SS Gothenburg

SS Gothenburg
History
Great Britain
Name	SS Celt
Launched	1854
Fate	Sold, 1862
History
Australia
Out of service	1875
Renamed	SS Gothenburg, 1866
Fate	Sunk, 24 February 1875.
Notes	rebuilt 1873.
General characteristics
Tons burthen	501tons
Length	197 feet
Propulsion	Sails & Screw
Sail plan	Barquentine
Complement	34 crew

The SS Gothenburg was a 501 ton, 197 foot, Barquentine rigged, coal-burning steamship built at Lungley's building yards in Millwall, London in 1854. She was originally owned by Balgrave of Rotterdam and was intended to ply between London and Rotterdam. In 1862, McMerkan, Blackwood and Co. of Melbourne purchased her for the Australian trade, and in that year she made a protracted voyage from England to Australia by sail.

Prior to her sinking in 1875, she was one of the most modern vessels working around the Australian coastline. Rigged for steam with a 120hp engine, or sail, she was considered reliable and dependable. She was originally built as the SS Celt, but in 1866, she was lengthened and refitted to enable longer distances under steam and greater passenger and cargo capacity. Following the modifications, she was renamed the Gothenburg.

She was fitted with four lifeboats, two port and two starboard.

History

The Gothenburg was a small, but popular ship that operated between Australia and New Zealand in the 1860s. She was rigged as barquentine, with her funnel set well aft between the main and mizzen masts. After many years on the New Zealand run, her owners transferred her to the Australian coastal service.

File:SS Gothenburg 2.jpg

SS Gothenburg, docked at Port Adelaide wharf

In November 1874, several shipowners were contracted for two years from the South Australian government to provide ten round trips between the colonial capital of Adelaide and its furthest outpost, Port Darwin. Port Darwin was feeling the effects of a gold rush at Pine Creek and growing quickly as a trade post with the Dutch East Indies. However, all the local banks sent their money, together with government paperwork and the Royal Mail, around the east coast to Adelaide.

When the Gothenburg left Port Darwin on Wednesday, 17 February 1875, Captain James Pearce was under orders to make best possible speed. Pearce had been her captain on the Adelaide-Darwin run for some time and had built up a solid reputation. He was a man of the sea, a man of sobriety and kindness and was well respected by his fellow sea captains.

Captain James Pearce

Amongst the approximately 88 passengers and 34 crew (surviving records vary) were government officials, circuit court judges, Darwin residents taking their first furlough and miners. Also aboard was the French Vice Consul Mr Edouard Durand and Dr James Millner, the medical officer in George W. Goyder's 1869 expedition to found the first colony at Port Darwin. There were also several prisoners aboard, bound for the Adelaide jail. In the Captain's cabin was approximately 3,000 ounces of gold valued at £40,000. (approx US$2.6 million in 2008). Mr Durand reportably also carried a tin box with him containing gold sovereigns and coins worth in excess of £3,000.

In three days of fine weather, the Gothenburg travelled 900 miles from Palmerston (Darwin) to Somerset on Cape York. The weather was worsening so the ship stopped to take on ballast at Somerset. While anchored, conditions deteriorated to a point where both anchor chains parted. After the loss of the anchors, the Gothenburg was forced to prematurely steam out seven miles where she brought up for the night.

The next day, the Gothenburg passed Cooktown at about 2.00pm on Tuesday, 23 February. The wind and rain severely increased and cloud cover became so thick it blocked out the sun. Despite this, she continued the journey south into growing worsening weather, in a deep water passage between the North Queensland coastline and the Great Barrier Reef, known as the inner route. Although taking this route provided some protection from the open sea, captains had to navigate and thread their way through a number of then unchartered reefs. All passengers and crew expected to be in Newcastle on Sunday evening for a scheduled stopover.

Shipwreck

On the evening of 24 February 1875, the ship was still heading south in almost cyclonic conditions with fore, top and mainsails set and the steam engines running a full speed. Flooding rains lashed the entire Queensland coast and Captain Pearce reportably could not see land or sun. At approximately 7:00 pm, and for reasons undetermined, he altered course and shortly afterwards, at full speed (11 to 12 knots), hit a section of the Great Barrier Reef at low tide near Holbourne Island. At first, there was no panic and many passengers returned to their cabin bunks expecting the Gothenburg would come off the reef at high tide.

