Courtesy of TROVE Northern Star, Saturday 15 February 1947

SAGAS OF THE EARLY DAYS by WINDSOR LANG.

The Exploits of Captain Thomas Fenwick

DURING the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, owing to the increased timber trade and the opening up of the river flats and “Big Scrub” lands for settlement following the passing of Sir John Robertson’s Land Act of 1861, shipping speedily neared its zenith. Sailing vessels in increasing numbers continued the traffic in cargoes from and to Sydney. As the conditions at the bar entrance were distinctly bad prior to the construction of the breakwater, almost every ship in and out of, as well as up and down the river, had to be towed.

Day and night a constant demand was made on the tug service provided by Thomas Fenwick. Soon after the removal of the “Athletic” he had to meet a spirited opposition from Yabsley’s “Index” for a passing interval, but eventually he won out. When the “Alchemist” was wrecked off Woody Head, north of the Clarence, in 1876, he put the “s.s. Francis Hixon” into commission. This was a powerful paddle-wheeler, skippered by Captain Dan Callaghan, and gave faithful service over a number of years. It at last was wrecked on the South Beach, while standing by the steamer “Platypus”.

MR. LANG WRITES: Recently I was approached by the "Society of Australian Genealogists" to supply a list of names and brief particulars from the headstones in the East Ballina Cemetery. This work would be performed in an entirely honorary capacity. Within this district are many cemetery sites which provided the last resting place of most of our worthy pioneers. I should count it a great kindness if at least one person in each locality would undertake to supply me with an appropriate list from his, or her, locality.” Other tugs belonging to this line later lost on the beach were “J. and T. Fenwick”, “Comet”, “William Langford”, “Sarah Fenwick”, “Protector”, and “Rescue”.

Captain Fenwick was widely accepted as an expert in his work at the bar, and many stories have been told extolling his process during his little more than 20 years’ service as tug master at the crossing-a service crowded with thrilling episodes and glorious achievements. Perhaps the achievement that will live longest in memory, and win the plaudits of those who know of it, through narration, was that of his rescue in the early 90’s of the big China steamer, “Chingtu”, belonging to the E.A. and A. line.

This steamer, bound from China to Sydney, broke her tail shaft off the bar during the height of a snorting easterly gale. The signalman at North Head had given the alarm to the Pilot that the “Chingtu” had her anchors out, and was flying signals of distress. The anchors were not holding, and the seemingly helpless ship was apparently being driven ashore under violent pressure from the terrific easterly gale, and in imminent danger of being dashed on to North Head rocks. Total destruction of the vessel, and consequent loss of life threatened. Her own signals of distress, pathetically accentuated the signalman’s call for help. Such was the force of the gale, that measured by all known standards, the bar could not possibly be negotiated. A seething, foaming tumble of crashing waters churning up the bar, and breaking continuously over the walls was capable of chilling the stoutest heart. The open sea beyond was far from inviting.

In his solicitude for the “Chingtu” and those on board, Captain Fenwick refused to let such things daunt him. He brushed aside all thoughts of the undeniable risk, and decided to make the attempt of going to the distressed ship’s assistance with the “Protector”, if he could muster a crew willing to work the tug with him. Such was the crew’s reliance in his judgment and ability that to a man they readily volunteered to go with him. He pressed every employee in his service to hasten the work of filling the bunkers with coal. Baskets, buckets, and any available receptacle capable of carrying coal was used and the bunkering was completed at break-neck speed.

The “Protector” cast off and set out on the perilous passage, the progress of which held the closest possible attention of a crowd of spectators almost breathless in their intense excitement.

Trading operations were halted, shops were emptied, as news of the disabled condition of the “Chingtu”, and of the “Protector’s” mission spread from tongue to tongue like wildfire. Adults, youths, and even folk still younger searched for coveted lookouts and scrambled to them. In the shipyards of T. Fenwick stood a tall pile-driver. People scaled that, and from this towering vantage point had a full view of a scene that will never be forgotten by the hundreds of eye-witnesses who were privileged to see it.

