The S.S. Admella was built in 1857 at Port Glasgow by Lawrence Hill & Co. She had an iron hull, a single propeller and was 60 meters long and 8 meters wide at her widest point.  Her displacement was 395 Tons¹. She was one of the fastest and most luxurious ships on inter colonial trade routes. She was named from the route of her trading between Adelaide, Melbourne and Launceston. Her fastest run between Adelaide and Melbourne was once completed in 42 hours.² Her Captain was Captain McEwan who had been her only Captain since she was built. On her maiden voyage from Scotland she brought an assortment of cargo. After this had been unloaded, she was open to visitors to see the latest and greatest in marine technology.  Built to carry passengers and freight, her interior fittings were something to behold. The Main Saloon was 44 feet long, with highly polished tables of Spanish Mahogany.

THE ADMELLA Painting by Charles Dixon State Library Victoria
Image H13778, http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/42994)

On each side were fitted settees with folding backs, by throwing over the back rail, seating was available from both sides.³ The ship had travelled from Scotland to Melbourne with a two bladed propeller. She carried a three bladed propeller on board and this was to be fitted to assess its suitability in the waters in which she was to sail. Her engines were made by A & J Inglis, Whitehall Foundry, of Glasgow.  On her last voyage she left Port Adelaide for Melbourne with 84 passengers and 29 crew.  Also on board were three fine horses belonging to Mr. Magary and three race horses.  A Mr. Filgate trained horse, Barber, also Shamrock and Jupiter belonging to Mr. Fisher.⁴ The “Admella” under the command of Captain Hugh McEwan left Port Adelaide on Friday 5^th of August 1859, at 5.30am. In her cargo holds were, 93 tons of copper, flour and general cargo. On deck in specially constructed boxes were the 6 horses. Three fine draught horses bred in the Colony and three race horses.  Two of the race horses were to be racing in Melbourne the other was to be sold. The vessel stopped at Semaphore to take on a additional crew member, and some passengers.  This led to some confusion as to how many people were on board. It was not clear if the crew member and passengers had been included in the numbers, as they were not on board when the ship left Port Adelaide.

At about 1.00 pm that same day, just as the vessel cleared Kangaroo Island. The ship ran into a heavy swell. Such was the movement of the seas, “Jupiter,” one of the race horses rolled over onto his back, in the horse box. To help the stable hands get the horse on its feet, the Captain sailed the ship head on into the swell.  He maintained this course for an hour or more. This stopped the side to side rolling in the heavy swell. Once the horse had been stood up and settled, he again changed course for Melbourne. Because he had been travelling away from the coast for over an hour, there was no concern for the ships position. At approximately 5.00 am on Saturday the 6^th of August the ship hit a reef. By the Captains reckoning he should have been about 15 miles from Cape Northumberland.  The reef was Carpenters Reef, about 25 miles north East of Cape Northumberland. In just a few minutes the ship broke into three parts.⁵ The funnel and main mast fell onto the deck, smashing the two lifeboats in the waist of the ship, before they could be lowered into the water. Because the vessel had now broken into three parts and the two amidships boats were gone. Captain McEwan swam to the after part or poop section in an attempt to launch the lifeboat on the quarter deck. Due to a mishap the fore part of the boat lowered but the after part fouled and jammed. The lifeboat was swamped by the seas.⁶ At this time a number of passengers were washed overboard. A huge swell lifted the centre section of the ship higher onto the reef lying on her port side; the starboard side was high out of the water.  A few rockets were found, and an attempt to fire them and attract the lighthouse keepers at Cape Northumberland failed because they were damp and failed to ignite. After the initial strike on the reef, three of the horses managed to get free of the ship and into the water.

An indicative map of the final journey of SS Admella.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Admella-Last-journey.png

At daylight one of the grooms was seen floating on part of a horse box. He paddled with his hands in an attempt to reach the shore.  A crew member from the engine room was seen to be floating on a piece of timber. The very strong tidal pull took them both out to sea. A valiant attempt was made by one of the crew to retrieve the after deck lifeboat that had been swamped. It was about 40 yards away from the stern part of the ship. He tied a rope to his waist and jumped into the sea. The rope was too short, so another rope was hurriedly tied to it. He freed the boat, but on pulling it alongside the knot gave way.  The brave sailor and the boat floated out to sea. At daylight plans were being made to get someone ashore, approximately one mile away, through raging surf, when another steamer was seen in the distance. This steamer later turned out to be “The Havilah,” sister ship to the “Admella.” Signal flags were hoisted on the remaining rigging and the ships bell was rung, all to no avail. On the Saturday night another ship came within a mile of the wreck. The ship was the P&O ship “Bombay.” Again every effort was made to signal the vessel, again to no avail. Sunday afternoon two sailors decided to attempt to swim to shore. The sea was a little bit calmer, but exhaustedly they managed to make it.  After resting to regain themselves, they then set off to walk to Cape Northumberland Lighthouse to raise the alarm.  By Tuesday all food and water had been consumed. Also all shelter on the vessel had disappeared. Everyone was open to the elements.  People were seen to arrive on the shore nearby; they lit bonfires all through the night to signal to the people on the wreck help was near. During the night several people fell off the wreck into the water. Thursday the Corio hove into sight and lowered a boat. Instead of attempting to take people off the wreck it made for the shore. Twice they tried to launch from the shore, but were prevented by the tide. Mr Magary the horse owner fell overboard. He had a life preserver on and floated around trying to paddle to the shore, but failed.⁷ Friday morning “The Ant” and the “Lady Bird” came into view. The “Lady Bird” sent the Portland lifeboat to the wreck. The Portland lifeboat was swamped and a crew member fell overboard, but was recovered. Some oars were lost so she returned to the “Lady Bird.” A boat was seen to launch from the shore. It was the boat from the Admella that had broken away from the poop deck.  It managed to get alongside and took off the Captain and three others. At the same time the Portland lifeboat came alongside and 19 people jumped into it. A young steward named James Hare died about ½ an hour before the rescue. When all were off the wreck, the” Lady Bird” sailed for Portland Bay.  It arrived about 7-pm. everyone was kept on board overnight, to be nourished and have wounds attended to.

There were two Mr. Fishers aboard the Admella. They were brothers; their father was the leader of the Legislative Council in the South Australian Parliament. George Fisher did not survive. Only one female survived the wreck, her name was Miss Ledwich.⁸ Of the 107 passengers and crew aboard the Admella only 24 survived.⁹ The reason for the shipwreck was considered by all and sundry. Many sailor’s who knew the coast line where the wreck occurred, believed that it was not uncommon for a compass to give a false reading in that area. Some believed the Captain did not keep a proper watch. The inquiry into the disaster made a number of recommendations. That the tides be assessed in that part of the coast. That iron ships built in the Northern Hemisphere re-swing, to readjust the deviation, in their compasses in the Southern Hemisphere.  The Government supply rocket apparatus where shipwrecks are apt to occur.  The Captain and crew were all found to be blameless for the tragedy.

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

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admella
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admella
3. The Register News-Pictorial Saturday 23 February 1929, p 7
4. Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904) Saturday 6 August 1859, p 4
5. South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) Saturday 17 September 1859, p 5
6. South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) Saturday 17 September 1859, p 5
7. South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) Saturday 17 September 1859, p 5
8. Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931) Saturday 16 May 1925, p 56
9. South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) Thursday 17 November 1859, p 3