WORLD's NEWS
June 23, 1937NINGPO, ship from Hongkong to Melbourne, was wrecked on d'Entrecasteaux Reefs, Northern New Caledonia, July 28, 1854. A month later four men seized the ship's boat and sailed 800 miles to Queensland. They were nearly killed by natives but managed to reach Brisbane in September. Survivors were rescued from the sand islets by Lieutenant Chimmo in H.M.S. Torch, October 26, 1854.
PERUVIAN, 304 tons, barque, Sydney to China, was wrecked on Belona Reefs, Coral Sea, in 1846. Of the 21 aboard, one was saved - James MURRELLS. James Murrells, usually known as Jimmy Murrells, was born in Essex, went to sea at 16, and in 1846 was an able seaman in the Peruvian, which sailed from Sydney on February 24, bound for China, and was wrecked off the coast of Queensland. Of the 21 aboard, only seven reached land, after 42 grim days on a raft; three died within a few days and the other four were captured by natives. The natives carried a sick sailor gently and treated the other members well; a boy died, then the captain, later, his widow. Murrells had been transferred to another tribe near Port Denison; later he found a sheep-yard on the Burdekin River. He bailed the occupants and was told the date was January 25, 1863. He had been with the natives 17 years. His teeth were worn to the gums, owing to hard food, roots, etc. Later he was made a Customs House official and died October 30, 1865.
MARY, barque, of Sydney, was wrecked near Laughlin Islands, south-east of New Guinea, in a very bad gale, December 1, 1840; six were drowned; four killed by natives; 15 survivors reached Woodlark Island, where 14 more were killed by natives; one escaped.
GUIDING STAR, 2012 tons, wooden clipper ship, chartered by Golden Line; left Liverpool, January 9, 1855, and was lost with all hands, about February or March, 1855. While bound for Melbourne, she is supposed to have been enbayed by sailing into a huge ice island about 44 deg. S., 25 deg. W.; 480 passengers were lost.