Warrnambool Standard
February 4 1911
The Mahogany Ship
The wreck at the eastern end of
Port Fairy bay, about 23/4 miles from the town, is that of an old
Spanish merchant vessel, or, perhaps, pirate vessel, as strips of lead have been
taken from her bow by Mr. James, builder, of Brunswick. Professor Mann, of
the University, pronounced the wood from which the vessel was built as
mahogany. The vessel may be the Safriana. Mr. T.C. Yockins, of
Pomborneit, should be able to throw some light on several of these old wrecks
(states the "Gazette"). Mr. James is now seeking permission to
occupy the foreshore, and his wreck is to be docked. In Warrnambool the
report of Mr. James' investigations, as published at Port Fairy, has aroused
considerable interest amongst those who have been keeping in touch with the
various efforts made of late to elucidate information likely to throw light on
the subject. Several of those who have studied the matter and some of the
older residents of the district are doubtful as to the genuineness of the find
near Port Fairy. The nearest point to Port Fairy indicated by old data and
bearings as the probable site of the wreck is from six to seven miles westward
of the mouth of the Moyne River. Mr. John O'Connor, of Crossley, is one of
those who doubt the value of the find 23/4 mile from Port
Fairy. He claims to be able to locate the exact spot of the ancient wreck,
which, he says, was known to him when he resided in the district in 1854.
He accompanied a search party consisting of Messrs. J. Archibald, A.C. McDonald,
T.H. Osborne, E. Greening, H. Parkinson, and a representative of the
"Standard" in 1890, to the site indicated in Captain Mills'
bearings. When the party got to the spot, however, some misunderstanding
arose as to the remuneration he was to receive for pointing out the wreck, and
although he admitted they were close to it, he declined to state the exact
place. He yesterday saw Mr. McDowall, curator of the Warrnambool Museum,
who has been carrying on some valuable work in connection with the
investigation, and stated that he could still point out the exact spot, which
was in the water, and not inshore, as supposed. He and others consider Mr.
James wreck to be the Spanish ship "Saphriano" or the "John
Bing" wrecked near Port Fairy in the early days.
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