Warrnambool Standard
June 12 1890

SIR, - With reference to Mr. Richard Bennett's letter re the above, and his inference that the wreck broken up by Sandy Allen was the historic ship, I would respectfully suggest to Mr.  Bennett that I think he is confounding the breaking up, and afterwards burning of the Sir John Byng, brig, for her copper bolts and sheathing of metal.   I witnessed this operation myself.  The Sir John Byng was not seen for many years, and after an abnormally high tide and westerly gale that washed away the bathing houses at Boarding School Bay, Belfast, this vessel was exposed well on the hummocks.  Capt. Firth, master of the Rachel, stranded last year in Lady Bay, told me he lost her.  She was four miles, at least, from the accepted site of the mahogany ship, and the Sir John Byng was not a mahogany ship.