Historical information
The ship Carnarvon Bay bound from Liverpool to Sydney with a general cargo struck rocks off Stokes Point on the coast of King Island on Thursday 15 September 1910.
On the day the crew used two lifeboats but were separated. One of them with Captain W. Griffith and 17 men was rescued by the SS Taracoola and brought back to Melbourne. Apprentice, R.J.N Filkin was amongst them (his name is listed on the Argus article relating the event (Monday 19 September 1910). In the article called "Welcome Shelter" it seems it was the first sea voyage for the young Filkin.
The other boat with 15 men was lost for several hours.
There was no casualties but the 3000 ton cargo was lost.
The seamen were received at the Sailors Home then welcomed at the Mission by Reverend Haire as shown on a photograph publish in the Punch (22 September 1910). Reverend Gurney Goldsmith was in England at the time.
The crew was invited to an evening of entertainment organised by artist Violet Teague at the Masonic Hall on the 19th of September. According to the article "Welcome Shelter" she was painting the "tableaux" at the Mission when the seamen were present, interviewed by the journalist. This evening organised by the Ladies Harbour Lights Guild was planned to raise funds for the Mission.
Physical description
Sepia photograph depicting the ship Carnarvon Bay at sea with a written inscription in black ink.
Inscriptions & markings
Ship Carnarvon Bay wrecked King Island 15 September 1910 - R.J.N Filkin apprentice
Subjects
References
- Wreck on King Island - Ship Carnarvon Bay - Crew takes to boats - Perilous voyage across strait Article with map and list of names in the Argus, Monday 19 September 1910, page 7
- Castaway reunited Article in the Argus, Monday 26 September 1910, page 8
- The wreck of the Carnarvon Bay Photographs published in the Punch in September 1910 of the rescued seamen with Reverend William Foster Haire in front of the Mission
- Carnarvon Bay 1910
- Carnarvon Bay Postcard by George Schutze Original postcard of this item held at the State Library of Victoria revealing that the photographer was George Schutze.
- Welcome Shelter - The philosophy of Otto Article in the Argus, Monday 19 September 1910, page 8 telling how when Reverend Haire welcomed the crew at the mission while Violet Teague was painting the decors for the "tableaux vivants".
- Crew of Carnarvon Bay Photographs of the crew where the young Filkin appears published in the Weekly Times, Saturday 24 September 1910, page 29
