Hobart Town, that suffered, fortunately without loss of life. The weather was boisterous, squally, and thick as the vessel in the early morn came within sight of the Shortland's Bluff (Queenscliff) • Lighthouse, but so indistinct was the glimmer that it was impossible to form any idea of the distance of the brig from the shore. The captain steered N . W . to run in, keeping a sharp look-out, when the vessel struck twice upon the western reef, off the spit of Point Nepean, carrying away her rudder, and becoming perfectly unmanageable. She broached to with her head to the eastward, immediately began tofillrapidly, and in fifteen minutes went down, with all sails set, in about thirty fathoms of water. The boats were put into requisition, and the captain (White), crew, and four passengers were soon embarked. W h e n clear of the wreck, however, the crew found themselves without oars, and only a handspike in the boat. They were accordingly compelled to pull the loose thwarts out of the boat and paddle with them towards the Bluff, where they landed about nine o'clock in the morning. H a d there been an ebb tide at the time the " Sophia" struck, there would have been no chance of saving a soul. SHIP BURNED AT GEELONG.
The " Hero," barque, 332 tons, had completed loading with wool for England, and was lying at Point Henry. O n the afternoon of the 13th February, 1849, afirebroke out on board, generated as was supposed by spontaneous cumbustion amongst the cargo. Prompt assistance was at hand, when it was decided to scuttle the vessel; the cargo of which was valued at ,£20,000. Aboutfiftybales of wool were saved, but the ship's papers and instruments, chests, and personal effects were lost. The vessel was sunk infifteenfeet of water, and there were thirty tons of tallow amongst the cargo. The expense of re-washing and re-packing the wool would, it was thought, considerably depreciate the value of its recovery, but things turned out much better than was expected, for the ship was easily raised, through little injury being sustained by the hull, and a good deal of the cargo was recovered.
WRECK OF A VESSEL FROM CHINA.
On 24th February, 1849, another wreck occurred on the Point Lonsdale Reef. The " Princess Royal," 230 tons, Captain Sinclair, was coming from Hong Kong to Melbourne, and at 3 a.m. struck. The crew and passengers took to the boats, and with the assistance of Pilot M'Pherson landed in safety. During the following night in a heavy S.W. gale the vessel parted amidships, was totally wrecked, and a whole cargo of rice and sugar lost. The mishap was occasioned by the recent shifting of the light on the Bluff, and the captain had no correct chart. Broken boxes and tea chests strewed the beach, and all saved was a box of letters addressed to the Post Office. A SCHOONER BLOWN UP.
A casualty of this kind happened forty miles westward of Cape Otway, about 4 a.m., 27th March, 1849. The " Minerva," schooner, 102 tons, was coming from Sydney to Portland, and smoke was perceived in the cabin. This was succeeded by a strong smell of sulphur, and it was soon known that the vessel was on fire. As there was a large quantity of powder on board, all hands were consequently impatient to get away before they should be blown up. The two boats were got out, and the crew (there were no passengers) were in such a hurry to get into them as never to think about provisions, and only took away a small keg of water. The boats shoved off some distance, and the captain had a notion to return on board to save something, when an explosion took place, hurling the main and foretopmasts into the sea. The crew then attempted to regain the deck of the schooner, but found it impossible to do so, in consequence of the combustion of the oil, gin, rum and brandy in the vessel. By n a.m. the "Minerva" was burned to the water's edge. The boats then sheered off with the intention of making Port Fairy, but at 2 a.m. of the 28th, when only thirty miles from their destination, the wind shifted to N.W., and commenced to blow strong. This
