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Admella's passengers
Title : Admella's passengers Admella's passengers
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Source : Adelaide observer, 20 August 1859, p. 5
Place Of Creation : Adelaide
Publisher : John Stephens
Date of creation : 1859
Format : Newspaper
Contributor : State Library catalogue
Catalogue record
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The article contains as complete a list of the passengers and crew of the Admella as was possible to compile at the time. 24 names are asterisked: these are the survivors from the passengers and crew.

SS Admella captained by Hugh McEwan, was wrecked in the early hours of 6 August 1859, on the Carpenter Rocks near Cape Banks. She was carrying 87 passengers, a crew of 26 and along with other cargo was also carrying seven horses. Admella had left Port Adelaide 5 August and struck the reef early the following morning. High seas battered the ship against the rocks and lifted her onto them. She broke up almost immediately, a design feature made to minimise loss of life actually contributing to the vessel literally falling apart.

Water-tight bulkheads had been riveted to the hull: these actually weakened the hull and the ship broke up into three sections along these lines. The remoteness of the wreck delayed rescue attempts and many lives were lost before help could reach them. The lifeboat from Portland in Victoria worked with Ben Germein and men from the Cape Northumberland Lighthouse and several steamers arrived from Adelaide and Victoria to offer assistance. Only 24 people survived the wreck.

Subjects
Related names :

McEwan, Hugh

Coverage year : 1859
Period : 1852-1883
Place : Cape Banks
Region : South East
Further reading :
Loney, J. K. Admella North Geelong, Vic.: J.K. Loney, [1975]
Mossman, Samuel. Narrative of the shipwreck of the "Admella", inter-colonial steamer, on the southern coast of Australia drawn up, from authentic statements furnished by the rescuers and survivors Melbourne: Printed and published for the Committee of the "Admella" Fund by J.H. Moulines and Co., 1859
Mudie, Ian. Wreck of the Admella Adelaide: Rigby, 1966
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State Library of South Australia: Mortlock Wing exhibitions. Wooden Walls and Iron Sides August 2004-


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