It's An Ill Wind
Rev. William Longbottom photo courtesy of the State Library SA B72222
There is an old proverb that states, “It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good.”
It certainly was an ill wind that blew on the night of the 22nd of June 1838. The schooner “Fanny” was on route from Hobart, Tasmania to King George Sound, Western Australia.1 The ship was blown off course by a very strong south westerly wind. It eventually ran aground, in an area, today, we call The Coorong, near Cape Jaffa. The Master of the vessel was Captain James Gill.
At the same time another schooner named “Elizabeth,” a two mast vessel, built in Hobart, was on its way from Port Adelaide to Launceston. The Master of this vessel was Captain Tyndale. It too was blown ashore at Rivoli Bay.2 Neither Captain was aware of the distress of the other.
On board the “Fanny” were three passengers, they were, the Rev. Mr William Longbottom, his wife Elizabeth, and their son. William Jnr. The Longbottom family were on their way from Hobart to Western Australia, to take up a position as minister to a Wesleyan congregation. Finding it difficult to get passage from Sydney to the west, the family was advised to go via Hobart. The next morning after the beaching of the “Fanny”, the wind had died down, and the seas were calmer. Seeing that they were only 100 yards away from the shore, Captain Gill decided to swim ashore with a rope, so that he could land his passengers. The rope was too short, and after going under a couple of times, he had to release the rope and swim ashore. Two crew members managed to get a rope ashore, so Captain Gill returned to the ship to get the passengers off. His first task was to take Mr & Mrs Longbottom’s son ashore, which he managed. He then attempted to get Mrs. Longbottom off the wreck. As she was lowered over the side a wave swamped over her, and she was dragged under the water. The crew battled hard to get her back on board. When they did so, she was exhausted and extremely traumatised and in no condition to try again. After an interval they did manage to get her ashore. By nightfall all hands were ashore. Cold, wet, and hungry, they attempted to find refuge in the sand hills, which offered the only protection from the piercing cold wind. They spent the first night huddled together to keep warm, and tried to sleep, even though they had nothing to eat. The next morning, the captain, and a couple of crew members, went back on board the ship, to get food and extra clothing. When the wind again blew strong, they had to abandon the attempt, but not before they managed to land some provisions and clothing. Not long after a party of natives appeared. This made them fearful for their lives. The natives were friendly, they brought a fire stick to light a fire, and showed them were fresh water could be found nearby.
After crossing the sand hills they were surprised to see a long chain of lagoons. Stretching as far as the eye could see, both to the left and to the right of them.3 Today we know this as the Coorong Lakes. After making several unsuccessful attempts to travel overland to the whaling station at Encounter Bay, Captain Gill returned to the camp site. The natives had helped the passengers and crew, to make rough bough huts, to protect them from the elements. A few days later they were joined by Captain Tyndal and the crew of the “Elizabeth.” They had been blown ashore on the same evening as the “Fanny,” and they had walked from Rivoli Bay. Today the town of Beachport is situated on Rivoli Bay. On being advised by Captain Gill of the difficulty of getting to Encounter Bay, Captain Tyndal, decided he would try to cross the Murray River further inland, and walk to Adelaide. He set off with some of his crew members to do that, and after a lengthy detour, found his way out of the Coorong and across the River Murray. He eventually arrived in Adelaide and was the first person to shed light on the disappearance of both vessels.
In the meantime Captain Gill had been able to repair a small dingy. It was only able to sail in calm waters, so they carried it over the sand hills, and launched it into the Coorong. He sailed it to the mouth of the Murray, there he picked up some crew members who had walked along the beach. They all sailed along the western bank of the Murray until they came to somewhere near where Goolwa is today. They then walked to the whaling station at Encounter Bay.4 Captain Gill then started making preparations to return to the wreck and rescue those still waiting on the sand hills. He borrowed a whale boat, but was advised it would not be able to sail through the Murray Mouth, as the water was too shallow at that point. He borrowed two bullocks in an attempt to pull the whale boat over the low dunes at the Murray Mouth. Whilst the bullocks were attempting to pull the whale boat over the dunes, he sent two of his crew, in the dingy, to advise those stranded to pack up and leave, which they did. When they arrived near the Murray Mouth the whale boat had been re floated in the Coorong. Captain Gill decided to camp for the night whilst he surveyed the Murray Mouth. Despite the warning from the whale men, it was his intention to sail the whale boat through the mouth of the Murray to the sea. He managed to do this, and after a couple of hours sailing, reached the whaling station at Encounter Bay. The Longbottom family were back in civilisation at last. In Encounter Bay was the “Lady Wellington” the family, and crews of both shipwrecked vessels, were able to board, for the trip to Port Adelaide. In a weird twist of fate, the “Lady Wellington”, ran aground at the entrance to the Port River, and broke her back. Once again the crew members of the “Fanny” and the “Elizabeth”, as well as the Longbottom family, had to be rescued at sea.5
This proved to be too much for the Longbottom family. When the local Wesleyan community heard of their trials, and asked them if they would stay in South Australia, they readily accepted. The Wesleyan community were looking for a minister to lead them and the Longbottom’s had had enough of sea travel. So it was an ill wind that brought them together. The Rev. Longbottom served the church community well in South Australia. He eventually went back to Tasmania to administer to a congregation there. Being a man of poor health he died there in 1849. After his death Elizabeth returned to South Australia and purchased “Home Park,” at Magill. She had additions and alterations done to the house. It is believed these additions were carried out by noted Adelaide architect, engineer, and businessman, Edmund Wright. Elizabeth died at” Home Park” on October 8th 1872, aged 76.
It certainly was an ill wind that blew on that night in June 1838. The beneficiaries of that ill wind were the Wesleyan Congregation of South Australia, whose prayers were answered it seems. The Rev. Longbottom was greatly admired, as was Elizabeth. It took two shipwrecks to bring them to this colony, where they left their mark among the pioneers and early settlers.
Researched and written by Jim Nelson, volunteer with the Campbelltown Library “Digital Diggers” group.
If you have any comments or questions regarding the information in this local history article, please contact the Local History officer on 8366 9357 or hthiselton@campbelltown.sa.gov.au.
References
- http://oceans1.customer.netspace.net.au/sa-wrecks.html
- http://oceans1.customer.netspace.net.au/sa-wrecks.html
- Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954) Thursday 17 October 1935, p 16
- Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954) Thursday 17 October 1935, p 16
- Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954) Thursday 17 October 1935, p 16
c. 1846, Photograph, B 72222