Life Saving Medals

Lot 3850    Session 14 (4.30pm Thursday 24 November) Leslie J Carlisle C    Life Saving Medals

Estimate $1,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $600

VICTORIAN HUMANE SOCIETY SILVER MEDAL, missing suspender, reverse inscribed, 'Martin A.Peterson/11 Septbr 1876'.Very fine.

Martin Peterson was boatswain of the steamer Dandenong and one of the four crew members who made two perilous journeys between the vessel and the rescue barque, Albert William, and saved many lives. Originally some members of the Victorian Humane Society committee wanted to award gold medals to Mr Dykes, 2nd engineer and Martin Peterson, however, after much deliberation, it was decided that the bravery of all four crew should be equally acknowledged and each receive a silver medal. The silver medal recipients were John Dykes, 2nd engineer; Martin Alfred Peterson, boatswain; James Anderson, A.B.; and John Ekluyd, A.B.

An account of the tragedy that resulted in the loss of the steamer Dandenong on Monday 11 September 1876 was reported at the time as follows.

'The Newcastle barque, Albert William, from Wallaroo, arrived at Newcastle early this morning, and created a profound sensation by reporting that the steamer Dandenong, from Melbourne to Sydney, had been lost off Cape Everard on Monday last. The barque had on board twenty-eight of the passengers and twelve of the crew of the unfortunate steamer, all the rest having been drowned. The chief officer of the Dandenong, who is amongst those saved, reports that the Dandenong left Melbourne at 5 p.m. on Friday last, cleared decks, and squared away for Sydney. On the following day she encountered nothing but steady airs and light weather, and there was every promise of the passage being a speedy and pleasant one.

At 5 p.m., on Saturday, however, the wind suddenly shifted to the eastward, and rapidly gained force, until it blew a terrific gale. At 2 p.m. on Sunday, land, supposed to be Cape Everard, was in sight. All day on Sunday there were terrible trying times, and all hands were directed exclusively assisting in whatever measures were practicable for the safety of the ship. At 1 a.m. on Monday the 11th, the engineer reported that the engines had broken down, and the captain immediately hauled his ship off shore as well as he could. On the failure of the engines becoming known, the passengers appeared to be fully alive to their awful position, but still order prevailed. It was soon found that the shaft had broken completely in two, and a portion of it falling had knocked a large hole in the bottom of the vessel. The ship at once commenced to take much water; and her after-compartment was rapidly filled. The result was that she was still more at the mercy of the seas, which washed over her and threatened every moment to complete the dreadful work of destruction.

The crew and passengers all this time, amidst great difficulties, were working like horses at the pumps, vainly trying to keep the water down. But finding this was impossible, and the water rapidly gaining, orders were given to open the fore and main hatches and throw over cargo, in order if possible to lighten the ship. An attempt was also made to stop the hole with beds and mattresses, but the water had gained so far that it was impossible to do so, and it was evident that the unfortunate Dandenong was gradually settling down, with no earthly hope for her passengers and crew, the sea being so terrible that the idea of a boat living in it was hardly considered.

At two p. m. on Monday a sail was discovered on the port bow, and the Dandenong at once made signals of distress, and headed for the vessel, which, after an anxious time, altered her course to meet the disabled and sinking steamer. The vessel turned out to be the Albert William, from Wallaroo to Newcastle, and amidst the hearty thanksgiving of the passengers she ran alongside the steamer, and appeared even in that dreadful sea to be a haven of safety for those on board the Dandenong. A line was thrown from the port bow of the barque to the steamer; but the captain of the barque being afraid of destroying both vessels if he approached too close to the steamer, those on board the Dandenong who were on the look-out missed the rope.

The boats of the Dandenong were then lowered, although there was a frightful sea running. By dint of enormous exertions 28 passengers and 12 of the crew were saved. Seventeen persons were drowned in transhipping to the barque, and darkness coming on the barque could not stand by any longer, leaving forty passengers and crew on the wreck. The Dandenong lights suddenly disappeared between eight and nine o'clock on Monday night, at which time she is supposed to have foundered. There was only one good boat available on board the Dandenong at that time. When daylight came nothing could be seen of the steamer, and the barque squared away at 8 in the morning. There was only one boat and it made two trips. The passengers and crew saved from the Dandenong look in a deplorable condition. Hundreds of people, assembled on the wharf to witness their landing. A deputation has just waited on the Mayor, asking him to call, a public meeting to afford relief to the sufferers.