Australian History
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- Start date
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Mrs Mary Beatrice Watson, Ah Leong, Ah Sam and baby Ferrier.
ALMOST FORGOTTEN
A QUEENSLAND TRAGEDY
Lizard Island had its hour of romance
when Captain Watson a beche-de-mer fish-
er married) Mary Beatrice Phillips and:
brought her a blushing young bride to live
on the island. Mary who was 21 years of
age was born at Truro in Cornwall Dur-
ing the first few months on the island Mrs
Watson had the company of her young
sister. Later Ferrier her baby was born.
About the end of August 1881 Captain
Watson left for Knight Island about 200
miles north of the Lizard to found a new
fishing base. Mrs Watson her baby boy
and two Chinese servants remained on
Lizard Island. On September 29th tragedy
descended on the little party., Blacks ar-
rived at the island and Ah Leong was kill-
ed. His hat found by Ah Sam was all
that was ever seen of him again. The
next day Ah Sam who went out to get
water was speared in seven places. He
escaped with three spears embedded in
his body. The following day an attack
was made on the camp but was driven
off by Mrs Wattson who defended herself
with rifle and revolver.
The position was very desperate. Accordingly
on Sunday October 2nd a square
iron tank (Used for boiling beche de mer)
was provisioned and launched and the
island abandoned. Progress was very slow
and the end of the day found them still
within three miles of the island. Next
day they were stuck on a reef and remain-
ed there all day., Keeping a lookout for a
passing ship on October 6th they reached
a small island and anchored under the
mangrove trees, They were without fresh
water so Ah Sam went ashore in search
of some. Blacks were on the island so
he returned to the boat. The next day
they reached another island about five
miles away went ashore for water but
could not find any. Hopes were raised
when a steamer travelling north was sight-
ed., Ferrier's pink and white wrap was
hoisted on a pole but the ship passed on.
The following day owing to a freshening
wind the position of the boat was changed
and they anchored in a sheltered lagoon.
On October 10th Mary was alarmed to
find Ferrier very bad with inflamation.
There was now no more milk left for the
baby except condensed and Ferrier began
to show symptoms of thurst. On the 11th
Mary was delighted to find Ferrier more
cheerful ., Hopes were again raised by the
gathering clouds for rain seemed imminent
Alas for worldly hopes the morning broke
clear and fine., Ah Sam was preparing to
die. At nine that morning, he left his
mistress never to return.
The last three brief sentences in a little
diary are:Have not seen a boat of any
description. No water,., Nearly dead with
thirst. Nearly dead with thirst.
Seven days, under the scorching tropical
Sun hopes raised and shattered but never
a word of complaint Or sign of failing
courage. Her only anxiety was for her
baby boy, She had even brought a pillow
and a sunshade to protect Ferrier from
the scorching sun.
Did she really see clouds or was it the
mirage of a tortured brain? God alone
knows . But the precious water that was
denied the living came in torrents to de-
luge the dead . The gallant fight for life
had ended. After travelling forty miles
on the open sea in one of the frailest
crafts ever launched she was doomed to die
of thirst on an arid coral island ten miles
from the mainland.
On January 2nd 1882 a party from the
fishing schooner (Captain Bremner) landed
on Howick Island. A boy searching for
eggs discovered Ah Sam under a tree and
a further search revealed the remains of
Mrs Watson lying on her back her babe on
her arm in the tank which was full of
water.
They buried her in Cooktown. On her
coffin was placed a beautiful, wreath in-
scribed with the Cornish motto 'One for
all.' The district turned out en masse to
pay a last tribute to the courageous girl
her baby and her faithful servant.
There stands in Cooktown not far from
the monument of Captain Cook a monu-
ment raised to the memory of Mary Beat-
rice Watson and those who thirst may
drink from the fountain at the base.
Lilzard Island still, remains an obscure and
uninhabited island, All trace of the home
of the Watsons has disappeared but at the
foot of a steep barren hill Is a clearing
which was once a farm. Each year when
the Navy goes north a few days are spent
at Lizard Island cleaning ships and the
Jolly Jack Tars tell again to the young
sailors the story of Mary and her gallant
fight for the life of her baby boy.
ALMOST FORGOTTEN
A QUEENSLAND TRAGEDY
Lizard Island had its hour of romance
when Captain Watson a beche-de-mer fish-
er married) Mary Beatrice Phillips and:
brought her a blushing young bride to live
on the island. Mary who was 21 years of
age was born at Truro in Cornwall Dur-
ing the first few months on the island Mrs
Watson had the company of her young
sister. Later Ferrier her baby was born.
