It was meant to be a peaceful day on the Harbour

 It was a post on another Facebook group of which I am a member, that reminded me of something I had written about elsewhere.

Today I will elaborate on that incident and mention those that were involved who now call Rookwood "home".

THE BOATING TRAGEDY IN SYDNEY HARBOUR IN DECEMBER 1893

The tragedy occurred on 17th of December 1893 and involved a party of a dozen people who were sailing off South Head at Port Jackson on Sydney Harbour resulting in the drowning of seven.

The yacht “Ripple” had left Lane Cove early in the morning in the charge of its owner, Mr. Isaac Phizackerley, a well-known bicycle agent of Sydney. Accompanying him was Bertha Hilton and Arthur Alexander who lived nearby. They proceeded to the North Shore, where they picked up a party of ten others. The Ripple was engaged to sail to Middle Harbour, and they were to land at Clontarf for a picnic lunch.

Vintage photo of Clontarf - Dictionary of Sydney 

Everything went well and just after 3pm a course was set for return, a little to the north of South Head. Mr Phizackerly asked if anyone wanted to go out on deck and the ladies in particular were willing but Mr. La Meslee had some objections and the party obeyed his wish. As the wind was light and uncertain the progress was slow. The yacht was turned to head straight up the Harbour when a few short minutes later a great gust of wind set the sail back forcing the gunwhale under water, the yacht tilled and capsized within seconds! Those who were thrown overboard scrambled for the dinghy being towed but as Mr Phizackerley tried to cut her free, their sheer weight sent the nose under the water, the stern up in the air and the dinghy soon capsized. The whole party were thrown into the water without any prospect of getting ashore as they were 150 yards from the south reef in choppy seas.

Phizackerley was caught by one of the men but managed to swim to the aid of one of the women with the thought of helping others but the sea was too rough. Another passenger sought to render aid but was grabbed by two women who dragged him under and he had to throw them off to save himself and others. Those who were stronger swimmers were attempting to help those struggling and at this stage it became an individual ordeal to stay afloat. The Manly steamer ferry and the tugboat Reliance came to the rescue and managed to pick up survivors and the bodies of the drowned, five in all. The ferry took the survivors to Manly for aid with the owner of the yacht and the bodies headed to Circular Quay and the morgue. All but two men at this stage were accounted for, feared drowned. The fears soon became reality.

The information from the Coroners Court hearing makes for harrowing reading but at the conclusion of the evidence he stated they had all "accidently drowned by the upsetting of the half decker centre board boat Ripple." Evidence was produced that there was a sudden and great gust of wind that caught the owner and operator of the yacht, Mr. Phizackerly, a man of many years boating experience, off guard and no blame was apportioned to him.

Those who drowned were: -

Miss Catherine Hegarty,

Miss Bertha Hilton,

Mr. E Kingsford,

Mr. Edmond Marie Marin La Meslee,

Mrs. Clara La Meslee,

Miss Anne Owen,

Mr. Albert Ernest Vider.

Those who reside in Rookwood: -

Miss Catherine Hegarty just 19 years of age and a dressmaker employed at David Jones Department store. She was the daughter of a successful tradesman from the inner suburb of Glebe. Unfortunately, she could not swim and left a distraught family to mourn her loss.

Headstone of the Hegarty family including Katie - Find a Grave.

Miss Bertha Hilton was 22 years of age and a newcomer to Sydney. She was employed as a housekeeper at the home of Mr Phizackerley. Bertha was engaged and the marriage date was set for January 1894. Her fiancee at the time was in Broken Hill and would have only heard of her death in the newspaper. Mr Phizackerley arranged her funeral.

She is buried in an unmarked grave in the old Catholic area of the Cemetery.

Mr. Edmond Marie Marin La Meslee and his wife Mrs. Clara La Meslee

Mr. La Maslee came to Australia in 1876 and was the private secretary to the French consul-general for Australia. After his marriage to Clara Louisa Cooper, (who will feature in a future blog) he visited France writing about his travels throughout Australia and impressions of life and society. Upon returning to Sydney he was primarily responsible for founding the Geographical Society of Australasia.

They left three sons to mourn their loss. The family had already suffered the tragedy of the loss of two other sons in infancy. They are buried in the old Catholic area not far from the Pedestrian gate on East Street.

Grave of Mr. Edmond and Mrs. Clara La Meslee - author's own collection

Of the others buried elsewhere, Albert Ernest Vider was at the time of his death, the holder of the 100mile speed record which he completed from Goulburn to Braidwood and Captain of the Southern Bicycle Club. He was only a recent newcomer to Sydney and was living in Paddington and working as a salesman. He is buried in Braidwood Cemetery.

Miss Anne Owen, was a cousin of Miss Cantor, who survived the ordeal, having helped many others.

Mr. Kingsford was a ranger in the Forestry Commission who had only arrived in Sydney a few days prior to undertake a holiday.

What a terrible tragedy resulting from a freak accident involving so many relatively young people who were innocently enjoying a day on the Harbour with a Picnic at Clontarf. Some might say this event was an act of God; perhaps, but that doesn't lessen the pain for those loved ones left behind or the survivors who would carry guilt all their lives.

Mr. Isaac Phizackerley continued his bicycle business in Druitt Street and later in George Street Sydney across from the Strand Arcade. Although his "Phiz" cycle was extremely popular he veered into the world of motor vehicles from 1900 becoming a successful dealer in vehicles such as the Australian built Hupmobile. His life was not always rosy as his wife divorced him after 39 years of marriage resulting from his relationship with a much younger woman, his companion. He died in 1940 and is buried in Manly Cemetery.

Mr. Isaac Phizackerley - ancestry.com 

May they all Rest in Peace.

For today's blog I have referenced ancestry.com; Wikipedia, many reports of the yachting disaster fand mainly from The Evening News dated 18 December 1893, Adelaide Observer 23 December 1893 as well as other Google references.

Thanks to Australian Headstone Images Facebook group page for reminding me of this tragedy with their reference to Albert Ernest Vider.

If you have any information or comments to make about to this story, please add them here or at the group facebook page found under

Rookwood Cemetery Discoveries

or simply send me a message at

lorainepunch@gmail.com

Until next week and I promise it will not be highlighting a tragic event.