View Shipwreck – Snowbird

The 'Snowbird' under Captain Alexander Shaw was bound from Sydney to Sweer's Island, via Townsville. At about 200 miles north of Cardwell the 'Snowbird' was discovered to be on fire with smoke coming up the rudder-case. The crew abandoned the vessel in the ship's boat. After leaving the 'Waratah' the smoke appeared to decrease and the crew returned to the vessel. However, they found that the fire was still making way. The captain reportedly wished to return a second time but was over ruled by the crew who knew there to be gunpowder onboard the vessel. When the boat was about a mile and a half from the 'Waratah' they witnessed the vessel blow up and founder. The captain and crew made for Cardwell, and then deciding not to land due to the Captain's fear of the vessel being stolen by discontented diggers from the Gilbert and his desire to communicate with the owners of the vessel the Mackinlay Brothers, they continued on to Townsville. Captain Shaw was reported to have been arrested on a charge of conspiracy to defraud (Sydney Morning Herald 03/09/1869:4). Its was put to the Water Police Court that Captain Alexander Shaw had planned to wreck the vessel before taking off; that a quantity of cargo supposedly assigned to the vessel was not loaded and diverted to Melbourne, the emergency provisions were readied under the captain's orders before the vessel caught on fire; that no attempt was made to put out the fire; and that when they returned to the vessel when the smoke had died down it was suggested that the captain re-lit the fire to ensure it would destroy the 'Snowbird' (Sydney Morning Herald 18/09/1869:5). Captain Alexander Shaw was charged with setting fire to the 'Snowbird' on the 17th of July 1869 with intent to defraud the Pacific and Australasian Insurance Companies (Sydney Morning Herald 21/09/1869:2). Denis Mackinlay (owner), Patrick Mackinlay (owner), James Rogers, George O'Brien and James Bourke were also indicted for conspiring to defraud the creditors (Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser 23/11/1869:4). Print version