The vessel
Ville de Rouen is listed in the register as having four masts,
one bulkhead and one deck. It was described as having two tiers of deck
beams indicating that another set of beams had been laid, with or without
additional decking on top. On this sort of vessel there would be no hatch
coamings, with the beams being further apart to allow easier movement of
the cargo than a between-deck vessel.
Owned by A. Prentout-Leblond and E. Boniface of Rouen the vessel left
Cardiff on consignment to the Fremantle Smelting Works on 25 July 1901.
The cargo consisted of 1 247 tonnes of coke, 25 000 fire-bricks and 50.8
tonnes of pig iron. The wrecking was observed by a fisherman (Fraser) in
the Moore River area at the time of the disaster, on 28 October.
The wreck event
Fraser first saw the barque 16 to 24 kilometres offshore heading for
the land. It then struck the reef about 4.8 kilometres off the coast. He
thought at the time that there was no imminent danger of the vessel remaining
stranded and did not report his observation until the next day. When the
news was passed to the harbour-master the government steamer Penguin
was sent to investigate.
The vessel was found to be bumping on the reef in a strong swell. There
was 2.54 metres of water in the hull, but it stood erect and was sitting
on sand over a rocky bottom. Some hours later, however, a fresh breeze caused
Ville de Rouen to shift and it drifted 1.2 kilometres to the southern
part of the reef. It was now in 7.2 metres of water and the decks were awash.
Communication with the French-speaking crew was difficult and it was
not until Penguin made to leave that they could be persuaded to return
to Fremantle. Two crew were left to take care of the gear. Using an interpreter
the master of Ville de Rouen, Captain Bathelweld, indicated that
he had decided to abandon the vessel, as he thought there was no chance
of saving it. The two crew who had remained at the site were ordered to
return to Fremantle. No charges were laid against master or crew and they
eventually returned to France.
Site location
The site is located about 4.8 kilometres off the shore from Moore River
on a bearing of 082°, on the inside of the Ville de Rouen Reef.
Site description
The site lies on a reef bottom with sand surround at a depth of 7 to
9 metres. The wreckage itself has collapsed with only the topside features
of the vessel discernible. At the time of last inspection it was largely
covered in seaweed and was heavily concreted (Kenderdine, 1994:5). The wreckage
is orientated on an axis south-west by north-east at 70° to the bow.
Masts and spars lie mainly to the south and middle of the site indicating
a list to port. A stockless anchor can be seen but it is well hidden in
the wreckage. One anchor has already been removed from the site. |
From bow to stern, chain is visible as is a two-cylinder steam winch
and some bollards. Plating obscures the floors. Amidships there is a donkey
boiler and a stack of fire-bricks. Mast and spars are located at the stern
of the vessel. Hatch covers have been located, and a pulley sheave block
and hawsepipe piece. Two large metal uprights are associated with the fire-bricks
and the pig iron ballast. These extend up toward the surface to within 1
to 2 metres. Coke has been recorded during various site visits.
Conservation assessments on the site indicate that it is deteriorating
at a rate twice that which is normal for iron wreck sites in marine conditions.
This reflects the high energy environment in which the wreck is situated.
Statement of significance
Historical
This site is of historical significance for its association with the
development of the smelting industry in Fremantle. The loss of the cargo
bound for the Fremantle Smelting Works came at a time when the works appeared
to be thriving. The type of cargo carried by the vessel reflects a move
to counteract isolation from the northern mining towns through diversification
into steel production. When the supplies of rich gold and lead ore ran out
the plant was forced to close for several years before alternative sources
stimulated its reopening in 1916 (Cairns in McCarthy, 1991b:13).
Archaeological
This site has the potential to yield information on the construction
of a particular ship design. The French-built barque is the only known shipwreck
of its kind in Western Australia, and is the remains of the largest of the
sailing vessels employed in the latter days of the maritime colonial trade
with Europe.
References
Kenderdine, S., 1994e, Ville de Rouen (1891-1901),
unpub. Wreck Inspection Report, Department of Maritime Archaeology, Western Australian
Maritime Museum, No. 113.
McCarthy, M., 1991b, The wreck Ville de Rouen (1901): a re-submission to DASETT on its historic status, Department of Maritime Archaeology, Western Australian Maritime Museum File No. 14/86/2.
McKenna, R., 1990, The Ville de Rouen, Maritime Archaeological
Association Reports, Vol. 4, July 1989-June 1990.
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