rock. by this time we had got the other Quarter boat over and in the water safe which was a miracle for the ship was rolling from one side to the other very much & the sea going right over her; this boat being much larger & a better sea boat than the other were able to keep her along side while they passed us in compasses, charts, chronometers, quadrants & a bag of bread & some of the passengers whom we conveyed to the other boat. At daylight we discovered a small sand & coral bank on which we all safely landed; but very much bruised & hurt, this small bank lies just inside the reef and is 5 or 6 times the length of the ship and about 8 feet above the level of the sea. We hauled our boats up and walked about the bank in search of birds eggs & found several which we relished very much, there were hundreds of birds on all parts of the reef. We watched the vessel going to wreck and ruin very fast and cast a watery eye around but could see nothing but rocks and breakers & birds hovering over our heads. There was nothing but starvation before us now for we had not much water & only a bit of bread. We wished for rain, there being 24 men, 2 women & 3 children, 29 souls in number thinking what may be our fate. We turned our boats up on their sides for shelter for us during the night & eat our morsel of biscuit and 1/2 a gill of water to wash it down; we retired to rest for the night; but few slept........
Sunday 22nd At sunrise awoke all hands to return to the wreck launched our boats and went in search of provisions we most happily found a small keg of lime juice which was a god send, a small cask of water & some bread, & clothing & etc. We returned to our desolate home & each man had a gill & a half of lime juice and water which was a very small allowance for 24 hours; but we were very thankful for that, we were laying down under our tents and talking and thinking on what was to be done when it was proposed to dig a well in hopes of finding water we accordingly dug down some way & succeeded in finding a little.
Monday 23rd At sunrise all hands up and launched the boats to proceed to the wreck for provisions and water and anything which might come of use, found the coppers of the ship and some lead pipes which our worthy passenger (Mr Beal) a surgeon converted into an apparatus for distilling fresh water from the saltwater.
This machine having the desired effect we succeeded in obtaining 8 gallons of good water the first day and in the evening we all had a treat of 1/2 pint each. Being now 3 days on the reef we began to consider of what was to be done. We were all seated around our little tent with a lamp in the centre when some proposed to effect their escape in the two small boats; but the majority of the company considering it not safe to cross the troubled ocean in them the distance being about 200 miles from the nearest point of New Holland we therefore unanimously agreed to build a larger craft which was to be 24 feet long by the keels 27 on deck 9ft beam & 6ft deep which would be a fine size craft.
Tuesday 24th At daylight all in better spirits and cheering up on our extra gill of water. Launched our boats to proceed to the wreck for provisions & whatever would come of use as fuel for our apparatus & we found a cask of beef & a bag of flour, some carpenters tools and other useful articles. So returned once more to our little sand bank with our booty. This day we were divided into 3 parts one of whom to attend on Mr Beal, another part to go to the wreck for planks, and a third including carpenters to build the craft. I was very heavy work to obtain the planks for some times we had to walk up to our middle in water towing the rafts of timber some times twice a day as the tide would suit: but those who were distilling water were again divided into 2 watches one to work at night & the other in the morning for it was too hot in the middle of the day that none of us could work; retired to rest once more.
Wednesday 25th. Proceeded once more to the wreck withtools for ripping up the planks and rafting it together. Got some deck planks & bulwarks, 1 bag flour, 1 cask of beef & some clothing for few of us had not more than we stood upright in, while others had plenty- but it was to be equally divided. I happily found my bag containing many useful articles which I distributed to those who most wanted them. I found it washing about and run the risk of my life to fetch it as I thought it a pity to lose it if it could be recovered. It was very hard to see all our chests washing about the forecastle for they contained many a present and many useful articles which make a sailors life more comfortable- for it is said that a sailors pleasure is to overhaul his chest and look at the books which some of his kind friends had given to him, or some old love letters which serve to remind him of home; but we saved some of them; with great difficulty. I saved my Epitome bible, & quadrant, which were on top of the chest.
Thursday 26th. At daylight we took a piece of duff and 1/2 pint of water to proceed to the wreck for provisions, planks & firewood, carpenters tools & sundry other things. At noon returned to the bank with tools 1 bag of flour & some firewood. After dinner 6 of us went to another sand-bank which lay 1/2 mile to Eastward of ours in the small boat in search of birds eggs.
