WALTER HOOD
Shipbuildervessel built by
Walter Hood & Co.
(Shipbuilder, Footdee, Aberdeen 1839 - 1881)
Date1852
Object NameCLIPPER
MediumWOOD
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 172 7/12' x breadth 30 3/12' x depth 20 5/6'
Registered Tonnage: 918 ton (gross tonnage 937 tons - Lloyd's Register)
Registered Tonnage: 918 ton (gross tonnage 937 tons - Lloyd's Register)
Object numberABDSHIP000335
Keywords
Fate: Wrecked near Jervis Bay Lighthouse, 27 April 1870 when bound from London to Sydney with general cargo. The captain and twelve men drowned.
Propulsion: Sail
Description: ship rigged clipper, 2 decks, poop and fore castle, 3 masts, standing bowsprit, carvel built, immitation galleries, male figurehead.
Owners:
Registered at Aberdeen for subscribing owners;
George Thompson Jnr, 32 shares; James Buyers, 4 shares; James Hain, 4 shares; all shipowners in Aberdeen.
Other shareholders: Walter Hood, shipbuilder, 4 shares; Alexander Mathew, shipowner, 4 shares; Hugh Sprot, shipmaster, Kirkcudbright, 16 shares.
(Aberdeen Register of Shipping (Aberdeen City Archives))
Masters:
1853: Master H. Sproat
1858: Master Donald
1865: Master S. J. Pirie
1868: Master S. A. Latto
Voyages (Lloyd's):
1853: London - China
1856-58: London - Australia
1859-62: London
1865-67: Aberdeen - Australia
08/10/1853:
WALTER HOOD made dashing passage out to Sydney in 80 days. Her greatest distance within 24 hours was 320 miles and after passing meridian of Cape of Good Hope her daily average distance was 235 miles, aggregate for 78 days was 13,944, being nearly 179 miles per day since leaving the Downs. As punctality and dispatch has even been the motto of her spirited commander Captain Sproat, she will leave this evening at the appointed time for Old England. His views in this respect are admirably seconded by Mr. Mitchell, the chief mate and the other officers.
(Illustrated Sydney News)
10/10/1853:
List of shipments of gold dust on board WALTER HOOD - total 26,775 oz.
(Sydney Empire)
25/03/1854, 25/03/1854:
WALTER HOOD from Sydney Oct. 13, off Portsmouth 1 Dec., we learn from a private letter WALTER HOOD made the Western Isles in 76 days and thence had to beat home against easterly winds. She was altogether 85 days on passage and will positively leave again for Sydney 20 Feb.
(Cornwall Chronicle, Maitland Mercury)
14/04/1855:
WALTER HOOD has made the passage from Sydney to London in 78 days.
(Maitland Mercury)
12/04/1856:
WALTER HOOD, bound from London to Sydney with emigrants, was run into going down the channel and put into Southampton for repair - sailed 1 January.
(Cornwall Chronicle)
11/06/1856:
Clipper ship WALTER HOOD has been appointed to carry the English mails of 6 June. She has got the whole of her deadweight on board, the remainder of her cargo is engaged and it is expected she will make a very creditable passage home.
(Cornwall Chronicle)
12/12/1856:
WALTER HOOD arrived London 6 Sept., after passage of 92 days.
(Sydney Empire)
11/09/1860:
WALTER HOOD arrived Gravesend 27 June from Sydney.
(Melbourne Argus)
03/02/1864:
To Capt. Pirie, the doctor and officers of ship WALTER HOOD, we, the undersigned passengers to Sydney by the Aberdeen clipper ship WALTER HOOD beg leave to express grateful acknowledgements for kindess and attention experienced on so satisfactory a passage.
(Sydney Morning Herald)
06/10/1868:
WALTER HOOD, Capt. Latto, cleared 5 Oct., for London. 12 first class passengers and 1 steerage.
(Sydney Morning Herald)
02/051870:
'Particulars of the Wreck - Statements of the Survivors.
The Voyage from England. The WALTER HOOD, of 918 tons register, was launched in the year 1852 from the shipbuilding yard of Mr. Hood, of Aberdeen. She formed one of Messers. George Thompson & Sons' line of clippers, and has always borne a good name for making prompt passages; The ship left the Start Point on the 23rd Janunry, having a full cargo and three passengers, viz., Messrs. Smith (2) and Haynes. She made splendid run-to the line, but from thence to the Cape of Good Hope the passage was retarded by a succession of calms and light airs.
Large numbers ships were every day in sight. In running down the easting, she was favoured with fine weather, and made some capital runs.
Passed Cape Otway on the morning of Saturday, the 23rd April, with a fine breeze, which led the ship through Bass's Straits, and she logged twelve and thirteen knots. On the afternoon of the 24th a heavy gale took the ship very suddenly, and carried away studsails and studsail booms.