Steamer Gothenburg

In an attempt to refloat her, Captain Pearce ordered the Gothenburg to be lightened forward. Water casks used as ballast and passengers were brought aft in an endeavour to refloat her as the tide rose, but without success. Finally, a fatal attempt was made to refloat her, by reversing the motors hard. The vessel came half off the reef, but holed herself badly and then slewed broadside to the waves, in a much worse position. However, with the tide rising and some cargo now being dumped overboard, all aboard still expected the Gothenburg to float free. With strong winds changing direction and seas increasing, the boiler fires were extinguished by water rising through the damaged stern. At that point, the Gothenburg was doomed and Captain Pearce was forced to admit that the situation had become desperate.

The storm made launching the lifeboats impossible. At about 3:00 am, Captain Pearce ordered the two port lifeboats lowered, each with four crew on board. While being passed astern one of the boats broke the painter and became adrift. Its crew tried hard to pull up to the ship's side, but it was impossible in the heavy squall. The other was accidentally let go and both boats, in heavy seas, were unable to be retrieved.

At about 3:30 am on Thursday, 25 February, the Gothenburg continued to heel over. The deck became so steep that passengers and crew had to climb over the rails to get on her side. At about 4:00 am, the two remaining starboard lifeboats were lowered and were rushed by the passengers. One starboard lifeboat, crammed with women and children, capsized when others tried to board it. Some half-dozen men righted her in the water, but, damaged and without oars, food or water, it quickly drifted away and was never found. The second starboard lifeboat also capsized when the sea crashed over, washing all the occupants into the sea. Five or six men and one woman climbed onto the upturned hull. The boat was still connected to its painter, but it was unable to be recovered from the heavy sea and wind which swept the woman off and drowned her. In less than 15 minutes, nearly 100 people had been washed away or trapped in their water-filled cabins.

Artist impression of the wreck of the steamer Gothenburg

Those still on board the Gothenburg tried to cling to the rigging, but several people were drowned after they were swept overboard by large broadside waves. One passenger recalled the sea on the downwind side of the ship being covered with human heads bobbing up and down like corks. Many passengers associated with the gold diggings were unwilling to let go of their gold and money belts, as it was probably their life savings, insisted on keeping them tied and once overboard reportedly drowned very quickly.

Survivors

By morning of the 25 February, only the masts were visible, protruding from the water with 14 people clinging to the rigging, where they remained for the next 24 hours. The remaining starboard lifeboat which had also capsized, still held on by her painter. At first light, on 26 February, those survivors managed to right the boat, bailed it out, prepared a makeshift sail and paddled for the mainland. About 7 hours later they realised they couldn't make mainland, so they altered course for an island that could be seen in the distance. When they arrived, they were met by 4 of the seaman from one of the port lifeboats. Their lifeboat had been severely damaged on the rocks on the opposite side of the island while attempting to land there the day before.

The other port lifeboat, with four crew on board, was picked up by the steamer Leichhardt at an island at the entrance to Whitsunday passage two days after the disaster. The steamer immediately reversed course back towards the wreck, which she reached at approximately 3.30pm on Friday, 26 February. The Leichhardt Chief Officer and four hands went alongside, but nothing other than her masts could be seen above the water except for the body of a naked man floating nearby. They assumed the other victims had been taken by sharks. The Leichhardt searched for survivors until last light and then made way for Bowen where the alarm was raised.

At Holbourne Island, the other 18 survivors were living off raw bird's eggs and rain water that had pooled in the island rocks. Because rescue was uncertain, they engraved ship details and their names on the concave side of a large turtle shell, in the hope that it would be found in the future. On Sunday, 28 February, 15 of them set off in the starboard lifeboat for an island about 20 miles away to the south, which appeared to be closer to the main shipping lane. A rescue ship sent looking for survivors, picked up the group and took them safely to Bowen. That ship subsequently returned to Holbourne Island and rescued the three remaining survivors.

Aftermath

Although reports vary, records show that between 98 and 112 people drowned, including Dr James Millner and his family. Most records state the death toll at 102. Only 22 people survived (12 crew and 10 passengers). All women and children aboard (numbering 25) and all the Officers perished.