We landed but found very few, had a bathe & returned to our own bank, hauled our boat up, had supper & lay down to rest.
Our allowance of water being 3 half pints per day now & we are fast filling up our empty casks for sea service.
The bread also is dried & put in bags stowed away in a tent, for the voyage. We have plenty of flour & have duff 3 times a day.
Friday 27th. At day-break had something to eat and proceeded again to our shattered vessel for plank and firewood, found her going to pieces rapidly which endangered our going into the hold for her deck & upper deck beams were all washed away & her lower deck beams hanging over our heads & the sea coming right broadside on in the hold enough to knock a man down. In fact we were all like drowned rats every day; sometimes having to swim for the reef is very irregular; in some places a high rock & there again a deep pit. The coral is very sharp cut our feet to pieces for few of us got any shoes. At noon returned to the reef with a bag of flour, a coil of rope, 2 rafts of plank & firewood together with sundry useful articles . In the afternoon lay down to refresh ourselves, carpenters getting on first rate with the craft. In the evening had supper on beef & duff & 1/2 pint water & retired to rest for the night. Saturday 28th. Found another bag of flour & plenty of plank and firewood; at noon returned had dinner & then 6 of us took the small boat & sailed to the westward to another sand bank which lay 8 miles from us, our intention was to get birds eggs and young birds as there was hundreds of them flying about there; but the surf running so high & a reef of rocks extending all around the bank rendered us unable to land so we had to down sail & pull back again, coming back we saw a turtle & tried to get him but as soon as we got near him he went down; saw also a large sea snake about 8 ft long which came close to the boat. There plenty of Grampers, Thrashers & swordfish knocking about this quarter; and of immense size they sometimes jump 20 or 30 feet out of the water. Returned at sunset to our home, hauled up our boat & having our supper retired to rest.
Sunday 29th. This day being the Sabbath we thought we would retire from work, but as it was a fine morning some thought we might make a trip to the wreck and get what we could so it was agreed that the carpenters should work till we came back which they very willingly did. We went to the wreck & found some useful articles a raft of plank etc, so returning home partook of some plum duff for dinner for a treat & 1 pint water to wash it down. We all left work for the day, some reading some bathing & others talking we spent the day as comfortably as we could. We often cast a watery eye around the clear horizon to see if by chance we could espy some friendly sail thereby to effect our escape, but this was to be done by some other means. We also saw poor Jenny breaking up very fast & looking very different every day with such reflections as those we retired to rest.
Monday 30th. Awoke early and went to the wreck for more plank and fire wood; found a cask of bottled porter & some bottles knocking about also which we relished very much. I found my blanket & quilt. Afternoon returned with our raft of timber & cask of porter. Had dinner & a pint of water we were obliged to change our clothes every day, when we came on shore, evening hauled up our boats & retired to rest.
October 1st. Visited the wreck this morning for fire wood, having plank enough this was our cheif aim found a small cask of pitch & 2 rafts of timber, returned to the bank & had dinner, some of us assisted the carpenter in putting the first plank in its place & each of us had a half pint of porter on the strength of it. As our water machine answered better we were enabled to have 2 quarts each per day of which we could not grumble: our living now is not so course for we have plenty of beef, pork, water & flour: every one have tents or huts to shelter us from the intense heat of the day & the cold of night. The Captian & son have a tent of their own and the second mate & his wife have one - Mr Somerset & family. And a large one between the remainder of us.
Wednesday 2nd. Went to the wreck this morning & procured 2 small rafts & returned, had dinner & lay down for a rest. Afterwards all of us to work picking oakum, clearing away ropes and blocks for rigging for the craft & drawing nails out of the old timber, at sunset left work, supped and retired to our respective lodgings, could not sleep for sand crabs which are very troublesome & cover us all over with little pimples where they bite us.
Thursday 3rd. All hands at work early. It blew fresh and a great surf rolling in heavily which prevented the wreckers from going off to her so they employed their time by picking oakum. At low water the Captain & four others went to visit the remainder of the good old ship, found nearly all one side of her on the reef & made it fast to a rock, picked up some carpenters tools & returned to the bank. At dark knock'd off work suppered & retired to rest.
Friday 4th. Employed as on the preceeding day in picking oakum. At low water visited the wreck again & found a few articles, caught a few small fish which served for supper. This day the carpenters made a steam kiln which answer'd the purpose well.
