''Ada and Ethel'' was a wooden
schooner that was wrecked southeast of
Seal Rocks,
New South Wales
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, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
,
Australia, on 26 October 1887.
Ship description and construction
On 9 January 1886, Mr. Roderick of
Eagleton, New South Wales, launched a new vessel built to the order of Messrs. Captain C. T. Messell and E. Davies, of
Sydney, New South Wales.
[Country News](_blank)
''The Sydney Morning Herald'', 12 January 1886. The christening ceremony was performed with champagne by Miss Ada Messell,
Captain Messell's daughter. The vessel was named after Ada and her infant sister Ethel May, who died approximately 12 months later.
''Ada and Ethel'' then was taken to Sydney, entering
Sydney Heads at half-past eleven on the night of 19 February 1886 under tow by the
steamer ''Malua'' and was brought up in Pyrmont Bight to have her mast and other fittings installed. The passage down from
Williams River was made in 10 hours.
''Ada and Ethel'' was rigged as a fore-and-aft schooner, intended for the coasting trade. Her dimensions were long, beam, and depth, which gave her a
gross register tonnage of 73 tons. She was built substantially of the best colonial hardwood, coppered, and copper-fastened. She was a
sister ship of ''Julian'', which was launched about eight months earlier and belonged to the same firm.
Wreck
''Ada and Ethel'' left port on the afternoon of 26 October 1887 under the command of Captain Frederick. They soon found that the ship was taking on water so rapidly that by 19:30 the vessel became unmanageable, and Captain Frederick endeavoured to make for
Port Stephens, New South Wales, where he intended to beach her. However, it was soon apparent that ''Ada and Ethel'' would not reach the shore, and Captain Frederick and the five members of his crew abandoned ship off
Seal Rocks, New South Wales.
"Foundering of the schooner Ada and Ethel"
''The Sydney Morning Herald'', 29 October 1887.
References
Further reading
*Wrecks on the New South Wales Coast. By Loney, J. K. (Jack Kenneth), 1925–1995 Oceans Enterprises. 1993 .
*''Australian Shipwrecks - vol1 1622-1850'', Charles Bateson, AH and AW Reed, Sydney, 1972, , Call number 910.4530994 BAT
*''Australian shipwrecks Vol. 2 1851–1871'' By Loney, J. K. (Jack Kenneth), 1925–1995. Sydney. Reed, 1980 910.4530994 LON
*''Australian shipwrecks Vol. 3 1871–1900'' By Loney, J. K. (Jack Kenneth), 1925–1995. Geelong Vic: List Publishing, 1982 910.4530994 LON
*''Australian shipwrecks Vol. 4 1901–1986'' By Loney, J. K. (Jack Kenneth), 1925–1995. Portarlington Vic. Marine History Publications, 1987 910.4530994 LON
*''Australian shipwrecks Vol. 5 Update 1986'' By Loney, J. K. (Jack Kenneth), 1925–1995. Portarlington Vic. Marine History Publications, 1991 910.4530994 LON
External links
Australian National Shipwreck DatabaseAustralian Shipping
- Arrivals and Departures 1788-1968 including shipwrecks
{{Navbox shipwrecks of New South Wales, Wreckshunter
Ships built in New South Wales
1886 ships
Maritime incidents in October 1887
Shipwrecks of the Mid North Coast Region
1871–1900 ships of Australia
Coastal trading vessels of Australia
Schooners of Australia