THE GALE - THE SHIP ON A LEE SHORE.
On the morning of the 25th the gale continued and the fore and main topsails were blown away. The sea broke very high, and a seaman named Wilkie, while in the act of getting a boat-hook out of the boat, was washed overboard and drowned. Another topsail was set, but it shared no better fate than the first. The ship was then supposed to be off Cape Howe - weather thick; gale continuing.
On Tuesday, 26th, weather still very thick, and incessant rain. No observation could be taken, in consequence. The ship was going by dead reckoning under foretopmast staysail, foresail, and foretopsail. The mainsail and mizzentopsail were both close reefed, mid a maintop-gallantsail was bent for a foresail. About four p.m. the land was sighted, the ship running right on with square yards. The sea was running mountains high. About five o'clock wore ship, and tried to stand off shore. This time the foretopsail was blown to pieces, and there was not sufficient canvas left on the ship to work her off the lee shore, which was momentarily becoming closer and closer ; and was evident to all on board that she would go on shore. Our informant states that there was no more canvas on board to put on the ship; and if so, she must have been but poorly found in sails.
THE SHIP STRIKES.
The land sighted was at first thought by some of the crew to be Sydney Heads. Nothing had been seen of the lights either at Gabo Island or at Jervis Bay. At 7.30 p.m. the ship struck the shore, and immediately the rudder unshipped. The port anchor was let go, but there was no chance of paying out cable, as the decks at once filled fore and aft. Some of the crew took to the rigging, others to tho poop. Captain Latto, while forward, endeavouring to get the cable to pay out, had two of his ribs broken: and an apprentice named Gale was severely hurt, being caught between a floating water-cask and spar. The anchor appeared to hold, for the ship swung round with her head to the gale, but afterwards heeled over on her beam ends on the port side, and remained firmly fixed in that position. Captain Latto was, as soon as possible, got into bed, and the rest of the crew left the rigging and were in the cabin all night excepting the cook, who kept in the ship's rigging.
THE MASTS CUT AWAY.
Wednesday, 27th. - Cut away the main and mizen musts, in the hope that the ship would right herself, but her position was in no way altered. Some most heart-rending scenes took place on this day in the attempts of the crew to reach the shore. Some of the most expert swimmers, with lines, made the attempt, and man after man ventured, but only to be swallowed up in the raging waves. An ordinary seaman named Davis was the first who made the attempt ; he was at once drowned, but his fate did not deter others. Ashdown, A.B next attempted, and was taken out to sea by the surf, and disappeared. No more then ventured until next morning at daylight, when the distance to the shore seemed so small that all expected to be saved.
THE SHIP BEGINS TO BREAK UP - EFFORTS OF THE CREW TO REACH THE SHORE.
The ship, however, began to show signs of breaking up, and the cargo began to wash out. Mr Haynes, passenger, and two seamen then went over the side to try to make the shore, and almost succeeded. After a gallant struggle with the waves however, they were swept out to sea as helpless as the floating cargo that was being tossed in all directions. In the afternoon the boatswain (J Sinclair) attempted to gain the shore on a life-buoy but was driven against the ship's side, and apparently; stunned. At night the foremast washed out of the ship. The sea then appeared to be going down.
On the next (Friday) morning two coloured men reputed good swimmers, tried to got a line to shore but failed. One was drowned ; the other, after I fearful struggle, reached the shore. A youth, a native of Sydney, was thu second to" reach tho shor olivo. Then followed the first officer (Mr. Howison and the second officer (Mr. Cullen) who both reached land in safety. Two seamen, Lemon and another then made the attempt, but were drowned. An apprentice named Gale also reached shore.
THE WRECK IS DISCOVERED FROM THE SHORE.
In the afternoon of this day (Friday) two strangers were seen on shore, and it is thought that they were attracted to the place by a dog and a pig, which had been washed on shore after the ship struck, and had probably made their way to the nearest habitation. The ship was gradually washing to pieces, and it was not thought she would hold together for another night.
DEATH OF CAPTAIN LATTO.
Captain Latto, who had been compelled to keep his bed from the injuries received, on Friday afternoon called for help, and was got out on the side of the ship, with very little clothing. He, however, afterwords got into his cabin again, it is thought with the intention of securing some of his papers. When he was next seen he was struggling amongst the broken wreck, and no aid could reach him, and he suffered a fearful death. The carpenter constructed a raft and he and one of the seamen embarked on it for the shore, but the surf swept them back, and they again got on to the wreck. M'Pherson, able seaman, swam on shore; and there being not now so much sea on, another of the passengers, Mr. Smith, made for the shore, followed by his brother, and two seamen named Turner and Croy, and all reachod land in safety. The third mate, Tickler, an apprentice named Sinclair, and a coloured man also made for the land, but had to return to the ship. The cook (this day) died from exhaustion.
