William Yabsley’s herculean feat
The year is 1872.
Richmond River shipbuilder, owner and captain, William Yabsley, has beached his pride and joy Examiner on the North Beach just outside the Clarence River entrance. The 260 ton barque is upright in the sand and for any lesser man, the ship would be considered a write-off.
Unable to relaunch her into the rough surf, William proposes to drag the heavy vessel ONE MILE (1.6km) through the sand to the calm waters of the river.
There are no settlements at the Clarence Heads and only the Pilot Station manned by Captain Freeburn and his staff on the southern side of the river.
The immense challenge is undertaken with only bullock-power and man-power from his four sons, William, Henry, Charles and Thomas, his brother John, Thomas King, John Robinson, Oliver Jones, John Flynn, Robert Thompson, John Lenos, James Cook, Patrick Hyland, William Green, Charles Benger, Samuel Baxter & John Ford.
At the time, the local newspapers gave a weekly running commentary with reprints of the story reaching as far afield as Melbourne and Queensland. Locals from upriver Grafton and Maclean took a daytrip on the river steamers to picnic on Iluka beach and watch the inch-by-inch progress. Moral and practical support is forthcoming from friends and neighbours making the overland trip from Coraki.
Five months of back-breaking struggle sees Captain Yabsley and his men overcome adversity to succeed against all the odds.
The following accounts describe the amazing feat of endurance which were then retold by his son Charley Yabsley, transcribed from William’s daily diary, and published 50 years after his death.
Argus, Melbourne, Vic. Saturday 2 November 1872
A LAUNCH EXTRAORDINARY.
(FROM THE CLARENCE EXAMINER.)
Doubtless our readers, and more particularly our Richmond River friends, will do heartily pleased to hear of the successful launch of the stranded barque Examiner, an auxiliary screw of 181 tons register, William Yabsley, sen, master, which vessel, whilst crossing the Clarence bar outward-bound, on the 30th of April last, unfortunately took the ground, and swung round and drifted on the North Spit, at a place about a mile distant from its point. That night at high water she yielded to her anchors 18in. Her master was filled with the highest hope, knowing that the chances were in having a breeze off the land in the morning. The morning came, the winds were boisterous ; the kedges came home, and the vessel was driven up broadside on to the beach, and in a few days became embedded in the sand some four feet, and to all appearance looked like a vessel up for the “winter quarters” in the ice regions. Captain Yabsley seeing the difficult and labyrinthine job he had to deal with, in launching her through the surf, resolved to “whip” her across the spit. The spit is about a mile across, and it, seen from the pilot’s quarters-the South Head – appears to be a perfectly level plain. This smooth appearance is dispelled when on the ground, and it is intensely rough and uneven, the sand hummocks are lumped together like the Pleiades, and over this sandy and mammiform formation, bridges had to be thrown from hummock to hummock, the ways laid to sustain and carry a weight of 200 tons. Twenty men with fifty bullocks started to carry out this ponderous undertaking. The vessel was dismantled to the lower masts, the engine and everything moveable, excepting the boiler, were taken out of her. Timber for the ways and bridges had to be drawn a considerable distance through a dwarf tea-tree scrub, across the sand spit, which took up a large portion of time ; the sand in which she was embedded was removed by the “Coraki Lads” as quick, if not quicker, than if shifted by a like number of tip-top railway navvies ; huge logs were then launched in under her, and by means of screws, wedges, and enormous levers, the vessel, 200 tons in weight, was lifted several feet in height, and laid in a cradle. Launching then sideways was commenced, 16 bullocks and the 20 men hauled alternately at the stem and stern, and after they succeeded in hauling her some 225ft in this embryonic manner, a change of tactics was adopted, and on the 6th of July launching astern commenced ; 32 bullocks were yoked to chain cable, and the men hauled on rope tackle, and that day they succeeded in launching the stranded vessel 7ft. Some delay was then occasioned for the want of stronger gear ; it was soon procured – the timber for blocks was sent from Mr. Selman’s Steam Factory, Grafton, and they, which were of immense calibre, were made on the ground. On the 11th a fresh start was made, and the vessel was launched 22ft ; on the 12th. 60ft; on the 13th, 7ft ; but on the 18th, a strong gale set in, with a high sea running ; the ways were washed from under the vessel, and she again became embedded in the sand. This drawback, instead of disheartening Captain Yabsley and his energetic crew, only wedged in fresh will and vigour into him and them. In three weeks the mountain of sand around was removed, and again she was snugly lifted into her cradle, and on the 7th of August the work of launching was again commenced. The bullocks, reinforced to fifty, were yoked on to her, and from that day to the time of launching steady progress was made. The 24th of September was the day appointed to launch her into her natural element. The barque was sounded, and the depth of six inches of water only found in her well. This being pumped out, the ways were knocked aside, and she glided gracefully into the Clarence River and up to the 9th of October she only required pumping once – an absolute proof that she sustained no damage in her unmerciful bumping, and in her “overland trip”, and also an infallible proof that she has been well and faithfully put together.”
