Australian Historical Medals

Lot 768    SESSION 3 - 2.30PM Tuesday 29 July    Australian Historical Medals

Estimate $1,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,200

BARQUE AGNES RESCUE MEDAL, 1876, in silver (36mm), obverse, a boat being rowed from a steam vessel at right towards a wreck on a rocky shore at left, reverse inscription in high relief, 'PRESENTED TO/ R.GRIFFITHS (this name engraved)/ ONE OF THE CREW OF THE/MACDONNEL BAY LIFEBOAT/IN APPRECIATION OF HIS/SERVICES IN RESCUING/THE CREW OF THE BARQUE/ AGNES,/ON 19TH JULY,/ 1876.', with a rope border and rope loop. Very fine and scarce.

Details of the shipwreck were reported in The South Australian Advertiser on 20 July 1876 as follows,

'In Tuesday's issue we gave some particulars of the wreck of the barque Agnes on Carpenter's Reef, between Rivoli and MacDonnell Bays. It was stated that the vessel, which was laden with coal, was a total wreck; that four of the crew had succeeded, under perilous circumstances, in reaching MacDonnell Bay; and that five men, including the master (Captain Schmidt) and the first and second mates, were left on the wreck, and were in imminent danger, the craft being nearly all under water, and likely at any moment to go to pieces. It was considered to be possible that the men might be saved, but scarcely probable, unless the weather should be very calm and circumstances generally prove favorable. The position of affairs pointed to the necessity of immediate steps being taken, and the authorities showed their ability to cope with such an emergency by prompt action.

The steamer City of Hobart, which by good fortune happened to be in MacDonnell Bay, was chartered to proceed to the scene of the wreck with the local lifeboat and its crew. This she did, and at dawn of day on Wednesday the lifeboat was making its way across the wild waters to the wreck to rescue the men on it. They must have passed a fearful night exposed to the elements and unaware of what was being done to save them from the death which seemed so near. Through the heroic conduct of the crew of the lifeboat, all were saved, and this highly gratifying result could not have been accomplished without considerable personal risk. The brave men who constituted the crew, of the lifeboat, and rendered such efficient service, are deserving of all honor. A deed of so much nobleness should not-and we are quite sure it will not-be readily forgotten.

The following telegram, which we have received through the courtesy of Mr. W. T. Jones, the Sub-Collector of Customs at MacDonnell Bay, gives, in simple and concise language, a graphic description of the rescue:- MacDonnell Bay, July 19, evening.

"The steamer City of Hobart left here this morning, at half-past 3 o'clock, and arrived off the wreck at 7 a.m. The master of the Agnes, observing the steamer's lights, succeeded in turning a blue light to show his position, which was immediately answered by the steamer. The lifeboat left the steamer at a quarter-past 7 o'clock. On arriving at the wreck the Agnes was found to be lying on a ledge of rocks, broken in two, and split fore-and-aft. The mizenmast went by the board as the boat came up, and the men were seen holding on to the cabin fittngs, the sea making a clean breach over the vessel. Much difficulty was experienced in approaching the wreck near enough to get the men off.

At last one of the crew of the Agnes stripped himself partially, and having fastened a line round his body, jumped into the sea and swam towards the boat, in doing which he was repeatedly engulphed by the tremendous seas running and was also much cut and bruised. At last the coxswain of the life-boat hove the swimmer a life-buoy with a line attached to it, which he succeeded in catching, and by it was hauled on board. The remainder of the crew were saved in like manner by jumping into the sea and catching the life-buoy. It was providential that the line did not part during this service, as three of the crew, not being able to swim, must inevitably have been lost. The life-boat returned to the steamer at 10 o'clock, where the shipwrecked men received every attention from Captain Evans, who supplied them with every necessary. The steamer at once started for Port MacDonnell, and arrived here at half-past 12 o'clock. Captain Evans states that the lifeboat's crew behaved admirably, and that much praise is due to the coxswain, Mr. Smith, for the creditable manner in which be handled the lifeboat. He also says there is no doubt that by this time not a vestige of the Agnes remains above water."

The names of the men who succeeded in getting ashore from the Agnes, are Zachariah Nicholas, William Thomas, John Trickett, and John Pink; and the names of those who were rescued from the wreck are Hans Schmidt, master; Alfred Holland, mate; Alfred Adler, second mate; Edward Ulster and Charles Jones. We understand that the vessel was insured for �2,000 in the National Marine Office, and that before she left Sydney �700 was expended in refitting her. The owner Mr. P. Manuel, of Port Adelaide, states that the craft was properly equipped with boats, and that it will be found there is no ground whatever for complaint in that particular. We shall be very glad if that turns out to be the case.

During Wednesday afternoon Mr. Manuel received a telegram from Captain Schmidt informing him that the crew were saved with their lives only, and enquiring whether he should discharge them at MacDonnell Bay. Mr. Manuel replied giving instructions for the men to be brought on to Port Adelaide. We have already spoken in high terms of the prompt action taken by the authorities in this case, and they are without question deserving of the warmest eulogy. The President of Marine Board, acting in conjunction with the Treasurer, made, without a moment of unnecessary delay, the best possible arrangements, and to the speedy and gallant way in which they were carried out, Capt. Schmidt and his companions are largely indebted for their lives.'

A further report by the same newspaper on 17 May 1877 under the heading of Presentation for Bravery stated, 'An interesting ceremony took place in the Executive Council Chamber on Wednesday morning, May 16, when His Excellency Sir W.W. Cairns presented to Mr. William Alfred Holland the silver medal and parchment certificate of the Victorian Humane Society, for his bravery in saving the lives of the captain and crew of the barque Agnes, which was wrecked on Carpenter's Beef, between Rivoli and Macdonnell Bays, on the 19th July, 1876.' Details are then given of the rescue and the presenation ceremony and names of the official guests. The paper then reported, 'Mr. Holland is also the possessor of a gold medal which was presented to him some time back by the owner of the Agnes for his gallant conduct on the occasion which has called forth this well-merited tribute from the Humane Society of Victoria.'

Another gold medal was issued to the lifeboat coxswain H.L. Smith. These gold medals as well as silver medals were awarded to the 12-man crew of the rescue lifeboat Percy by the owner of the barque Agnes, Mr Manuel.