Inquiry Report

THE WRECK OF THE GEORGE III.
The reader will find in the last page the conclusion of the evidence taken in the investigation of this melancholy occurrence. The Rural Dean has gone down to the desolate scene, in order to afford such remains as may be found of those who perished on that dreadful night, the benefit of christian burial. The Rev. Mr. Bedford announced on Sunday last that he would preach a sermon on Sunday morning next, in St. David's church for the benefit of the officers and crew of the unfortunate vessel, when a collection will be made, and the same will be done at the Orphan School church at New-town, by the Rev. Mr. Naylor. The subscription list, at the same time, is, we are glad to learn, rapidly filling up. The Board having concluded their painful investigation of all the circumstances connected with the wreck, His Excellency has directed the publication of their " Report" upon it, which is as follows :—

In obedience to the instructions conveyed to us in the government order, No. 17014, of the 15th instant, directing us to assemble for the purpose of publicly investigating into all the circumstances connected with the loss of the transport George the Third, to ascertain as far as might be practicable the exact position of the wreck, the number of persons originally embarked, the number saved, (of whom a nominal list was to be furnished) and to extend our inquiries into all the facts attending this disastrous occurrence, both before and subsequent to the transaction :— We have the honour to -

Report — That we assembled at one o'clock, on the 15th instant, and have continued the inquiry from day to day, until the 18th, when the proceedings closed.

In pursuance of these objects, we have had before us, and examined Mr. William Hall Moxey, master, Mr. Henry Matson, chief, J. C. Montagu Poore, second officer, and half owner, Robert Banks, steward of the vessel, Major Ryan, commanding the guard, Lieut. Minton, 6th regiment, Corporal Deverell, Corporal Bell, James Inerney, of the 50th regiment, forming part of the guard, David Wyse, Esq. Surgeon Superintendent, with William Nelson, Robert Hart, David Jones, James McKay, and James Elliott, embarked on board the vessel for transportation.

It has resulted from the inquiries which we have instituted, that the ship properly furnished with every necessary means, for her safe conduct, and efficiently manned, left the river Thames on the 14th December last, and made the high land, at the back of Port Davey on Sunday, the 12th instant, at 11 o'clock, a.m., and having rounded S. W. and South Capes, and passed Whale Head, ran in between the Actaeon and Black Reefs, and no other danger appearing from the chart, was proceeding as the master had every reason to imagine in perfect safety, when the sudden shoaling of the water to four fathoms, indicating the approach of danger, he ordered the helm to be put to port, and before the order could be obeyed, the ship struck, gently at first, but a second shock soon succeeded, and in a space of time not exceeding ten minutes, the masts went by the board, the vessel was bilged, and in every respect became a perfect wreck.

The vessel continued to beat violently, until half past one, when the upper works having separated from the bottom, she fell off into deep water, and swung to the anchors, which had been previously let go.

It is to be remarked that, although the passage through which it was intended to proceed, and which had been passed in safety up to the last existing danger, in its track, is one which is not commonly used, yet, it must be stated, that it is not without its advantages, whilst in this instance the awful and alarming increasing state of the sick list, rendered it almost a matter of paramount necessity to pursue that course which would be most likely to abridge the term of suffering and misery on board. In running along shore and between the reefs, every precaution was observed, which a judicious and experienced seaman could, an officer was stationed aloft to look out, the lead was constantly kept going, the position of the ship correctly ascertained, and all the crew on deck, in readiness to attend to any necessary duty.

On the first striking of the ship, the jolly boat was lowered, and an officer was ordered to sound round her—in lowering the gig also, she was unfortunately lost, and of the persons who were in her, 4 perished, the remainder were picked up by the jolly boat, which having now so many persons (eleven) as it could hold, and not being able to approach the vessel for the breakers which were rolling over her, was directed to proceed, with every exertion, to look out for a landing place. Every effort was now directed on board to the launching of the long boat, in which the crew eventually succeeded, and being filled with persons left the wreck, on which about 100 survivors now remained, who cheered the boat as it passed them, and who after a night of the utmost suffering were partially relieved by the return of the long boat at day light.

On the suggestion of Major Ryan, the women, children and invalids, were first removed, and it was not, until these were all relieved, that any man was received into the boat.

On being a second time filled, the long boat again pulled for the shore and landed those on board, when on her return she observed a schooner, called the Louisa, close to the wreck, and by the assistance derived from that vessel, every living person was taken from the remains of the George the Third.

The schooner then stood into South Port, and embarking those previously landed, proceeded to Hobart town, having left 7 men with the long boat, to endeavour to find Assistant Surgeon McGregor, 50th regt., who had strayed into the bush from the landing place.

We have already stated, that the jolly boat left the wreck to look out for a landing place, instead however of following that direction, the third mate, who was in charge of the boat, having 10 men in it with him, proceeded to Hobart town with a view to procure assistance, considering himself to be but 15 miles from that place, which however being 60 miles distant, he did not reach until 8 o'clock p.m. on the following day. Immediately upon the disastrous news being communicated to your Excellency, we, accompanied by the Colonial Surgeon, were directed to proceed in the steam vessel, Governor Arthur, to the wreck, the government brigs Tamar and Isabella, were likewise ordered on the same service, with detachments of constabulary and military on board, and the whole departed at 10 o'clock p.m.