Northern Star, Lismore, NSW, Friday 8 February 1929
PIONEER’S PERSEVERANCE
Hauling Vessel Overland
HEART-BREAKING WORK REWARDED
When it comes to a question of facing difficulties with a stout heart and persevering in the face of apparently insurmountable obstacles, the present generation has to admit that the men who pioneered the Richmond River district were seemingly built of stouter stuff than the men of to-day. Hauling a beached barque of 260 tons out of the sand at the edge of the sea, over a terrace, and then into a river nearly a mile away, all with tackle that left much to be desired was one of most astounding feats.
On April 30, 1872, the Examiner was carried ashore on the North Beach at Clarence Heads, where the break water now stands. The barque had taken a load of pine, from the Richmond to Grafton for a Clarence mill owner, Mr. D. B. Selman. The vessel left again in ballast and, there being no tug available, endeavoured to sail out. The Examiner was built at Coraki from hardwood timber by Mr. W. Yabsley, who was also owner and captain. The vessel was left high and dry a short distance above high water mark, but, owing to the sea that rolled in at this place and the way the barque sank into the sand, the task of getting her into the sea again was considered one nearly certain to result in total loss. The only alternative was to lift the ship out of the sand and drag it to the river, a mile away. The residents of the locality and the insurance company expected the Examiner to become a total wreck but their views were not shared by the owner. He did not ask for advice on the matter, but made up his mind that the mile of land between the ship and the river was not an insurmountable obstacle, and then set about proving his ideas. The story of a daily struggle lasting from May 1 to October 9 is told in the owner’s diary, a few brief words setting out the daily progress, or lack of it, and throughout the struggle the possibility of giving up the fight never seems to have occurred to him.
DEEP IN SAND
On May 1, 1872, the vessel was hard and fast in the sand and all the crew’s efforts to move her only resulted in her settling deeper. The next day, Messrs. W. and H. Yabsley arrived from the Richmond to take a look at the ship they had helped to build, and on the following day Messrs. T. King and C. Yabsley arrived. On May 4, the vessel was eight feet down in her sandy bed and H. Yabsley started out for Coraki to obtain a team of bullocks. The next task was to dismantle the vessel’s masts and rigging and, when the last of these were carried ashore on May 8, several of the crew left. The following day H. Yabsley arrived with a bullock team and was accompanied by T. Yabsley, 0. Jones, J. Flynn and R. Thompson.
The next few days were spent in the scrub felling timber that would be required for the work of shifting the vessel, and the bullocks hauled the logs to the beach. At the end of a fortnight, May 14, H. Yabsley turned up with more working bullocks and on the next day the scrub was searched for long trees suitable for use in lifting the ship from the sand. They selected 40 good sound trees from 50 to 65 feet long, about 24 inches in diameter at the big end, tapering, to about 14 inches. On the next day W. Exton (well known in Lismore) arrived, and started work. Three days were spent in felling timber and then T. King and some of the crew who still remained started squaring logs on two sides, some to go under the vessel and some to go under the screw jacks and for use as levers.
