Sholl, at the wish of Gee, who was suffering acute pain, entered the boat and pulled from the shore. As they left, mournful wails arose from among the rocks, evidently from natives bemoaning the fate of killed or wounded companions.
The white band had a providential escape, but the worst was yet to come. The tide was near its full height, and in the straits they found it impossible to make much progress; indeed, eventually they began to lose way. The anchor was dropped, and dragged for a short time, till it suddenly held fast and pulled the boat's bow under water. All the men were cast into the strong current, and Quinlan sank and was never seen again. The others were swept onward by the rush of water at a terrible speed. It needed great endurance to combat such force, and Mr. R. J. Sholl was finally so overcome by fatigue that he was about to abandon the struggle. His son, seriously disabled though he was, swam to his rescue. The father, knowing this would endanger both lives, begged the young man to save himself, but filial faithfulness prevailed. By almost superhuman strength Treverton kept his father afloat until, catching a keg from the boat, he swam, dragging it after him, while Mr. Sholl, senior, held fast to it.
The accident took place at noon, and by fine endurance and splendid zeal the son assisted the father until evening. Six or seven hours after their immersion they landed eight or ten miles from where the boat sank, and about two miles from the scene of the encounter with the natives. Gee miraculously managed to follow them, as also did the remaining men. Their plight was now extremely pitiful. While in the water they had divested themselves of nearly all their clothes, and, of course, their provisions had been lost. Though Camden Harbour was only about ten miles away, they had to go some thirty or forty miles round Augustus Water and many mangrove creeks to reach it. Fresh water could not be found, and thus, famished, fatigued, and without boots and clothing, they began their long journey. Added to these disabilities was the fear that the natives might at any moment pounce down upon them, and, unarmed as they were, they could not expect to successfully repulse them. Gee and Treverton were suffering intensely from their wounds, which could not be properly dressed.
The poignant anguish of the band can be imagined. The dangers on land were as great as those on the sea. It took them from the 5th till noon on the 8th to reach the camp. Progress was laborious at best. Without boots, their feet were lacerated by sharp stones; without proper food, they subsisted on lizards and like repulsive creatures; without water, they even drank their own blood; and without clothing, the sun's rays brought ugly blisters on their bodies. They eventually became so exhausted as to hardly make any appreciable advance. Finally they sighted the Harbour, and then sat down, collected tufts of grass, with which they mended what tattered garments they had, and rose and crawled to the camp. A more harrowing spectacle could hardly be witnessed. The doctor to the settlement attended the sufferers, and all recovered except Constable Gee, who died a few days afterwards.
On 29th October Mr. R. J. Sholl and his band sailed for Port Walcott, Nickol Bay, in the Kestrel, and, after spending some days at Roebuck Bay, they reached that port on 24th November. Thus the Camden Harbour settlement was abandoned. In its chequered history were numerous examples of rashness, disorder, trial, disaster, and noble conduct. In a few months several deaths had been encompassed, and much capital sunk—the expense to the Government was over £5,000. The settlement provided an object lesson, and the experience gained was useful to some who became noted West Australians.
Mr. Sholl disembarked his horses at Roebuck Bay, and instructed Surveyor Cowle, with Messrs. McRae, Vincent, Police-Constables Toovey and Vincent, and a native, to travel overland to Nickol Bay. Mr. Cowle left Roebuck Bay on 10th January, 1866, and reached his destination on 28th February. He described the intervening country as covered with pasturage growing on a sandy, loamy soil—altogether, he computed that he passed over 3,000,000 acres of permanent grass. Mr. McRae, with Mr. Shakespeare Hall, a well-known pioneer, a few weeks later made an important trip to the Fitzroy River, which he struck ninety miles east of Roebuck Bay. He reported favourably on the fertility of the land, and Mr. Hall concurred.
The Denison Plains Association was established in Melbourne shortly after the Camden Harbour Association. A similar instance of the unwholesome effect of excitement is provided. A lamentable want of prudence was shown by promoters and shareholders of this company, for, without acquiring knowledge of the country proposed to be settled, its members invested in stock, chartered vessels, broke up homes, and sailed for what was practically an unknown region—and doubtful at best. Its history was little longer than that of the Camden Harbour Association. On 2nd May, 1865, the first band reached Fremantle on the Warrior, a ship of 1,100 tons. Mr. C. E. Broadhurst was manager of the Denison Plains Association, and the stock consisted of 2,100 sheep, a valuable stud of 44 horses, and 20 fine cows. The names of the Warrior passengers were:—Mr. and Mrs. Broadhurst, Mr. and Mrs. Wedge and family (five), Miss Anderson, Dr. Baynton, Messrs. Venn, Brodie, Edmonstone, Sayers, Hodgkinson, Hanlow, Mackay, Frazer, Graham, Gardiner, Hicks, Sayes, Simson, Macintosh, Cane, Bush, Jeffrey, Filchey, and Mr. and Mrs. Mullen and family (four). Governor Hampton informed Mr. Broadhurst of the failure of the Camden Harbour Association. It was proposed to land on the head waters of the Victoria River, and proceed thence to Denison Plains. The Warrior stopped at Nickol Bay, and was followed by other ships. Land was obtained, and several exploration parties searched for good country. Mr. H. W. Venn, a member of the association, was the leader of most of these, and though only a young man he succeeded in discovering much new country. He went west of Roebourne, where Mr. F. T. Gregory had not touched, and with Messrs. Mackay, Cane, and Frazer traced the Fortescue and Ashburton Rivers, discovered and named the Cane and Robe Rivers, and scanned for the first time other notable local features. In return for his services the Government subsequently granted him a free stock lease of 100,000 acres on the Ashburton.
The Denison Plains Association was from the first unsuccessful, and its members did not relish the co-operative principle as applied to pioneering the north-west. Early in 1866 the association was wound up; the stock was divided among the creditors. Some of the shareholders returned to the eastern colonies, while some became prominent in local industry and politics. Notwithstanding these failures of large undertakings, private bands and individuals continued to go to Nickol Bay, the De Grey, Ashburton, Harding, and Fortescue Rivers, besides other parts. Indeed there was a splendid expansion of industry, and numerous examples of courage and laudable enterprise. The disbanded shareholders of the Camden Harbour Association and other arrivals were constantly selecting large areas of land. The state of the small northern colony early in 1865—with the exceptions already mentioned—was promising and almost flourishing. Among new arrivals was Mr. James Orkney, with fine merinos, conveyed from Melbourne in the Aurifera. On 2nd April Messrs J. E. and A. R. Richardson, Edwin Anderson,
