["Nicol Bay", Perth Gazette and West Australian Times, Friday 03 April 1868, page 3]
THE HURRICANE
LOSS OF THE "NAUTILUS" AND "ARIEL," PEARL-SHELL BOATS, WITH THREE LIVES.
Government Resident's Office,
Roebourne, Feb. 22nd, 1868.
SIR,--I have the honor to forward statements made by Edward Corbett, one of the crew of the Ariel, pearl shell boat, respecting the loss of that vessel near the Ashburton River on the 4th ult. Unfortunately, not only was the boat lost but three men were drowned.
During the same gale the Nautilus and Lone Star were driven ashore in Nicol Bay. The former still lies in the mangroves, the latter is repaired and is afloat.
I am sorry to say that all the wool ready for shipment at the Ashburton, some 50 bales, was swept into the mangroves and along the beach ;
some of the bales are lost and none of the wool is marketable.
At the same time Mr. Fisher and his men were nearly lost. They were on a sandhill which became surrounded by the sea, which swept away large masses of sand. Happily the tide turned and the wind abated, otherwise they must have perished. They lost their rations, clothing, and saddlery, and endured great privations before they reached the camp up the Ashburton.
The gale was felt throughout the district, but its greatest force was apparently in the neighborhood of the Ashburton.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant.
ROBERT J. SHOLL,
Government Resident.
The Hon. Colonial Secretary, Perth.
P. S.--Corbett is an aboriginal native and has been employed in Bateman's Whale fishery. He gave his statement in a straightforward and intelligent manner. R. J. S.
Statement of Edward Corbett, a native of the Colony, formerly of Albany, respecting the loss of the Pearl Shell boat "Ariel."
I was one of the crew of the Ariel. We left Fremantle on Sunday the 23rd November, bound for the North Coast. The crew consisted of Joseph Barrett, master, Magnus Lewinson, and myself. There was also Mr. Robert Hale who, I believe, had some interest in the venture. Nothing occurred worthy of note until the time of the accident. During the same gale which swept away the wool at the Ashburton, on Saturday 4th January, our vessel was lying between two reefs, about 32 miles south of the Ashburton, and due east of the point of N. W. Cape. I point out the place on the map. (Cape Locker). Between 7 and 8 o'clock on the morning of the 4th inst. there was a heavy surf from S. West, with strong current of about seven or eight knots from the same quarter, setting to the northward. There was a bank between the two reefs upon which we anchored. The wind blew very strong. The vessel was thrown on her beam ends head on to shore. She had two anchors down, and foundered directly she went over. We were then about a mile and a half from the shore. After she went down I found myself clear of the wreck, swimming in the water. At that time I saw Mr. Barrett who was swimming close to me. He kept alongside of me about three minutes, he could swim a little but not well. He was taken off shore by the tide and wind, and I saw no more of him; I never saw Lewinson or Hale. I made for shore myself, which I reached perhaps in three quarters of an hour, having much difficulty in making way. When I got on shore I went up a hill to see whether I could see any one come ashore; there was no sign of them, nor of the boat, nor of anything belouging to her. I saw a hundred and eighty odd natives, about half a mile off and did not like to wait longer, and so I struck a course
N.N.E. until I came to a fine creek about a mile from where we were wrecked. I then struck about East travelling all day; at dark I slept about 30 miles from the scene of the wreck. The next day I steered about N.N.W. wishing to get to the beach to procure shell fish for food. I went in this direction about 35 miles, striking the beach at about 5 o'clock p.m. Here I got some shell fish, I had plenty of water all day. I slept on the beach this day (5th inst.) The next morning I arrived at the mouth of a river which I now know to be the Ashburton. I swam across and found a cart track. I followed that cart track until I came to an old camping place and here I slept. I don't think I travelled more than 10 or 15 miles that day (6th inst.). The next morning finding that the cart track went into the river I followed it back to the beach, I there saw a lot of wool lying about. I then saw some horses tracks and went back again to the place where I slept, where I arrived at sundown. I travelled about 5 miles that day (7th inst.) The next morning I again crossed the river and followed the horse track; I then got on the cart track and followed it up about 15 or 16 miles, sleeping in the bush. The next morning (8th inst.), I went on and arrived at Mr. Fisher's camp at about 10 or 11 o'clock, very much exhausted. After stopping with Mr. Fisher some days I came with him to Roebourne, where I arrived on the 9th inst. I think that the loss of the Ariel might have been prevented with proper care. Had we slipped our cables we might have worked round the Cape and have got shelter. I proposed doing so but got no answer. There was about a ton of shells in the vessel. I got plenty of water every day that I was travelling.
