Hunsy's unhappy history

Wrecked in Housel Bay near the Lizard Point, November 13th, 1911. 

Sailing from Sweden to Melbourne with timber and pig-iron, she missed stays while trying to come about in a gale. The crew were brought ashore by breeches-buoy. Two days later a salvage party boarded – to find a pair of goats lying happily in a seaman’s bunk. Local fishermen did a thriving trade in timber for weeks afterwards; and the iron pigs are fished up for ballast to this day. 

The Scottish-built Hansy (formerly Aberfoyle) had had an unhappy history. In 1890 the bulk of the crew jumped ship in Australia, after a bad voyage out – only to be returned on board following a fortnight in jail. Jail must have been more agreeable, for eight men jumped ship again at the next port of call. 

In 1896 a steamer found the Aberfoyle drifting helplessly off Tasmania. The captain had been swept overboard, the first mate had committed suicide by leaping into the sea and the rest had given up hope. Similar stories of low morale – and often of insane bitterness between officers and crew – are manifold.

Shipwreck, 1975