ATTEMPTS OF THOSE ON SHORE TO SAVE THE SURVIVORS.
On the afternoon of this day (Friday), two strangers attempted to swim off from the shore, one having a rope; but it having parted on the first attempt, he went off a second time, and, getting as near the wreck as he could, told them to cheer up, and hold out till morning, when succour would reach them.
SUFFERINGS OF THE CREW - THEY KILL A DOG TO SUSTAIN LIFE.
Tho thirteen remaining souls on the wreck had been without food since Tuesday afternoon, and all were now in a dreadfully exhausted state. As a last resource of sustaining life, a small dog was killed, and his blood and part of his flesh used for food. In the afternoon a large number of people were observed on shore. The crew passed a miserable night on the wreck and wore becoming quite helpless from exposure, want of rest and food, and consequent exhaustion.
THE RESCUE OF THE SURVIVORS.
On Saturday morning the approach of the Illalong steamer, inspired the survivors with hopes, and dispelled the fear of death that had wellnigh closed round. At seven a.m. the lifeboat of the Illalong was got to the stern of the ship, that being the only portion of wreck remaining, and to which the survivors were clinging. The thirteen souls were soon assisted into the boat, being in a condition in which nature scarcely gave them strength to move. They were carefully and kindly treated on board, and every attention paid to their wants.
When the Illalong left the wreck there was only the after-quarter of the ship holding togother, and the beach was covered with wreck and cargo.
The following are the names of those rescued by the Illalong:-W. Tickler, third mate; David Gray, carpenter ; James Thom, sailmaker; W. L. Sinclair, apprentice ; Barry, steward ; and Butchard, Scott, Fenwick, Moll, Lindsay, Dunkerdon, und two coloured men, seamen.
[The above account was taken down from statements made by the survivors to our reporter; and, very possibly, in some of the details there may be inaccuracies. On the arrival of the chief officer in Sydney we shall doubtless obtain a clue to much that is at present doubtful - we may indeed say inexplicable - relative to the circumstances that led to the loss of the vessel.]
(Empire, Sydney, New South Wales)
07/05/1870:
SIR,- The courageous attempts made by two young gentlemen -viz., Mr. William Harrison and Mr. S. Bailey -to reach the unfortunate people left on the wreck of the WALTER HOOD, has been warmly appreciated by those who have read the thrilling account of that dreadful catastrophe. Happening to be present today in a place where the heroic conduct of these young men was discussed, it was there and then decided that a statement of the matter should be drawn up and forwarded by next mail to the Royal Humane Society, in order to obtain for Messrs. Harrison and Bailey the society's medal. Pending the arrival of that medal, it was thought expedient to raise a sufficient amount to purchase here, and present at once to these young gentlemen, a substantial token of our admiration. I have been requested to act as secretary and treasurer, duties which I feel most happy to fulfil. In the latter capacity I have already received £4 4s., and I have no doubt that the publication of this letter will suflice to increase the amount to a very appropriate figure.
- JULES JOUBEET.'
("WRECK OF THE WALTER HOOD.To the Editor of the Empire, )
Saturday 12th March 1927:
WALTER HOOD
A WRECK OF THE SEVENTIES.
MEMORIAL CAIRN.
A cairn of stones marks now the graves of the eleven persons drowned in the famous wreck of the Walter Hood, near Red Head, between Ulladulla and Jervis Ray, 57 years ago. The memorial was unveiled on Wednesday by Mr. It. H. Cambage, president of the Australian National Research Council, and two men, young fellows then, but now in their 80th year, who watched the disaster, were present. These, Mr. John Harrison.- who swam from the shore and brought a line half- way back before it broke, and Mr. R. Williams, the first sailor of the foundering ship to swim ashore, recounted to the large assembly which attended the ceremony of unveiling a story that is one of the epics of Australian shipping. Mr. Charles Murray, president of the Clyde Shire also spoke.
The WALTER HOOD, of more than 900 tons register, was on her way from London to Sydney when she was wrecked. The eleven persons who lost their lives included Captain Latto and one passenger. Ten persons saved themselves by swimming ashore, and 13 were rescued on April 30, four days after the ship commenced to break up, by the steamer Illalong. The cairn of stones, which bears a marble tablet, Inscribed with the names of those buried there, replaces a memorial of wooden slabs reduced by time and bush fires. Thc cairn stands 14 feet square and 10 feet high, and was erected by the residents of Red Head and Conjola.
(The Sydney Morning Herald)
15 February 1858