ADEQUATE PREPARATION
On May 20 the men had been three weeks on the job, but all the work was in the nature of preparation for the task to come. However, the owner recognised that if his efforts were to be successful he could not afford to skimp his preparations and on that day a sawing pit was dug. There was not a sawmill anywhere within reach, in fact the gang working on the beach so seldom saw a strange face that when their camp did have a visitor, Captain Yabsley never failed to note the fact in his diary. He saw that to try and use levers on the sides of his ship was not likely to do the vessel any good, and the first thing the pit was used for was to saw cleats. These were pieces of wood 6ft long, 8in wide, and 6in thick, and it was the intention to bolt them on the side of the ship, where they would give the levers a good grip, and pre vent damage to the sides. The work of sawing cleats and squaring logs continued till May 27, the only break in the monotony of the daily task being a visit by a passenger steamer from Grafton. She brought a number of passengers to look at the vessel and no doubt contained a good many “wise heads” who laughed at the apparently impossible task undertaken by Captain Yabsley.
On May 27 and the next day some of the men were engaged in bolting on the cleats and getting the tackle into position. The next two days passed in digging away the sand from under the vessel to allow room for the screw jacks, and, after a few more days preparation, logs to support the jacks were placed under the ship where the sand had been dug away. Now came the critical time when the preparatory work was to be tested. The vessel, was feet deep in sand and anyone will realise the difficulty of lifting 260 tons from clinging sand. The first day was not very promising, but it was not unproductive. All hands worked with screw jacks and 40 levers, 20 on each side of the ship, and, at the end of a day of heart breaking toil, the Examiner was lifted eight inches from her sandy bed.
SLOW WORK
Captain Yabsley must have felt that the small progress made was encouraging, for, beyond the bare chronicle of the number of inches, his diary records nothing of his feelings in the matter. The fact that Mr. Tom Borton, the mailman from the Richmond, stayed the night, was of much greater importance. On June 6, 7, and 8 the ship was lifted by the stern two feet each day. The effort was continued day by day till June 12, when the stern was almost clear. On the next day the gang was trying to lever the rudder clear when one of the levers broke under the strain, and a flying piece of wood struck T. Yabsley, who was standing on the deck. The wood hit him in the head, knocking him about three yards away, and stunning him. He was insensible for some hours. It was evident that a doctor was needed, so John Robinson, John Yabsley, and P. Hyland, rowed to Grafton for one, and Dr. Houson returned with them, and, left the next day after doing his best for the injured Yabsley.
The work had then been in progress for more than six weeks and the river must have seemed as far away as ever to the men engaged. The only fruit of their labours that they could see was the Examiner hanging in a strange way, her bows buried in the sand and her stern clear, her decks tilted at an angle that made walking difficult. The gang had by this time made a fairly comfortable camp on the beach—comfortable for those days—and the bullocks were every night placed in a post and rails yard. The animals were “tailed” every night till 11 p.m. and then put in the yard. They were taken out about 4 a.m. and allowed to feed, then yoked up for the day’s work about 8 a.m. Captain Yabsley supervised the work all day, and part of his daily routine was to post up, every day after tea, a record of what had been done, and an outline of the next day’s duties. On June 14 a start was made with the lifting of the bow, a little was gained every day till June 18 and on that day the Examiner was clear of her sandy bed, supported on a level with the beach by jacks and logs under her keel. Then a start was made to lay slipway pointing to the river a mile away and this continued for a week, some days being spent in the bush felling, squaring, and hauling timber.
OVERLAND “VOYAGE”
June 25 saw the vessel started on her long voyage overland, the day being devoted to pulling her on the slipways, the next day the ship travel led 20 feet toward her destination, pulled with bullocks and tackle. Then came work that lasted for weeks.