About the end of August 1881 Captain
Watson left for Knight Island about 200
miles north of the Lizard to found a new
fishing base. Mrs Watson her baby boy
and two Chinese servants remained on
Lizard Island. On September 29th tragedy
descended on the little party., Blacks ar-
rived at the island and Ah Leong was kill-
ed. His hat found by Ah Sam was all
that was ever seen of him again. The
next day Ah Sam who went out to get
water was speared in seven places. He
escaped with three spears embedded in
his body. The following day an attack
was made on the camp but was driven
off by Mrs Wattson who defended herself
with rifle and revolver.
The position was very desperate. Accordingly
on Sunday October 2nd a square
iron tank (Used for boiling beche de mer)
was provisioned and launched and the
island abandoned. Progress was very slow
and the end of the day found them still
within three miles of the island. Next
day they were stuck on a reef and remain-
ed there all day., Keeping a lookout for a
passing ship on October 6th they reached
a small island and anchored under the
mangrove trees, They were without fresh
water so Ah Sam went ashore in search
of some. Blacks were on the island so
he returned to the boat. The next day
they reached another island about five
miles away went ashore for water but
could not find any. Hopes were raised
when a steamer travelling north was sight-
ed., Ferrier's pink and white wrap was
hoisted on a pole but the ship passed on.
The following day owing to a freshening
wind the position of the boat was changed
and they anchored in a sheltered lagoon.
On October 10th Mary was alarmed to
find Ferrier very bad with inflamation.
There was now no more milk left for the
baby except condensed and Ferrier began
to show symptoms of thurst. On the 11th
Mary was delighted to find Ferrier more
cheerful ., Hopes were again raised by the
gathering clouds for rain seemed imminent
Alas for worldly hopes the morning broke
clear and fine., Ah Sam was preparing to
die. At nine that morning, he left his
mistress never to return.
The last three brief sentences in a little
diary are:Have not seen a boat of any
description. No water,., Nearly dead with
thirst. Nearly dead with thirst.
Seven days, under the scorching tropical
Sun hopes raised and shattered but never
a word of complaint Or sign of failing
courage. Her only anxiety was for her
baby boy, She had even brought a pillow
and a sunshade to protect Ferrier from
the scorching sun.
Did she really see clouds or was it the
mirage of a tortured brain? God alone
knows . But the precious water that was
denied the living came in torrents to de-
luge the dead . The gallant fight for life
had ended. After travelling forty miles
on the open sea in one of the frailest
crafts ever launched she was doomed to die
of thirst on an arid coral island ten miles
from the mainland.
On January 2nd 1882 a party from the
fishing schooner (Captain Bremner) landed
on Howick Island. A boy searching for
eggs discovered Ah Sam under a tree and
a further search revealed the remains of
Mrs Watson lying on her back her babe on
her arm in the tank which was full of
water.
They buried her in Cooktown. On her
coffin was placed a beautiful, wreath in-
scribed with the Cornish motto 'One for
all.' The district turned out en masse to
pay a last tribute to the courageous girl
her baby and her faithful servant.
There stands in Cooktown not far from
the monument of Captain Cook a monu-
ment raised to the memory of Mary Beat-
rice Watson and those who thirst may
drink from the fountain at the base.
Lilzard Island still, remains an obscure and
uninhabited island, All trace of the home
of the Watsons has disappeared but at the
foot of a steep barren hill Is a clearing
which was once a farm. Each year when
the Navy goes north a few days are spent
at Lizard Island cleaning ships and the
Jolly Jack Tars tell again to the young
sailors the story of Mary and her gallant
fight for the life of her baby boy.
Beche de mer are sea cucumbers
Tathradj said:Back Creek,
Well Done, Over to you.
Very nice post as well.
I think we may have had that one before.
Which famous Australian was at one time involved in setting up a transport business that eventually spanned from the Queensland boarder to Morgan in South Australia?
GoldCheddar2005
Julie
Lew Fox
Nope
outboard
Rohan
tom kruse
Nope.
This bloke was in a partnership with his brother and another fellow.
This bloke was in a partnership with his brother and another fellow.
GoldCheddar2005
Julie
Thompsons or Brambles
Way before them.
This chap was famous for another type of venture later on.
This chap was famous for another type of venture later on.
Another clue:-
Think Big!
Think Big!
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ANSETT
outboard
Rohan
Sidney Kidman
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