“After smashing through the first wall of angry waters, for seeming minutes the “Protector” would disappear from sight swallowed up by the towering mountain of cloudy spray, then, for a moment, she would show again, tossing on the crest of a wave, and almost immediately would disappear in the swirl of tumultuous waters, as if swallowed in the trough. Not a watcher but expected that the next moment would be her last, and audible gasps punctuated nearly every step of her progress. But Captain Fenwick and the “Protector” fought their way through the boiling smother of waters, and in the end prevailed. By noon his tow was made fast to the “Chingtu”, and, in due course, the disabled vessel was snugly lying at anchor in Byron Bay.

For much of this information I am indebted to Mr. John Arthurson, of Oakland, East Coraki. Mr. Arthurson worked for some years as an engineer on the T. Fenwick passenger-boats, tug-boats, and launches. He was an actual eye-witness of the thrilling “Chingtu” incident.

ON THE MORNING of September 15, 1894, Captain Thomas Fenwick, accompanied by Will Lomax, crossed the bar in the small tug-boat “William Langford” to tow in Captain Fenwick’s own ketch, “Sir George”. All went well until crossing in over the bar with the ketch in tow, the “William Langford” capsized and foundered. Captain Fenwick and Will Lomax each managed to grasp some wreck age, and after some severe buffeting from the waves were swept towards the rocks near the point under Light House Hill. Fortunately, the signal man, who had witnessed their plight, succeeded in rescuing both men in an exhausted state, but before they suffered further damage from the rocks. The remains of the “William Langford” were washed up later on Sharpe’s Beach, a few miles further north.

This was fated to be Captain Fenwick’s last contest with the bar. Captain Fenwick did not fully recover from that buffeting in the sea. He suffered from lung trouble for another two years. Eventually he passed away in Sydney, on board his schooner, “Lady Franklin”, on December 14, 1896. He was laid to rest in old East Ballina cemetery, in full view of the scene of his life’s labours and stirring exploits, and close to the pretentious villa that he had had erected some time before.

That house is worthy of some description. Some years previously whilst Captain Fenwick had been on a visit to a relative of his in Scotland he was quite taken with his relative’s place of abode. He decided that he must have one like it for himself at Ballina. With this man, to decide was to accomplish. He sought out the architect responsible for the planning of his relative’s home, and commissioned him to draw up designs for a similar type of building to be erected on the grounds where Fenwick House stands today.

Captain Fenwick made arrangements for the architect, accompanied by a body of competent builders, to be brought out to Ballina. Special timbers and fittings were to come out on the same boat. All went according to plan, and Fenwick House became an accomplished fact.

Such is the tradition that has grown up around Fenwick House. Mr. Thomas Fenwick, son of the late captain, and the Misses H. and K. Easton, of East Ballina, assure me that in actual fact the house was modelled on the lines of the paternal home of the Fenwick family, at Belmore, Sydney. James Fenwick, nephew, was the architect. The other particulars regarding the importation of skilled workmen, building materials, and furnishings are correct.

Its appointments, and its wealth of furnishings, amongst them being a very handsome stairway and an imposing array of silver-ware, attracted district-wide interest. The house has stood ever since, at once a link with those earlier years and a memorial to the name of Captain Thomas Fenwick.

WHEN CONSTRUCTION work commenced on the breakwaters, blasting operations at the newly opened quarry, not far from the house, caused damage, for which Captain Fenwick received compensation.

A deep gloom was cast over the people of Ballina and the whole district on July 1, 1901, a fateful day for the powerful, paddle-wheeled tug, “s.s.Protector”, and her crew of five. The crew was Joseph John Lewis, captain; Ben Walton, engineer; John Vickery, fireman; Tobias Tobiason and Dave Phillips.

The “Protector” had been built for Captain Thomas Fenwick on Mr. Pashley’s slip-way at Burns’ Point, in 1885. For 16 years she had provided an effective tug service at the crossing. This morning she had crossed out over the bar in response to distress signals flown from the “s.s.Oakland”.

She continued to stand by this steamer for some time, and eventually turned to cross in. Just beyond the bar an out-sized wave lifted her high by the stern, whilst her nose dug down into the trough before her. She had but commenced to recover from her precarious position when a second, mountainous roller caused her to capsize, and immediately founder. The tug and her whole crew were lost in the sea.

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