Sydney Cove (1796 ship)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom
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| Name: | Begum Shaw |
| Renamed: | Sydney Cove (1796) |
| Fate: | Wrecked 1797 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tons burthen: | 250 (bm) |
| Propulsion: | Sail |
Sydney Cove was the Bengal country ship Begum Shaw that new owners purchased in 1796 to carry goods to Sydney Cove, and renamed for her destination. She was wrecked in 1797 on Preservation Island off Tasmania while on her way from Calcutta to Port Jackson. She was among the first ships wrecked on the east coast of Australia.
The ship was built in Calcutta as part of the rice fleet, under the name Begum Shaw. She was bought in 1796 by the agency house (private trading firm) of Campbell and Clark to carry a cargo to Sydney Cove that consisted of various provisions, spirits and goods. The venture was speculative, meaning the goods had not been ordered by the colony, but rather were to be sold on arrival.
The new owners kept the ship's master, Gavin (or Guy) Hamilton, and she departed on 10 November 1796. She encountered heavy seas in December that started a leak. Further bad weather in January increased it, so that the pumps had to be manned continuously. In February, off the east coast of Tasmania, yet more heavy weather saw the leak gaining on the bailing efforts.
On 9 February 1797, with the water up to the lower-deck hatches, putting Sydney Cove in imminent danger of sinking, Hamilton decided to ground the stricken vessel on the island now called Preservation Island, which is in the Furneaux Group, north of Tasmania. He chose a sheltered location so everyone was able to get ashore safely and most of the cargo was saved, too. He had the salvaged rum stored safely out of the crew's reach, on nearby Rum Island.
A party of seventeen men set off on 28 February 1797 in the ship's longboat to reach help at Port Jackson, 400 nautical miles (740 km) away. This was led by first mate Hugh Thompson, and included William Clark the supercargo, three European seaman and twelve Indian lascars (sailors). Ill fortune struck again and they were wrecked on the mainland at the northern end of Ninety Mile Beach. Their only hope was to walk along the shore all the way to Sydney, a distance of over 600 kilometres.
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Wikipedia