''Grecian'' was a sailing ship which was wrecked in a storm off Port Adelaide, South Australia in October 1850.

History

''Grecian'', a fine barque, of 518 tons, sailed from The Downs bound for South Australia on 15 June 1850, almost exactly one year after her first such voyage. The trip was uneventful and she arrived in

Gulf St Vincent Gulf St Vincent, sometimes referred to as St Vincent Gulf, St Vincent's Gulf or Gulf of St Vincent, is the eastern of two large inlets of water on the southern coast of Australia, in the state of South Australia, the other being the larger S ...

on Sunday, 13 October, and made the

light ship A lightvessel, or lightship, is a ship that acts as a lighthouse. They are used in waters that are too deep or otherwise unsuitable for lighthouse construction. Although some records exist of fire beacons being placed on ships in Roman times, ...

at about 4 pm. The weather was very stormy, with the wind blowing a full gale from the west-north-west. ''Grecian'' was anchored in apparent safety riding with a single anchor, with 65 fathoms () chain, and the passengers were served their dinner. At about 5:30, the gale increasing, another 75 fathoms were added to the anchor chain. About 7 pm, the gale still increasing, and the ship driving rapidly towards the shore, the second anchor was let go. Despite the two anchors, of 70 and 90 cwt. (3.5 and 4.5 tonnes), the ship continued driving until 9 pm, when she struck the beach. The rudder and sternpost were knocked away, carrying away part of the poop and after-cabin. It was then deemed prudent to slip one anchor. The striking of the vessel, continued, when the remaining anchor was slipped, and she broached broadside on, the sea breaking over her fore and aft, to the terror of the passengers. Captain "Magnificent George" Hyde, the master of the vessel, ordered the release of the longboat, and got the passengers into the longboat, and the officers and crew into the lifeboat. The captain, carpenter, and third officer remained with the ship. One passenger, Mr. Leslie, a brother of Mrs. Giles, of Port Adelaide, was somehow unable to make it to the boats and was presumed drowned. With all hope for the ship gone, the captain left in the

jolly boat The jolly boat was a type of ship's boat in use during the 18th and 19th centuries. Used mainly to ferry personnel to and from the ship, or for other small-scale activities, it was, by the 18th century, one of several types of ship's boat. The de ...

, and found the longboat onshore at the point. He then took charge of the lifeboat and landed the ladies on

Torrens Island Torrens Island is an island in the Australian state of South Australia located in the Adelaide metropolitan area in the Port River Estuary about northwest of the Adelaide city centre. Since European settlement of Adelaide in 1836, it has ...

, where, from 6 am. to 3 pm., they were without food or shelter. With much difficulty the captain readied the ship ''Digby'', and returned with provisions for the passengers. The steam tug soon arrived, and most of the passengers were conveyed to the Port. The remainder landed on the beach, some at Port Gawler, and reached Port Adelaide later. The next day, ''Grecian'' was found to be on her beam endsOn her beam-ends: (nautical) heeled over so far that the deck is practically vertical and broken up, beyond repair. The passengers were:— Mrs. George Hyde, Mrs. Sarah Wigley, Miss Maria C. Wigley, Nathaniel A. Knox, Anne Jane Knox, Miss Henrietta Knox, Miss Sydney Knox (who married

John Acraman John Acraman (1829 – 22 June 1907) was a prominent businessman in the colony of South Australia, and has a place in the history of Australian football in that State. History John Acraman was born in England, a son of William Edward Acraman (c ...

), Nathaniel Knox, jnr., William Knox, Rose Mahony, Dr. Brendt, Richard Box, jnr., Charles J. Anstey, Thomas Fowler and Mrs. Fowler and her two children, and Mr. Leslie. The officers and crew numbered 25 in all. The Grecian and her cargo were estimated to be worth at least £80,000 (around AUD 50 million today).

Postscript

Two old-fashioned cannon of similar design were, eight years apart, found at the entrance to the Port, and believed to have belonged to ''Grecian''.

References

{{1850 shipwrecks Shipwrecks of South Australia Individual sailing vessels Maritime incidents in October 1850 1840s ships