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Tasmanian Seafarers' Memorial
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Spring Bay Disaster 1896
The plaque reads ...
Spring
Bay Disaster
21 November 1896
Drowned crossing from Maria Is.
whilst in the execution of their duty
I.J.McCluskey Council Clerk & Police Superintendent
G.Eppingstall Police Sub-Inspector
T.Pyke boatman J.Ford
blacksmith
W.Evans shoemaker J.McGrath publican
See also William John Evans and James Thomas McGrath
The Mercury newspaper reported on Friday 27th November 1896:
We deeply regret to say
that there is now no hope of the safety of the six well-known persons who left Maria
Island for Spring Bay on Saturday last, and who never reached their destination. Indications
have been found sufficient to show that the boat has been lost, and there can be little
doubt but that the whole of the occupants have been drowned. We may say that the statement
made that the boat was a rotten one is not true, for the boat was not only sound, but
its management was in thoroughly competent hands. The passage across from the island
is, however, often a very rough and dangerous one, so that even with the most careful
management an accident may happen, and in this case there appears to have been one
of an appalling character. For, the six occupants of the boat, all of them well known
residents of the locality and respected by those with whom they came in contact, have
been lost, and there does not now appear to be the least hope that they can have escaped.
It was at one time thought that the boat might have run for shelter, but the discoveries
made point to a disaster such as we have seldom to record. One painful feature in this
sad case is, that several of those lost have left behind them wives and families utterly
unprovided for, and we learn that in one or two cases there is absolutely a want of
the necessaries of life. We make no doubt that the residents of the district, to
whom the lost men were well-known, will take steps to raise a fund to help the afflicted
by this sudden disaster, but we do not think that the work should be left entirely
to them. There are, we are sure, many persons in Hobart and the neighbourhood who will
be ready to help on such an occasion as this, and we may remind them that what is wanted
is prompt aid for the sufferers. The fatality is one which exceeds anything that we
have had to record for a long time, and we hope to see the help given commensurate
with the requirements of the case. We shall be glad to receive subscriptions to a Relief
Fund, pending any local arrangements
that may be made.
The South Australian Register, Wed 25 Nov 1896 reported:
BOATING DISASTER NEAR TASMANIA.
SIX MEN LOST.
NO TRACE OF THE BOAT.
Hobart. November 24.
A serious boating disaster is reported from Spring Bay. On Saturday afternoon a party of residents went in a boat to Maria. Island, and left on the return trip, but they have not since been heard of. There is not the slightest doubt that the boat has capsized, and that all on board are lost.
They were : —
Mr. J. J. McCluskey, the local Superintendent of Police.
Mr. Eppingstall, a local constable.
Captain McGrath, licencee of the Pembroke Hotel.
Mr.
J. Forde,
Mr. W. Evans,
Mr. Pike.
The boat was old, and scarcely fitted for a heavy freight. Search parties are out, but the rescue of the party seems hopeless. All the victims of the disaster are well-known men in the district. The event has caused grave concern among the community.
Spring Bay is a rural municipality in the County of Pembroke, and is situated some fifty-five miles from Hobart. Maria Island is included in the municipality, and is leased to the Maria Island Company. The island is provided with excellent hotel accommodation, and passengers are conveyed between it and the town of Triabunna daily by sailing vessel. Mr. McCluskey, who is lost, was the most important civic official in the district.