Thomas Reynolds

Mr Edward W. Price, Magistrate and Commissioner Circuit Court of the Northern Territory, who remained behind in Darwin, lost his wife and six children. Devastated by the news, he was given six months leave on full pay by the government. The retired fifth Premier of South Australia, Mr Thomas Reynolds and his wife, Anne, both drowned as did Mr Durand, the French Vice Consul.

Other well-known passengers to perish were Justice William A. Wearing QC, Circuit Court Judge; Joseph Whitby, acting South Autralian Crown Solicitor; Richard Wells, NT Times & Gazette editor; Lionel Pelham, a senior public servant; Commander Andrew Ross of the Royal Navy; Mr C.J. Lyons, Justice Wearing's senior assistant; William Shoobridge, Secretary to several mining companies; Mr A.L. McKay, Government Surveyor and several Overland Telegraph employees.

Never before in Australian history had so many high-profile public servants, dignitaries and diplomats perished in a single tragedy. Many passengers and some crew who perished were Darwin residents and news of the tragedy severely affected the small community, reportably taking several years to recover.

At Bowen, twelve survivors left with Captain Lake on the ship Victoria headed for Sydney. They all got free passage from McMerkan, Blackwood and Co, the owners of Gothenburg. The four survivors from the second port lifeboat that were picked up by the steamer Leichhardt, remained with that ship and subsequently made way for Brisbane.

Two weeks later a hard-hat diver, sent down to recover the gold and other valuables, found the bodies of two women at the foot of the saloon staircase, one with her arm around the other. The diver tried to reach them to take a lock of hair or some other personal item that could be identified by their loved ones, but the restriction of the air line made it impossible. The gold in the Captain's cabin, after much difficulty, was recovered. While recovering the gold, several sharks near the wreck were caught and the stomachs of some contained human bones and remains.

From left: Robert Brazil, John Cleland and James Fitzgerald in 1875

There were three heroes identified that tragic night, all attested to by all the other survivors, for their attempts to save other passengers. In recognition of their bravey, on 26 July 1875, the Governor of South Australia, Sir Anthony Musgrave, presented James Fitzgerald, John Cleland and Robert Brazil with gold medals and a gold watch. The Gothenburg Relief Fund Committee also presented each of them with a gold chain.

Report

The Report of the Marine Board of Queensland determined that the loss of the Gothenburg may in a great measure be attributed to an unexpected offset seawards, caused by heavy floods in the Burdekin and other rivers discharging themselves into the sea at that portion of the coast. At the same time they do not consider that due caution was observed in the navigation of the vessel, as they are of the opinion that some attempt should have been made to sight Cape Bowling Green Lighthouse, or Cape Upstart. Failing that, that the lead should have been used, which, on this part of the coast, is a sufficient guide for keeping clear of the Barrier; a vessel carrying a depth not exceeding 15 or 16 fathoms being well clear of that danger, while a less depth would show an approach to the shore of the mainland.

Present day

Today, only sections of the deteriorated iron hull of the SS Gothenburg remains. The wreck lies in approximately 26 meters (85 feet) of water on the western side of Old Reef, 130 km southeast of Townsville.

The Gothenburg Shipwreck is registered on the Queensland National Estate (place ID #8923) as a Heritage site. Its official location is: Old Reef, Great Barrier Reef, 75 km north-east of Ayr, at 19°22′06″S 148°03′21″E
. The reef around the wreck provides good diving with an extensive coral garden. Pelagic fish and reef sharks are common.

Most streets in the northern Darwin suburb of Coconut Grove and some in the adjacent suburb of Millner, were named after local Darwin residents, interstate visitors and crew who lost their lives during the shipwreck. Gothenburg Crescent, in the inner Darwin suburb of Stuart Park was named after the ship.

The large turtle shell, which was engraved by the 18 survivors at Holbourne Island, is displayed at the South Australian Art Gallery, in Adelaide.

People

Survivors

In 1875, a detailed list of all passengers and crew was published by J.H. Lewis, Printer & Publisher, albeit with several spelling mistakes. That document was used as the main source of the following tables.

The survivors surnames have been reconciled against rescue ships' log books, other records and a photo of the engraved turtle shell. Known discrepancies have been clarified, where possible, in the comments section.

