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Brigantine
The Restless was originally rigged as a brigantine - a two masted vessel, square rigged on the foremast and fore and aft rigged on the mainmast.
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  • Wooden brigantine - built in Nova Scotia in 1866
  • Dimensions: 122.8' x 28.9' x 12.7'
  • Registered in Melbourne during 1888, employed in the coastal trade.
  • Damaged by fire in Port Melbourne in 1890.
  • Sold and converted into a lighter durning 1890-1
  • Broken up in 1903.
Period newspaper articles describing the loss of the Restless off Carrum

The Chronicle 25/1/1902

The Storm - A Stiff Blow
The extraordinary gale which swept over the Bay last Tuesday about midnight raised alarming fears as to the safety of the shipping, but Wednesday morning disclosed little damage, owing to the timely warning given by the barometer having allowed most vessels in port to be made snug. However, the shipping did not escape altogether scatheless, as some valuable boats were driven ashore at St. Kilda, and other small craft were swamped at their moorings. The Government steamer Albert was caught by a squall and smashed into the pilot cutter Hawk at Queenscliff. The lighter Restless had a sensational drift across the Bay, fetching up finally off Carrum, where the lighterman and his family were gallantly rescued by local boatmen. Little damage, however, was done to house property, which is somewhat remarkable, as the wind at times reached a velocity of over 50 miles an hour. The storm appears to have been general throughout the country.

Carrum Unidentified starboard amidships looking towards the stern. Photo W. Caldow
Carrum Unidentified starboard amidships looking towards the stern. Photo W. Caldow
The Age 23/1/1902

A Lighter Adrift - Four Persons in Peril.
A telegram from Mordialloc states that a vessel was some distance off on the beach, and which was apparently in distress.
A visitor to Sandringham House observed the craft, and was of opinion that she was a coal or cargo lighter drifting ashore. Captain Russell, who piloted the French mail steamer Tonkin up the bay, sighted the lighter and steered towards her to render assistance, but as no one could be seen on deck, it was decided to go on and report the circumstance at Melbourne. At 1 pm the Postmaster at Mordialloc telegraphed word that the lighter was rapidly drifting towards Frankston, but as the wind was still to westward and a dangerous sea running, it was out of the question for the fishermen to launch their boats for rescue work.
The crew of the Queenscliff lifeboat, who had been standing by since early morning, were sent away at 3.20 pm., but by that hour the lighter had gone ashore on a sandy bed and was in danger of breaking up, the surf beating heavily against her side and making clean breaches aboard. The identity of the lighter was long in doubt, and the first intimation of a possible fatality was received from Portarlington, whence Captain Sangster, of the steam tug Otter, reported to his owners, Messrs. Henry Moss & Co., Melb., that while towing the lighters Orange Grove and Restless to Geelong he had met with the full fury of the gale. He kept inshore as much as much as safety would permit to obtain a lee, but seas rose to such a height that the Otter was almost turned over by them. All went well until the early morning set in, and then the hawser of the Restless snapped. She had on board a lighterman who acted as caretaker, his wife and two children, and Captain Sangster is certain that he heard him let go the anchor, for the noise of the chain rattled above the storm. Shortly after the Orange Grove also broke loose, but her anchor held. Captain Sangster kept as near to both vessels as possible, but the Restless was swept away by the gale towards the eastern shore of Port Phillip Bay at a great pace.
The steam tugs Eagle and Sprightly were dispatched from Williamstown at full speed, but reached the vicinity of the stranded lighter too late to render assistance, which could only be given a lifeboat. It is remarkable that when the Restless started on her drift there were three persons on board, one of them the lighterman, being accustomed to meeting such emergencies as almost daily occur in bay shipping work, and yet when passed by the mail steamer Tonkin there was no sign of life aboard the lighter, or an attempt at rescue would have been made. That the man would have taken to the lighter's boat with his family is out of the question, and the most feasible view is that he had gone below for food or shelter without seeing the Tonkin approaching in a squall. The poor people on board have had neither food nor fire during their desperate drift. It was most fortunate the lighter went ashore where she did, as otherwise she would have struck on the rocks at Frankston. Residents and visitors at Carrum, as soon they saw the rescue, hurriedly rushed to their houses for food clothes for the sufferers.

The Age 23/1/1902

Rescued by Fisherman
Langwarrin, Wednesday 22 nd
The lighter Restless, at 1.30 pm, drifted ashore just behind Carrum Township.
The seas were running very high, and the tugs Albatross and Eagle, which came down to help, could not, owing to the rough weather, get alongside the lighter, which was 300 yards from the shore.
However Mr Hamilton and a party of oarsmen gallantly ventured out in a boat about 4 pm, and, pulling through an extraordinary rough sea, rescued the occupants of the lighter, a man, his wife, and their two children. They suffered severely through the rough seas and inclement weather, and from anxiety for their lives. They were almost without means and only half clothed, but they were hospitably housed by Mrs Hamilton, whose neighbours soon bought supplies of food and clothing.
The lighter has now been driven in within thirteen yards of the beach, and considerable trouble will be experienced in getting her off. Probably she will be left high and dry at low tide.

The Age 24/1/1902

The Lighter RESTLESS
Frankston, Thursday 23rd
The lighter Restless, which was stranded on the beach at Carrum yesterday afternoon, shifted closer inshore during the night, and is now only 50 yards from the beach. On the Caretaker boarding her today, he found 3 feet of water in the hold, and that she must have suffered severely from the buffeting. Great praise is bestowed on the fishermen who rescued the occupants, the boat being almost capsized in the attempt.
The Caretaker and his wife spent a most anxious time, the seas going right over the lighter. They expected to go under at any moment.
Up to 4 pm no attempt had been made to shift the Restless, and great difficulty will be experienced in doing so, as at low water she is in only about 4 feet of water.                                                                                                                                            

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ReferencesBACK TO START
Bob Leek archives
The Age 23/1/1902 and 24/1/1902
The Chronicle 25/1/1902

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