ELSE formerly Albert William 1863-1900

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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

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.

Construction:

Iron Hull

Sunk:

STRANDED 3 September 1900

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)

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:

Built:

1863 Sunderland, UK by James Lang

Location:

South side of the Jetty

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.

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