______________________________________________________________________________ D6976/3 Reminiscences of H D Melville written 1887 entitled ‘Compensation for A Life’s Service under Civil Service Regulations of South Australia 1887: Book 3 Transcribed by L Fredericks, Volunteer at the State Library of South Australia, 2006 The spelling and punctuation are as appear in the text. struck, and disabled, by the floating wreckage, we were trying to reach one poor fellow who had got a hold on a span when the draw-back carried him out of our reach amongst a lot of rigging and we saw no more of him. he was probably stunned and carried out to sea. This was my first attempt at swimming in a surf, and I learnt this lesson, not to trust to my power as a swimmer, but go with the seas and when they break, get under and cling to the bottom, attempt to breast the draw-back and you’re a gone man, Some of the bodies were recovered next day (I think five) and buried in the sand-hill it was difficult to say how many bodies for dog fish had made such havoc amongst them, I remember seeing a dog fish hanging on to part of a body until a trooper (who was trying to land it) had got it near ashore, the trooper a smart young fellow [part of page pasted to reverse of page ] 8–“The Advertiser,” Friday, October 13 1944 VIEWS AND WRECK OF S.S. ADMELLA To the Editor Sir–In “The Advertiser” of the 11 th the graphic account of the wreck of the s.s. Admella makes interesting reading. This disaster of 85 years ago is comparable in the public mind only with that tragic happening at Port Willunga 56 years ago when the fine ship Star of Greece was broken to pieces on the reef with the loss of her master and 17 of her complement. While there are many who remember that stormy July night in 1888, there would be few, if any, living who recall the loss of the Admella. But in the Nautical Museum at Port Adelaide may be seen tangible evidence of the wrecked vessel, viz., a dinner plate bearing the name and flag of the vessel, a panel from a cabin door, and a grease cup from the engine-room. A small event sometimes leads to great consequences. Had the steamer held on her course instead of heading to sea to ease conditions for the racehorses on board, the disaster might not have occurred.– I am, Sir, &c., VERNON SMITH Largs Bay. (I. Ewens) had some rough and dangerous work in recovering the bodies. If this vessel had 120 fathoms of chain to her anchor as she should have had she would have ridden out the gale, the holding ground in the Bay could not be better. the ship like many others that came into port had never been at anchor in an open roadstead and was not properly found for such work, her chains had never been out of the lockers and thus more discredit was thrown on Port Robe by its opponents D6976_3_Melville_reminiscences_transcript Page 1 of 13 ______________________________________________________________________________ Wreck of the “Admella” August 1859 These are painful recollections to call up, and none as much so as the loss of the Admella s.s, I have always held and still do, the opinion that the loss of this fine steamer and the many lives, was mainly attributable to the desire She broke her back on the reef the fore part went down and stern remained on the reef – canting over those saved were lashed in mezin rigging, the great loss of life was when the vessel parted \I believe/ some 80 lives were lost altogether but writing from memory I cant give the exact number I know that 22 only were saved, 19 by the portland life boat and 3 by our shire boat one of the number being the Capt the vessel struck the reef on the night of the 6 August and the rescued were on the wreck 8 days, I was in charge of the shore party under the Trinity House and a fearfully harressing time we had of it, All Adelaide was in a state of great excitement, and messengers were kept continually going between M t Gambier and the scene of the wreck bearing messages of the most extraordinary character some suggested catamarans as a means of getting at the wreck, and one begged that I would not lose sight of the fact that oil thrown on troubled waters had proved a success – the troubled water we had to contend with was the heavy seas breaking on two lines of reef between us and the wreck. the only opening was from the sea side, and the first attempt of the Life-boat to approach the wreck from the sea failed The people of Adelaide could not understand why day after day no plan was devised to get communication with the wrecked vessel, upon my visit to Adelaide shortly after the wreck I shewed the Governor Sir Richard M cDonnell a sketch I had made which fully proved the impossibility of our getting at the wreck from the shore until the seas went down, I now give the sketch then made, better men or stouter hearts could not be found than many of the sailors and boatmen that waited on that shore night and day for a week hoping the seas would go down and we should be able to launch our boats one a whale boat and the other a boat from the wreck that we had patched up, neither of them would live in broken water, driven to desperation B. Germein and a volunteer crew did make one attempt, and nearly lost their lives the boat was capsized like \a/ nut-shell in the first line of breakers, one poor fellow had his leg terribly lacerated. I had been careful that no man entered the boat except as a volunteer, to have made another attempt would have been madness. to keep alive hope amongst the sufferers we kept large fires alight on the sand- hills all night – for this some very severe strictures were passed on me, It might have been the means of wrecking other vessels, Bosh no vessel could have mistaken three bush-fires for Cape Northumberland Light-token that light should be on view On the morning of the day the survivors were taken off the wreck 14 August 1859 the sea at day break was calmer than at any time since the wreck, and as the “Lady-bird” Str did not heave in sight with her Life-boat we decided to launch our shore-boats It being arranged that if the Life-boat hove in sight I should signal shore boats to return, which I did but not before Germein had got his boat alongside and the Capt and three [?] passengers into it. The other boat could not get over the second reef and was returning, we landed three out the four from the wreck one was lost in landing he was a pedler and quite mad. The Life-boat succeed in getting off the remainder (one a girl Miss Ludwick) and putting them on board the Lady-bird Str they were at once taken to Portland Bay and I believe all recovered We rigged a Gypsey tent for our three who were attended by D r Whell, their feet were like enormous black puddings with indentations were the D6976_3_Melville_reminiscences_transcript Page 2 of 13 ______________________________________________________________________________ toes were. The Capt suffered in mind as well as body We watched them all night and kept their feet well attended to, I had not slept for three nights and now that the excitement was all over we knew the worst. reaction set in and I could have slept for a week I was awoken by Inspector G.B.Scott to relieve him and take morning watch over our saved ones, after giving them their medicine and anointing their feet I sat at the mouth of the tent with an arm round the pole and tried to keep awake when I was most thoroughly awakened by the shrieks of the Capt whose mind was at work and \in his delirium/ he was reviewing the whole scene of the wreck on that terrible night she struck. Oh the poor women and the children Oh my God save them look look. my hair was on end I wanted to sleep no more. poor fellow. remorse had something to do with his ravings I give the incidents most worthy of note in connection with the wreck of the “Admella” no bodies were washed ashore the only body recovered was found at Cape Bridgewater a long way south of the wreck. The first attempt to get ashore was made by the mate he was seen by those on \the/ wreck till near the shore when it was supposed he became exhausted, or not being able to free himself from the Life buoy he had secured to his body he was taken out to sea. Strange to say two horses got ashore without injury one a race horse (Barber) and another a grey draught stallion. We found the carcase of one fine old Racer (Jupiter) and gave it decent burial, many old colonists will remember what a splendid horse Jupiter was. I give a copy of a lithograph by Mr Tinkler of the Trinity House of this \grand/ old horse The first report of the wreck was made by two sailors Leach and Knapman who were lucky plucky enough to get ashore on a raft and walk 20 miles along the coast to the Cape Northumberland Light-house, I think it was the second day after the wreck, there were many touching incidents that I cannot remember but may be found recorded in a little pamphlet published at the time There is always one painful experience in connection with wrecks and that is the presence of those who go for no other purpose than plunder, and we had a number of these bipeds to deal with, my old friend G B.