The vessel
Sepia, a three-masted barque was built by Denton, Grey and Company
of Hartlepool and was owned by Bethell, Gwyn and Company, London. The vessel,
well-known as a trader on the Fremantle run, left London on 14 September
1898. Aboard were twelve crew and a mixed cargo of 1 200 tons valued at
£20 000. The hull had an estimated value of between £1 200 and
£1 400.
Travelling at 10 knots on the evening of 28 December Sepia ran
before a strong southerly wind under the main and topgallant sails. Shipping
was seen ahead of the vessel and this was presumed to be activity at the
port of Fremantle. Captain Hugh Thomas was not new to navigation along this
coast.
The wreck event
Although no danger was anticipated, as the order was given to haul up,
the barque struck a submerged rock without warning at the outer edge of
Five Fathom Bank. The vessel sank in less than ten minutes. The speed with
which Sepia sank made the task of rescuing the crew difficult (Cairns
& Henderson, 1995:280). Heavy seas were breaking over the vessel and
the cargo had begun to burst through the hatches.
The lifeboat and gig were launched and most crew including the captain
left the stricken vessel just as it began to slip off the rock. Four crew
remaining made their way up the rigging where they were unable to be rescued
as the barque sank further. Thomas decided to make for the port and reached
Fremantle at 8.00 p.m. that evening. The Government steamer Penguin
was dispatched to the wreck and it was after midnight before the four remaining
crew were got off.
Sepia was later visited by the harbour-master, collector of customs,
manager for Dalgety's and the surveyor for the underwriters. The vessel
was found to be lying in 13 metres of water 2.4 kilometres west of Carnac
Island. The pilot jack still flew from the foremast and the lower topsails
were set. The mainmast had broken loose and was hanging over the starboard
side. To minimise the effect of the sea on the wreckage the sails were removed
from the rigging. It was hoped that successful salvage could be carried
out as the weather and the vessel's position were favourable (Cairns &
Henderson, 1995:280).
Salvage
The WA Lighterage Company successfully tendered for the salvage of Sepia's
cargo valued at £30 000. It was reported on 12 January 1899 that the
masts had been removed and the divers were commencing salvage on the vessel.
A large portion of cargo must have been removed as work was still being
carried out in May.
Inquiry
At the preliminary inquiry Captain Thomas refuted that he had mistaken
shipping activity at Rockingham as that at Fremantle. After sighting it
he had changed course to the north to go inside Five Fathom Bank to South
Passage. After passing Garden Island, and in view of Carnac Island, he was
on the look-out for Rottnest Island when the vessel struck. No soundings
had been taken. Charges of gross carelessness in not altering course to
clear possible obstruction, carelessness in not taking soundings or having
kept sufficient look-out and neglect to using ordinary precautions as indicated
in the Admiralty sailing directions, were investigated. The court upheld
these charges and the captain's certificate was suspended for nine months.
Site location
South of Flat Rock and Carnac Island, approximately 2.4 kilometres on
a bearing of 225° from Flat Rock and 900 metres from Challenger Rock,
bearing 325°. |
Site description
The position of the Sepia remained common knowledge after the
shipwreck, and after the introduction of sport diving it became exposed
to the activities of souvenir hunters. There are reports of divers being
able to swim along the passageways and look into rooms during the 1940s
and 1950s but today the decks have collapsed leaving no indication of where
the passageways and rooms may have been located (Buhagiar & Murphy,
1990:2).
The overall length of the site is 56.6 metres. The structure that remains
on the sea-bed is well defined. It is located in 12 to 15 metres of water
on an undulating sand bottom with protruding reef structure (Gauntlett &
Punchard, 1990:4).
The most prominent features of the Sepia wreck site are the sternpost
standing up about 3 metres, clearly identifiable deck framing, masts sections,
a deck winch, an anchor, and a prominent bow section. During the winter
months when storms scour out the site and the weed growth dies off it is
possible to see pieces of wreckage over a much wider area including ink
wells, the remains of clay pipes, ceramics and glass items.
Wine bottles can be found throughout the wreckage and beneath the deck
they are stacked one up one down as they would originally have been stowed
in their crates (Buhagiar & Murphy, 1990:2). Most of these have lost
their corks and are empty. Some cargo items such as barrels of cement and
bottles have been located off the main wreckage area.
Hardened cement in the original barrel shapes can be found largely concentrated
on the port side of the wreck approximately amidships.
Artefacts
A number of cement barrels, bottles, ink wells and ship's fittings have
been removed from the site and these are now displayed at the Maritime Museum.
Statement of significance
Archaeological
Examination of the hull remains could lead to further information on
shipbuilding techniques and the evolution and design of riveted iron sailing
ships built in the mid-1800s.
Recreational and educational
This site is a good example of an iron shipwreck. The substantial remains
make it an excellent site for diving although it is subject to strong currents.
Interpretation of the wreck site and artefacts from the vessel can demonstrate
the nature of colonial Western Australia's reliance on imported goods, the
hazards associated with the navigational approaches to Fremantle, and the
importance of wreck site protection.
References
Buhagiar, C. & Murphy, M., 1990, The Sepia, Maritime
Archaeological Association of Western Australia Reports, Vol. 4, July 1989-June
1990:2-11.
Gauntlett, M. & Punchard, E., 1990, Sepia, Wreck Inspection report, Graduate Diploma Course in Maritime Archaeology Report, Department of Maritime Archaeology, Western Australian Maritime Museum, No. 4.
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