Surname	Given names	Status	Comment
Andrews	Stewart	Passenger	Gold miner. Some records have spelt as "Andrew".
Bilts	Richard	Crew	Able Seaman. Some records have incorrectly spelt as "Betts" or "Blyes".
Brazil	Robert (Bob)	Crew	Fireman. Awarded a Medal for bravery. Brazil Crescent in Karama named after.
Burns	William	Crew	Trimmer. Rescued by the steamer Leichhardt.
Campbell	James, J.	Passenger	Died shortly after rescue from ill effects of exporsure.
Cleland	John	Passenger	Gold miner. Cleland Street in Millner named after. Awarded a Medal for bravery.
Cockram	Thomas	Passenger	Gold miner. Some records have incorrectly spelt as "Cockburn" or "Cockerman".
Cooper	George	Crew	Fireman. Some records have incorrectly spelt as George "Cover".
Falk	William, F.	Crew	Able Seaman.
Fitzgerald	James, J.	Passenger	Fitzgerald Street in Millner named after. Awarded a Medal for bravery.
Griffiths	William (Bill)	Crew	Able Seaman.
Harris	David	Passenger	Virginia Gold Mining Company. Harris Street in Millner named after.
Halminson	Salin or Salve	Crew	Able Seaman. Rescued by steamer Leichhardt. Several incorrect variations of his surname exist.
Hogan	Patrick, J.	Passenger	Gold miner.
Hudson	Joseph	Crew	Fireman. Rescued by the steamer Leichhardt.
Kruger	Jack	Passenger	Gold miner.
Marks	James	Crew	Able Seaman.
Nelson	Harry	Crew	Forecabin Steward. Rescued by the steamer Leichhardt.
Reynolds	Jack	Crew	Able Seaman.
Roberts	William	Passenger	Gold miner. Some records have incorrectly spelt as William "Romers".
Thomas	William, S.	Passenger	Purser of Winns Gold Mining Company, NT. Only Saloon passenger to survive.
Wylie	David	Crew	Able Seaman. Helmsman at time of grounding.

Known casualties (Passengers)

