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Which ran upon a dangerous rock, May 20, 1806.
IN the “Asiatic Mirror,” (an Indian newspaper,) the commander of the Sidney gives an account of her loss, and the subsequent preservation of the greater part of the crew, in a letter, which for the satisfaction of our readers, is here copied verbatim.
“The Sidney left Port Jackson on the 12th of April, 1806, bound to Bengal. Intending to proceed through Dampier’s Straits, her course was directed as nearly as possible in the track of Captain Hogan, of the Cornwallis, which, as laid down in the charts, appears a clear safe passage. On the 20th of may, at one A.M. in lat. 3° 20′ south, long. 146° 50′ east, we ran upon a most dangerous rock or shoal; and as this reef is not noticed in any map or chart, it appears that we were its unfortunate discoverer.
“On Sunday, over the taffrail, we found 25 fathoms water; over the larboard gangway six fathoms; on the starboard side only nine feet; and over the bows twelve feet. One of the boats was immediately got out, with a bower anchor; but on sounding ten fathoms distance from the ship, found no ground at sixty fathoms.
“It must have been high water when we struck; for at that time there was no appearance of any reef or breaker; but as the water subsided, the shoal began to shew itself with a number of small black rocks. The ship had been striking very hard, and began to sue forward. At three A.M. there were six feet water in the hold, and increasing rapidly; at five o’clock the ship was setting aft, and her top sides parting from the floor-heads.
“Upon consultation with my officers, it was the unanimous opinion, that the ship was irrecoverably gone, and that no exertions could avail for her safety. We therefore employed all hands in getting the boats ready to receive the crew, 108 in number. Eight bags of rice, six casks of water, and a small quantity of salted beef and pork, were put in the long-boat, as provisions for the whole. We were prevented taking a large stock, as, from the number of people, the three boats were barely sufficient to receive the whole with safety.
“We remained with the Sidney till five P.M. on the 21st of May, when there were three feet water on the orlop deck; we now thought it full time to leave the ship to her fate, and to seek our safety in the boats. Accordingly I embarked in the long-boat, with Mr. Trounce, second officer, and 74 Lascars; Mr. Robson, first officer, and Stalkart, third, with 16 Lascars, were in the cutter; and the jolly boat was allotted to 15 Dutch Malays and one Sepoy.