'Glimpse', 1881

The barque Glimpse sank in a gale on October 21st 1881, presumably somewhere between Gabo Island and Cape Three Points (near Avoca). This is the report of the event from the Freeman’s Journal of 5th November 1881:

WRECK OF THE BARQUE GLIMPSE.
One of the most painful marine casualties that have occurred off the Australian coast for some time happened on Thursday, October 20, some 240 miles from Cape Howe, when the barque Glimpse foundered, after passing through the fearful gale which prevailed far and wide about that time. The Glimpse was bound from Burrard's Inlet, British Columbia, to Melbourne with a cargo of timber, and had a good voyage till the night of the 19th October, when a gale suddenly sprang up and lasted until the following morning, and then it subsided for a time; but the sea rolled much higher, and, just as Captain Norris was congratulating himself on having ridden through
the storm so well, and feeling at ease that the worst had passed, he was suddenly surprised by a terrific sea which struck the vessel in the bow, causing her to shiver from stem to stern. It was at once discovered that the bow had been ripped open; and before those on board had time to discover the degree of injury inflicted another sea came upon her with fatal effect; washing overboard John Miller, the second mate, who was drowned, at the same time ripping up the forecastle, and opening her stern as far as the main rigging on one side, when she rapidly filled.
In the midst of this confusion, the lifeboat, a stout looking craft, about 18 feet in length, was launched, in which Captain Norris, his son, the chief officer, cook, and six seamen speedily took refuge, being almost destitute of provisions, the only edibles being a small bag of potatoes. They had no fresh water. With downcast spirits they kept silently on their course all Friday and throughout another wearisome night, when the first painful experience so much to be dreaded at sea from want of water had to be met, in symptoms manifested by the cook, who is said to have been a person of delicate constitution. After several hours of intense agony, Gordon, the cook, died raving on Saturday, and his remains were committed to the deep.
Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday dragged out their wearisome hours, and yet the remainder were living without water, the only apology for food being a raw potato occasionally. By this time the stomach resisted any further use of them, and the captain's son, a youth of 14, became delirious. He grew worse on Wednesday, and on Thursday died from exhaustion, and was buried at sea within sight of land. Exhaustion and grief wrought their effects on the captain, who sank into a state of extreme despondency.
They plodded along, and, at 2.30 a.m., on Friday, the first officer, Mr. Collins, heard sounds of a passing steamer. This was off Cape Three Points, and the famishing men raised cries of distress which were heard from the bridge of the Coonanbara by Mr. Royal, the officer in charge. Within a few minutes Captain Norris and his crew were safely on board the steamer. They were unable at first to render any coherent account of themselves, but a draught of water restored them in some degree to their senses, when Captain Adams, upon learning that they had all been without food or water for eight days, at once supplied them with necessary refreshments. On arriving in Sydney the survivors were supplied with clothing, and lodgings were found for them. Captain Norris was conveyed to the residence of Captain Rowntree, at Balmain. The Glimpse was insured for the small sum of £500.