The Nashwauk, a fine ship built 18 months ago, as the captain informs us, of between 790 and 800 tons, sailed from Liverpool for Adelaide on the 13th February, under the command of Captain McIntyre.

She had onboard nearly 300 emigrants, chiefly Irish, among whom there were 130 single girls, and a general cargo. She made a quick and favourable passage, but on Sunday morning (the 89th day) unfortunately went ashore in the gulf. The accident happened exactly opposite Mr. Harrlott’s house, about two miles below the mouth of the Onkaparinga and notice reached Noarlunga by daybreak. Mr. Birrell, the postmaster, sent immediately to the wreck, urging the Captain to land the mail and to put the passengers ashore, as there was at that time every prospect of rough weather. At 1 o’clock. The landing of the passengers commenced, and the whole came to Noarlunga in the course of the afternoon and evening. The Surgeon-Superintendent also came to the township, and afterwards Captain McIntyre and the ships' crew, the mates remaining on the beach to watch the wreck.
By the exertion of several inhabitants, the passengers were lodged in the mill cottage and other empty houses ; and a quantity of bread was baked, 8 or 10 sheep were killed and tea was prepared by bucketful, in short, everything was done that the kindest hospitality could suggest, but the conduct of the emigrants has led to much remark.
Many of the girls behaved in a most discreditable manner, showing plainly that they were unfit to have been sent as emigrants, or that they been sadly corrupted on the voyage. On this painful subject we need not enlarge, as that there can no doubt a very searching enquiry will be instituted by the proper authorities, not only into the circumstances attending the loss of the ship, but into the conduct of all concerned during the passage, and after the catastrophe.
In the course of the night Captain Douglas, and the Harbour Master arrived from Port Adelaide with the Melbourne Steamer and the government schooner Yatala, both which anchored of the wreck, and on Monday morning the emigrants, after breakfasting at Noarlunga were ordered back to the beach.
Meanwhile the Nashwauk was lying in two fathoms water, close under high cliffs of clay and limestone about a quarter of a mile below the reef on which the Tigress was lost, The Nashwauk’s bottom was much damaged, she had had twelve feet of water in her hold, and it was clear that no hope remained of saving her.

The sea was rather rough, and there was a heavy swell outside the breakers, which induced Captain Douglas to abandon his first intention of putting the emigrants on board the steamer where she then lay, and they were directed to walk the beach on the tops of the cliffs to the mouth of the Onkaparinga. About half of them obeyed the orders, and assembled in front of Mr. Gray’s store. But the remainder dare not tempt again the element from which they had so narrowly escaped and went back across the country, saying they would get to town as they best could. A few accepted situations in the county.
Those who remained, consisting chiefly of females were taken across the Onkaparinga by boats, and again mustered near the jetty at Port Noarlunga, opposite which the Melbourne was then lying. There the sea outside the breakers was tolerably calm ; and at about 3 o’clock the first boat load was safely taken on board. The embarkation was proceeding when our reporter left, and Captain Douglas intended sending the steamer away in the course of the evening with all who where willing to go ; but several more deserted, and made their way back to Noarlunga.
The Emigrants Luggage was for the most part brought round in drays by which, or by the Yatala, it was to be sent forward.
The Nashwauk brought no regular mail, but a small bag of letters was sent in on Monday. Our reporter made every effort to obtain papers, but was assured by the captain that there were none on board. He also enquired for the manifest, but was told it had sent ashore with the captains' boxes. On examining them in the evening at Noarlunga, the captain ascertained that the box containing the manifest had been left on board.
He stated that the ship was consigned to Messrs. Stirling & Co. and brought a general cargo. It is his opinion, as well as captain Douglas’ that she must inevitable go to pieces. Captain McIntyre says that up to the time of his leaving England no ministry had been formed, and that no further news of any importance had been received from the seat of war.

Nothing could exceed the promptitude with which captain Douglas made his arrangements, nor the anxiety he manifested to spare the passengers all unnecessary inconvenience. He mentioned that he was very much indebted to captain Plain, of the Northern Light, and to captain Robertson, of the Murray steamer, both of whom accompanied him, the former lending him a life-boat.
On Monday evening Captain Warburton, Commissioner of Police, arrived at Noarlunga with four troopers. Two or three of the same force had been in attendance near the wreck during the day. Soon afterwards Dr. Duncan the Immigration Agent and Health Officer, was also in the township. We understand there are only four cases of sickness—one woman suffering and two recovering from low fever, and one disabled by an accident. There were attended on Sunday night by Dr. Knipe, of Noarlunga, the ship surgeon being at the time unfit for his duties, from intoxication.

We shall probably have further news from the wreck to-morrow. At the present we are unable to say how this accident happened, having only heard from the captain that he was below at the time, and that after two night-watching, he had fallen asleep. The second mate had charge of the ship, and the cry of “breakers ahead! ” was immediately succeeded by her striking.
In ignorance at present of the exact facts we are not disposed hastily to cast blame on any one. But that on a quiet night a ship, within a few hours of port should go on shore, is prima facia calculated to excite at least surprise, a light on shore was mistaken, it is said, for a light ship. And hence the accident. But though the light of the lightship may not easily distinguishable from any other light from shore, it is only natural to suppose that a captain would know his whereabouts better than to miss his mark by forty miles.
He must have been in sight of land on the previous day, and ought to have been acquainted with his position with tolerable accuracy. Why he was not so must be explained. The credit of our local waters and the safety of immigrants alike demands a thorough and searching investigation.

..
The Nashwauk was wrecked on the coast near the mouth of the Onkaparinga on the 13th of May. All the immigrants were safely landed and taken to the township of Noarlunga, from which place some were taken by the steamer Melbourne to Port Adelaide, and some were sent overland in drays to Adelaide.
An investigation was ordered by his Excellency the Officer Administering the Government into the treatment of the people by the master and Surgeon-Superintendent of the ship.
The Immigration Board sat for this purpose on the 2nd June when it appeared to the Board that there was no foundation for any complaints against the surgeon-superintendent during the voyage.
The Board was adjourned to the following Tuesday on purpose to investigate the conduct of the master of the ship, but information having in the interval been received that he had died in Adelaide, the inquiry of course terminated. One hundred and sixty seven young women arrived by this ship and the greater number were a most ineligible class of persons.

comment by me.. [robert] There appears from reading this and indeed all reports written by the immigration office (as they wrote one for every migrant ship into port), the total dislike and an opinion towards some young women who “were generally of a class quite unsuited to the wants of the colonist”.. “these statements were made in the hope that the system of sending that class of person would be discontinued,” pointing to a dissatisfaction with the job done by the emigration agent in the UK.
A great pity the Captain did indeed pass away so soon after losing his ship, built only 2 years prior, without answering for his inaction. — Robert

Digger - South Australian Deaths Registrations 1842 to 1915

Surname: MCINTYRE
Given Names: Archibald
Date: 1855-06-03
Sex: M
Age: 37y