At 4 a.m., on the 14th, we met the schooner Louisa, at about 30 miles from Hobart town, with the survivors on board, and having supplied them with provisions, &c. we proceeded to the spot, at which we were then informed Assistant Surgeon McGregor had been left, and at which we arrived at 7 a.m.

It was with some degree of hesitation however that we determined upon leaving the Louisa, with the survivors, thinking that by taking her in tow, we should bring them more quickly to Hobart town, but the event proved that our determination was a most fortunate circumstance, since it has most certainly, under providence, been the means of saving the lives of Assistant Surgeon McGregor and the 7 men who were left behind in the long boat, the. Colonial Surgeon being of opinion that Dr. McGregor could not have lived two hours longer, and as none of the 7 men were in a state to assist themselves, or each other, in any manner, they must have perished, if they had to pass another night on shore, exposed to the cold and unprovided with the comforts which they were enabled to obtain on board the steam boat.

After having taken Assistant Surgeon McGregor and the men on board the steam boat, we proceeded to the wreck, and the Port Officer and Colonial Surgeon having ascertained that no living person was on board, and that nothing could be saved by us, we proceeded at 12 o'clock noon, on our return, first leaving constables on the beach, to secure what might be washed on shore.

The schooner Louisa met the Tamar and Isabella shortly after we parted from her, and in attention to the orders given, the survivors were transferred to the Tamar, on board of which vessel they received every comfort their situation required, and arrived at Hobart town during the night of the 14th.

The total number saved amounts to 161, 81 of whom are convicts, and a nominal re- turn of them is transmitted herewith.

The total number of persons originally em- barked was 308, 2 children were born during the voyage, one woman, three children and 12 prisoners died, leaving at the time the ship struck, 294 souls, from which statement it will be seen that 133 souls had perished on this awful occasion.

Of this number 127 were convicts, 58 of whom were on the sick list in their berths, and 50 out of them totally unable to help themselves and several were washed overboard during the night.

It was naturally to be expected that on the striking of the ship, the prisoners would endeavour to extricate themselves from a situation which must have appeared to them one of imminent peril, and it appears they broke down a barricade of the prison with a view to get on deck. It was at this period, that the sentries over the main hatchway, in obedience to the positive orders they then received, to keep the men below, and bearing in mind their general instructions for the safe custody of the prisoners, fired—and painful as it is for us to report upon a subject of such a distressing nature, that, at such a crisis, man should feel himself compelled, through a sense of duty, to add to the desolation of the scene and fire upon his fellow creatures, yet it is gratifying to observe, from the concurring opinions of all the officers, according to the then existing state of circumstances, it was absolutely necessary that the prisoners should be kept down, for had they at that time got on deck, the long boat, upon which alone the survivors could look with any hope of rescue, would have been rendered useless, and thus to all human appearances a much greater loss of life would have ensued.

In concluding this report, we feel it a duty we owe the survivors, to state, that throughout the whole of the trying scene we have imperfectly attempted to describe, the conduct of all was most praiseworthy and entirely free from blame of any description.

The examinations taken before us, as well as a chart, shewing the exact position of the wreck, are attached hereto.

JOHN MONTAGU, Colonial Secretary.
M. FORSTER, Chief Police Mag.
WM. MORIARTY, Port Officer.
JAMES GRANT, Agent for Lloyds.

To His Excellency, The Lieutenant Governor, &c. &c. &c.

Names of the convicts saved from the wreck of the 'George the Third.'— James Ashurst, Alexander Boyd, James Berwick, Robert Brown, Thomas Browning, Thomas Bird, George Barrett, Peter Bruce, James Bryant, Amos Barrett, James Brown, William Bray, Stewart Calder, Peter Crone, James Christy, Robert Cox, George Clark, William Cunliff, James Davies, John Davidson, James Elliott, Robert Edmonston, William  Frisby, Darius Fairbanks, John Fineletter, James Ferguson, John Fidler, Joseph Fitton, John Gillon, John Gilby, George Garratt, Robert Hart, William Harrop, George Hodges, Thomas Hawkins, Samuel Hubbuck, John Howarth, Thomas Haywood, James Hines, John Jones, David Jones, John Jones, John Jones, Thomas Keith, Thomas Knight, John Law, Edward Murray, John McDonald, James McDonald, William Merridon, William McKay, James McKay, Thomas Neads, William Nelson, William Oldfield, John Popham, John Palmer, George Peebles, William Page, William Riley, George Riley, Braider Rayner, George Rhoades, John Smith. William Smith, Samuel Sugden, Robert Shaw, William Smith, Thomas Thomas, William Taylor, George Webber, George White, Robert Williams, David Whitehead, John Wilson, Frederick John White, Christopher Western, Levi Watts, James Wiltshire, Paul Walker, John Woodhall. 1