'Trident', 1894

The Moruya Examiner, on Friday 7th September 1894, printed this account of the loss of the steamship Trident on the Moruya breakwater:

Wreck of the s. s. Trident.
Great excitement prevailed in town yesterday when the news got abroad to the effect that the Moruya S. N. Company's boat Trident has become a total wreck, on the Bar whilst endeavouring to enter the river. Crowds immediately made their way to the Heads to ascertain the facts for themselves.
It appears a very heavy sea had been running all the morning, and after making an attempt to enter the Captain decided to return and lay to for a while. After some time the Pilot hoisted the signal to enter, and when rounding the northern breakwater the boat was lifted on the top of a tremendous wave, in which position she would not answer her propeller, and was thrown crash on to the breakwater, completely staving her in. She remained there for about a quarter of an hour, the seas washing her from stem to bow, also damping the fires. Preparations were speedily made for the safety of those on board and all were vested in a life belt each. One boat was smashed in the collision, and the remaining one was immediately launched in the angry sea. By this time passengers were struggling in the water; the screams of the women being distinctly heard on shore. In the mean time Mr. A. McLean with the assistance of another had put out in a boat, and assisted the steamer’s boat in picking up the passengers and crew. The pilot boat also put out. True to his charge Capt. Canty, also the mate remained at their post till all was clear, and then were forced to jump over board and swim to the boats, it being impossible to get them near by. There were six passengers three of whom were women.
The conduct of the crew during the trying time was very commendable, and they rendered every assistance to the safety of the passengers. It is remarkable and fortunate my lives were lost, considering the state of sea that generally exists at this point in rough weather. The passengers were unable to get anything out. About a quarter of an hour after going on the rocks, the Trident drifted off, and was carried to about the middle of the bar, where she settled down, and began to go to pieces. Shortly after wreckage and cargo was floating in all directions. Should the weather take up and the sea go down an attempt will be made to get some of the cargo out to-day.
We believe the boat was uninsured.

There were attempts to refloat the vessel. This is the report in the Daily Telegraph of 3rd October 1894:

Captain Grainger has returned to Sydney from Moruya, after having successfully floated the steamer Trident. Capt. Grainger states that he found the vessel in the fairway at Moruya, the hull being embedded in about 5ft of sand. He succeeded in saving nearly all the cargo, and then, with the assistance of punts, lifted the vessel into shallow water, and eventually landed her high and dry on a small sand spit at the inner end of the breakwater. Here an examination of the vessel was made, and she was found to be so badly damaged (having a hole some 25ft. long in her bottom) that it was decided to save all the machinery and fittings, and dispose of the wreck. The work of recovering the machinery, etc., is now proceeding.

The Trident had been built at Dent’s yard in Jervis Bay in 1886. She was a (relatively small) 68-ton, 84-foot vessel.