GEM 1835-1876

Description:

Painting of a similar Cutter (artist unknown)

Owner:

Unknown (Capt. Wilcock)

Construction:

Wood, carvel built

Sunk:

18th May 1876

Size:

tons 52, length 20.1m, beam 4.8m, depth 2.6m

Underwater:

The keel and a line of encrusted ribs lay on a sandy bottom and are usually completely covered in dense weed.

Built:

1835 in Cowes, Isle of Wight, U.K.

Location:

Near Phillip Rock, Thomson Bay, approximately 300 metres southeast of Kingston Reef

Sinking:

On 18 May 1876, Gem with Capt. Wilcock was on voyage from Port Irwin to Fremantle with a cargo of 500 bags of wheat and 4 passengers and a crew of 7, when she was lost off Phillip Rock. 11 died. A cover-up by the harbour-master was suggested because of the discrepancies in the information he gave about the vessel’s position.

Longitude:

115.56143

Latitude:

-31.98768