Saturday 5th. At sunrise found employment for all hands, at low water went to the wreck cheifly for nails _ drawed a great deal which came in well for our new craft. After dinner picked oakum till dark & retired to rest.
Sunday 6th. Retired from our labours & hoisted the colors on board our new craft for the first time. Had our regular meals & felt much refreshed & better prepared for work on the following day. From the 6th to the 13th we were all variously employed some fishing every day (& many a meal we made from fish), some of our crew employed in making spars & rigging - Watermen keeping up the trade every night & others going to the wreck of which there is only the 2 ends & larboard side left. Our craft taking longer to build than we at first anticipated we were obliged to reduce our allowance of flour to 1/2 pint per man per day.
Sunday 13th. Had a general washing & shaving day amongst all hands & and spent it as comfortably as we could.
Monday 14th. Sailmaster & another man employed in cutting out & making sails. All hands doing their best to get on with her. The bottom rigging & spars nearly ready. Saturday fitted out the quarter boat & 6 of us took a trip to a bank to westward of where we tried to land before - but this time we discovered a small channel into which we run and succeeded in landing: the top of the bank is 12' above the level of the sea & nearly round. Here we caught 16 young birds called Mally hawks which were about the size of ducks and 30 other young birds which we brought to the boat, had a drop of water and put off for our little bank which was about 8 miles ahead to windward of us, made sail and kept beating up. At low water discover'd several rocks which lay within the reef. We arrived at our bank in the afternoon had dinner moor'd our boats & cleaned our birds for the next day. Suppered & retired to rest - had several heavy showers of rain during the night & saved some for breakfast.
Sunday 20th. Finding the flour getting very short we thought it necessary to work which we did freely. We had a fine dinner on sea pie made from young birds and duff which was first rate indeed.
From the 20th to the 26th getting on rapid with the work on Saturday 26th launched our new craft & masted her & got some ballast in: but finding her to leak we beached her the next tide to stop some of the leaks.
Sunday 27th. Haul'd off to her moorings & commenced rigging & preparing for sea. Carpenters caulking her decks.
Monday 28th. Bent sails & got some of our clothes & provisions on board got all on board before 2 pm, when we made sail under easy canvas & got clear of the rocks which abound all over the bank & anchor'd for the night to get things in order for sailing next morning. We were obliged to stow close onboard our little schooner.
Tuesday 29th. At day break got underweigh & made sail with a fair wind & fine weather with 6 men in the small boat & 22 in number in the schooner which answer'd very well: but rather leaky which kept 2 hands bailing. Our allowance now is 1 quart of water & lime juice & a biscuit & a half per day with a little butter or cheese & raw meat, in 2 hours we were out of sight of our little sand bank & the once fair Jenny.
We steer'd for Moretons Bay that being the nearest English Settlement town, it was about 350 miles distant. On Thursday night we perceived a fire on the shore, the following morning made the land, the wind still continuing fair. We then rose our allowance to 3 pints of water or lime juice, 3 biscuits a day, & some butter, cheese or raw meat. Saturday morning the wind veering to the south ', with a little cross sea on: found our schooner would not do much on a wind so the Captain thought proper to run into a little bay & anchor'd about 1/2 mile from the shore & about 50 miles southward of Moreton Bay. There were no inhabitants or civilized people near us nothing but wild savages who, when they saw us came running down from the mountains, howling, screeching, dancing & jumping about like mad men. There were 6 or 8 of our crew in closer to the shore in the small boat with a gun & pistol: but although they wanted to know of them if there were any sheep stations or fresh water there about, they were afraid to land: but they understood very little English. One of them swum off to the boat & was brought to the schooner, he asked for tobacco & pipe but could not speak any more english than that. We gave him a pipe & tobacco & an old rug, which he tied up & put on his head & swum on shore again. They beckon'd for us to come on shore but we thought we were near enough to that party. They lighted their fires & camped just a breast of us for the night. We muster'd the carpenters tools to defend ourselves with in case they should come off to us in the night: but we kept a good look out for them for they are very treacherous. But they showed no revenge or animosity against us. It has been known in cases of shipwreck for the unfortunate crew to be roasted for food by these savages. We lay quiet all night: and next morning at daybreak got underweigh & another sabbath beheld us sailing along the coast of N.S.Wales with a fair wind to our hearts content. At 6 pm anchor'd between Moreton Island & the main land for the night.
