Australian Historical Medals (1788-1885)

Lot 711    SESSION 3 (John Chapman Collection, 2.30pm Tuesday)    Australian Historical Medals (1788-1885)

Estimate $15,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $15,250

SNUFF BOX, in sterling silver, hallmarked, engraved on lid 'To Owsley Cockburn Esq / by the Inhabitants of / Melbourne, Pt Phillip / for his Bravery and Humane Exertions in aiding / the suffering survivors from the / Awful Wreck (by night) of the Emigrant Ship / 'CATARAQUI' / on Kings Island Aug 4th 1845 / when out of 423 persons but 9 were saved'. Note: The inscription on the snuff box as to the number of deaths does not tally with the true number. Extremely fine. Owlsey Cockurn, grandson of Archibald Cockburn of Cockpen, Baron of the Exchequer and nephew of Lord Cockburn, the Scottish Law Lord. He and his brothers were squatters between 1839-1850 (Paul de Serville 'Port Phillip Gentlemen'). This snuff box is mentioned in 'Chronicles of Early Melbourne', 1888, by Edmund Finn, 'Garyowen', page 587; Hawkins, J.B., 'Nineteenth Century Australia', silver, vol 1, page 184. The wreck of the ship 'Cataraquai' on the south west shore of King Island on 4th August 1845 with a loss of 399 lives which included 369 immigrants was and still is Australia's greatest loss of civilian lives. The 'Cataraquai' was the last vessel to be chartered by the Immigration Commissioners under the bounty system. She left England in April 1845 bound for Australia. After fourteen weeks at sea, heavy weather struck. Captain Finlay had not been able to accurately plot his position, in fact he was about sixty miles off course. This had the 'Cataraquai' heading straight for King Island and disaster. When she struck many of the passengers including women and children were confined below decks and were drowned in their quarters, about two hundred others clung to the ship which was being hit by massive waves. During the evening the vessel broke in two and with this happening taking many lives. Finally when the remainder of the 'Cataraquai' broke into pieces there was only nine survivors who managed to get ashore onKing Island. The survivors were found and cared for by a party of sealers for four weeks until 7th September when a cutter 'Midge' was signalled as she approached the Island and took aboard the survivors, taking them to Melbourne. Excerpt from 'The Chronicles of Early Melbourne', 1888, pages 586-587, by Edmund Finn, 'Garryowen' ... 'That this meeting considers that Messrs. Fletcher and Cockburn deserve a token of public approbation for the prompt and humane manner in which , at great risk, they brought of the survivors from the place of wreck'... 'gratuity to two seamen belonging to the 'Midge'; silver snuff-boxes with suitable inscription to Messrs. Fletcher and Cockburn, owners of the 'Midge' each of the value of five guineas'. The Government some time after caused to be erected on the spot a tablet thus engraved ... 'Memorial / Of the total wreck of the Immigrant Ship / 'CATARAQUAI' / From Liverpool to Port Phillip / C.W.Finlay, Master / On these reefs / 4th August 1845' 'Of four hundred and eight souls on board, but nine survived - The Chief Mate, Thomas Guthrie, seven sailors, and one emigrant, Solomon Brown. This memorial records and deplores the loss of the Master, C.W.Finlay; Surgeon-Superintendent, C.Carpenter; Assistant Surgeon, Edward Carpenter, and twenty seven officers and men of the ship's company. Of sixty two emigrant families, comprising three hundred and thirteen souls; of unmarried female emigrants, thirty three; of unmarried male emigrants, twenty three; in all, three hundred and ninety nine souls. This tablet is erected at the expense of the local Government of Port Phillip.