Surname	Given names	Status	Comment
Blades		Passenger	Male.
Cameron	George Francis	Passenger	Probably a gold miner.
Cartwright	Family	Passengers	Edward & 2 sons. Cartwright Court in Coconut Grove named after.
Cleave	E.	Passenger	Male. Gold miner and prisoner.
Copeland	T.	Passenger	Male.
Cox	Family	Passengers	Darwin residents. Mr Price Winal, wife Mary with 3 daughters and 1 son.
Craig	Joseph	Passenger	Darwin resident. Craig Crescent in Coconut Grove named after.
Dean	J.	Passenger	Male. Gold miner. Surname has also been spelt "Deane".
Dittmar	A.W.	Passenger	Gold miner. Surname has also been spelt "Dittmer".
Durand	Edouard	Passenger	French Vice Consul. Durand Court in Coconut Grove named after.
Easther	W.	Passenger	Overland Telegraph employee. Easther Crescent in Coconut Grove named after.
Eastwright	Family	Passengers	Father and son.
Edgar	J.	Passenger	Male. Mining engineer.
Fairhall	Henry William	Passenger	Cattle drover and gold miner.
Floyd	W.	Passenger	Overland Telegraph employee. Floyd Court in Coconut Grove named after.
Fogerty	J.	Passenger	Male. Gold miner.
Fry	Charles	Passenger	Saddle maker. Darwin resident. Fry Street in Palmerston named after.
Glenister	H.	Passenger	Male. Gold miner.
Gouldier	Family	Passengers	Father (initials J.P.) and son (initial W.).
Graham	William H.	Passenger	Male. Employed by Adcock, Caldwell & Co, merchants.
Griffiths	James	Passenger	Male. Gold miner.
Hart	Family	Passengers	Patrick and wife. Darwin residents. Hart Court in Coconut Grove named after.
Hazell	Henry	Passenger	Darwin resident. OTE. Hazell Court in Coconut Grove named after.
Hearce	H.	Passenger	Male.
Hunt	Family	Passengers	James Alexander and wife Eliza. Publican of Great Britain Hotel.
Johns	Edwin, S.	Passenger	Male. Stonemason.
Lauche	W.	Passenger	Male. Gold miner. Has also been spelt "Lauchs".
Lizzar	Simon	Passenger	Gold miner and Overland Telegraph employee.
Lyons	C. J.	Passenger	Male. Public Servant to Judge Wearing.
Martin	Richard	Passenger	Overland Telegraph employee. Martin Crescent in Coconut Grove named after.
MaCarthy	J.	Passenger	Overland Telegraph employee.
McCallum	Malcolm	Passenger	Gold miner.
McHarg	W.	Passenger	Male. Surveyor. Overland Telegraph employee.
McKay	A. L.	Passenger	Male. Government Surveyor.
McKnight	R.	Passenger	Male. Gold miner.
Millner	Family	Passengers	Dr James, wife Caroline and 4 children. Darwin suburb of Millner named after.
Mitchell	John	Passenger	Gold miner and Overland Telegraph employee.
Musgrave	Charles, W.	Pasenger	Male. Darwin resident. Musgrave Crescent in Coconut Grove named after.
Nation	Family	Passengers	William, wife (Mary) & infant son. Nation Crescent in Coconut Grove.
Newcombe	J.	Passenger	Male. Gold miner and Overland Telegraph employee.
Ostermann	Family	Passengers	Mrs (widow) & son. Ostermann Street in Coconut Grove named after.
Peters	Otto	Passenger	Darwin storekeeper. Peters Street in Coconut Grove named after.
Pelham	Lionel James	Passenger	Senior Public Servant and Sketcher.
Price (nee Hamilton)	Family	Passengers	Minna & her 6 children. Price Street in Parap named after the family.
Radford	Thomas	Passenger	Male. Gold miner. Radford Court in Coconut Grove named after.
Reynolds	Thomas	Passenger	Retired Premier of South Australia. Reynolds Court in Coconut Grove named after.
Reynolds (nee Litchfield)	Anne	Passenger	Wife of Thomas Reynolds. Sister of Fred Litchfield.
Roe	Dan	Passenger
Ross	Andrew	Passenger	Commander, Royal Navy. Manager of the Australian Fishing Company.
Runge	J.	Passenger	Male. Darwin hotelkeeper. Runge Street in Coconut Grove named after.
Shoobridge	William	Passenger	Mining company secretary. Shoobridge Street in Millner named after.
Simms	T.	Passenger	Male.
Slocomb	J.	Passenger	Carpenter.
Stone	A.	Passenger	Male. Gold miner
Thompson	W.	Passenger	Male.
Vigor	N. S.	Passenger	Female (Widow) Darwin resident. Vigor Street in Coconut Grove named after.
Wearing	William Alfred	Passenger	Justice and Circuit Court Judge.
Wells	Richard	Passenger	Darwin resident. NT Times & Gazette Editor. Wells Street in Ludmilla named after.
Whitby	Joseph James	Passenger	Acting South Australian Crown Solicitor.
Williams	J. A. D.	Passenger	Male. Overland Telegraph employee.
Wilson	W. D.	Passenger	Male. Teamster in Goyder's party.

Known casualties (Crew)

Surname	Given names	Status	Comment
Anderson	John	Crew	Third Engineer
Bond	P.S.	Crew	Steward
Brown	Charles, T.	Crew	Steward
Butter or Butler	Thomas	Crew	Able Seaman
Cheese	George, S.	Crew	Steward
Clark	William	Crew	Fireman. Body found with identification by a rescue vessel.
Davies or Davis	R. F.	Crew	Chief Officer
Delaney	John	Crew	Fireman
Flegg	John	Crew	Fireman
Green	Charles	Crew	Second Engineer
Hodness or Hodnett	James	Crew	First Cook
Hunter	Adam	Crew	Fireman
Jackson or Jeakson	Charles	Crew	Able Seaman
McDermott or Dermott	Charles	Crew	Cook's mate.
Nock	W. C.	Crew	Steward
Pearce	R.G.A. (James)	Crew	Captain or Master of the Gothenburg. Pearce Place in Millner named after.
Peverren	A.	Crew	Able Seaman
Randall	William	Crew	Second Cook
Robertson	M.A.	Crew	Only female crew member. Stewardess
Rosena	Gustave	Crew	Fireman
Ross or Rose	David	Crew	Carpenter
Short	David	Crew	Chief Engineer
Smith	James	Crew	Steward
Stephens or Stevens	R.	Crew	Second Officer
Tyrrell	James	Crew	Fireman