The Else, built under Special Survey as a 3-masted barque by James Laing and launched in May 1863, was originally named the Albert William. It had one deck, an elliptical stern, two bulkheads, two tiers of beams and was cemented. The vessel had a quarterdeck 11 m long, and a shield head instead of a figurehead.
ELSE formerly Albert William 1863-1900
Iron Barquentine Selwyn Craig built 1868. photo SLSA
Description
Built under Special Survey as a 3-masted barque by James Laing and launched in May 1863, was originally named the Albert William. It had one deck, an elliptical stern, two bulkheads, two tiers of beams and was cemented. The vessel had a quarterdeck 11 m long, and a shield head instead of a figurehead
Construction
Iron Hull
Size
Tonnage: 512 gross, 488 net Length: 162.5 ft (49.5 m) Breadth: 26 ft (7.9 m) Depth: 17.3 ft (5.3 m)
Built
1863 Sunderland, UK by James Lang
Owner
Wilson & Co. of Liverpool, it was sold to A. Bilborough also of Liverpool in 1869. The vessel then became the property of Smith, Bilborough & Co. in 1876.
Sunk
STRANDED 3 September 1900
Location
South side of the Jetty
Latitude/Longitude
(-, -)
Sinking
THE STRANDING About 3.00 p.m. on 2 September 1900 the Else tried to enter the harbour at Hamelin Bay, but ‘the captain mistook the entrance, and brought his vessel in over the reefs just north of the island’ (West Australian, 3 September 1900: 6c). After three times striking the reef between Peak Islet and Hamelin Island, the barquentine began to take in water and then ran aground on the south side of the Hamelin Jetty.
Underwater
INITIAL SALVAGE After a survey by Lloyd’s surveyor, Captain Webster, the wreck of the Else was sold on 29 September 1900 at an auction held in the Cleopatra Hotel, Fremantle:
Gallery