Monday morning, got underweigh & sail'd along the coast looking out for the Bar & Harbour. At noon the wind blowing fresh & finding the water shoal, & a heavy sea on, Steer'd for a small creek & there anchor'd for the night.
Tuesday - Daylight made sail along the coast & about noon fell in with 2 Whale boats - we signalized them with Union Jack at the top. At first they did not know what to make of us seeing so many on board a small craft. At last seeing our signal of distress flying: they pulled towards us. The Captain told them what we was & they _________ we made a hearty meal, which we had not done for 48 days before, we very heartily thanked them for their kindness, and thanked god that we were in the land of plenty once more. Some slept in the hut that night & others went onboard to bail the craft & slept there all night. The mosquitos were very thick in this place & annoyed some of our party very much. Following morning weighed anchor & towed up the river the wind being very light. About 8 am met the Sydney steamer 'Eagle" on her way to _____ town. They stopped and hail'd us and as soon as they found out what we were they called the boat along side. The second mate being in the boat gave the Captain of the steam packet all particulars about our being shipwrecked & how many of us came safe to land in 2 boats: on hearing the account they immediately gave up their breakfast (which they were about to commence) to us and also gave us some steak, several loaves, & some potatoes which we kept on board. The cook too came running out of the Gully with a hot beef steak in his hand & _____ it into the boat for some of the men to eat. She then proceeded on her passage and our boat return'd to us with what she had received from the steamer. So having a good breakfast we began to think ourselves all right again. We towed away up the river when we fell in with a gig & 4 hands coming down to tow us up the remainder of the way. The two boats took the schooner up cheerly & we soon anchor'd off the custom house at Brisbane. Here we moor'd our boats & went onshore where all the people looked at us very hard & pitying us very much at the same time, they were very anxious to know all particulars concerning us & thought it miracle that so many souls should cross the ocean in such small boats at a distance of 600 miles. We were all treated very kindly by the people,, whose hospitality was more than we could conceive. For while we were standing in the street a publican came by & invited us to dinner which we accepted. We had beef, mutton, Bread & tea, after that 1 glass of ale per man, we thanked him and he told us we were very welcome. The Magistrate then took us under his charge for some time, and put us into an ampty room formerley a prison giving us a regular allowance daily of 1 lb bread, 1 lb meat __ tea 1/2 lb sugar, soap, plates & _______ & plenty of room. One gentleman gave us all our own rug each, and another more than 1/2 pint of Port wine per man. In the evening I fell in with a friend belonging to Morria Town who invited me & another to his house to sleep. And youmay depend I slept very well being the first night I slept in a bed with my clothes off for 48 days & nights. This place is rather dull of trade (there being no shipping here but ______ trader & the Sydney Sydney) but it is a very healthy & delightful part of the country everything around presenting a beautiful appereance. There are 3 towns nearly connected _ North & South Brisbane & Kangaroo Point though not very large these towns are still increasing.
We landed here 5th November 1850.
Thursday 7th. Living along on our allowance, but 2 were taken ill & sent to the hospital. Some went to the shoemakers shop to get some shoes for many had but very little clothing otherwise.
Sunday 10th. Most all hands went to church.
Tuesday 12th. The boats were sold & everything belonging to the wreck which realized about 60 pounds.
November 20th. Left Brisbane in the Eagle steamer for Sydney 23rd arrived there & went to lodgings, 27th signed articles on board the 'Moa' Brig for New Zealand.
December 1st. Sail'd from Sydney for Auckland.
17th arrived at Auckland after a fine passage, spent Christmas Day there.
Sail'd 1st January for Sydney 17th arrived there after a long passage 25th left the brig 'Moa' - On shore 13 days. Got my order cashed that I had of Captain Taylor of the 'Jenny Lind'. Bought someclothes & a chest.
February 6th. Joined the brig 'Louisa' for Adelaide at 3 pounds per month. February 14th. Sailed from Sydney for Adelaide. Had troops for that place. Monday 18th. Strong southerly wind, put in at Two Fold Bay. Sail'd 19th.
Thursday 20th. Spoke the ______ Emperor for East Indies from Sydney.