Every day the vessel would be a few feet nearer the river, the slipways behind were pulled up and placed down in front again, some days the ship would advance 25 feet, on other days only 15 feet, but it was all progress. With the handiness of ship builders and bushmen combined, larger pulley blocks were made and special devices on to which it was proposed to hook the bullock teams. On the first day they were used, the devices, which Captain Yabsley calls “wooden anchors” broke under the strain, so they started to make new and stronger ones. Another four teams of bullocks were brought from the Richmond.
On July 18, after nine weeks of toil, an easterly gale and heavy sea threatened to bring to naught all the labour performed by these stout hearted men. The logs were washed from underneath the Examiner, and left her hanging by the middle, and it speaks volumes for the sound workmanship that she did not break her back under the strain.
STEADY PROGRESS
The next day all hands started in to lift the vessel again with levers and screw jacks and turned her nose a little more inland to get away from the breakers that were still coming in unusually high under a following wind. On July 22 the big chain cable broke (1½in chain, doubled), but, nothing daunted, a start was made with another cable. Then the daily journey recommenced again, some days 10ft., some days 25ft., till on August 5 all previous records were broken with a haul of 40ft. in a day. Then commenced a period of longer daily haulages, 50 ft., 180ft., 199ft., were some of the daily totals. August 16 only 10ft. was gained owing to a strong wind blowing sand on the ways and preventing the vessel sliding.
Day succeeded day and still the men struggled on but were now heartened by the knowledge that they were working on a possible task. They had mishaps, broken gear, sand that must be dug away; there were a few visitors from the Richmond to see how they were getting on, for the fame of their task had by now spread far and wide. Tom Borton spent another night at the camp, Captain Creer and Captain Muir called to see their friend, Mr. C. Garrett walked along the beach from Ballina, Mr. Cook and others visited the camp, and, no doubt, lent a helping hand. Some of the gang tired of the life on the beach and left, others came and took their places, but still the work went on.
On September 5, more than three months after work was started, the hauling party touched 200ft. in one day, for the first time. Then came a succession of good days, 290ft. was the record on September 7, until, with cheers and shouts of joy, the good ship Examiner stood balanced on the bank of the Clarence on September 18. Then came the work of launching her and, six days later, the ship plunged into the waters of the Clarence, after what was surely one of the strangest “voyages” ship ever made. To the joy of the owner and his gang the rough handling had not affected the vessel and “she did not leak a drop,” says the old diary. Pilot Freeburn, his crew, and other visitors, journeyed to see the launching and joined in the cheering, and no doubt, stayed over for the celebrations at night time.
COST AND PERSONNEL
The rest of the work was easy to a shipbuilder. The spars and rigging were put back into place, and on October 8, C. and T. Yabsley said good bye to the sand and salt water and started off home with the bullocks.
On the next day the barque lay at the Clarence Heads, ready to put to sea.
A marvellous achievement for any men, the more so in this instance when the place, the tools available, and the times, are considered. The work cost £1400, and the insurance company was more than satisfied as it expected it would cost at least three times this amount.
The old diary records the names of the men engaged:- Captain Yabsley, his four sons, William, Henry, Charles, and Thomas, his brother John, Thomas King, John Robinson, Oliver Jones, John Flynn, Robert Thompson, James Cook, Patrick Hyland, John Lenos, William Green, Charles Benger, Samuel Baxter, John Ford, two sailors who came from Grafton, and three of the crew.
Northern Star, Lismore, NSW Saturday 25 July 1925
SALVING A BARQUE
LONG, LONG PULL GETTING THE EXAMINER OFF
FIRMLY BEDDED IN SAND
BULLOCK TEAMS AND MAN POWER PREVAIL
A FEAT OF THE ‘SEVENTIES
The following is a description of the salving of the barque Examiner, which went ashore in 1872 slightly north of the Clarence Heads, just where the breakwater is now. It is furnished by Mr. C. Yabsley, of Coraki. This ship was built by his father, Mr. W. Yabsley, at Coraki, in 1870. She was 260 tons burthen, and was very strongly built of hardwood timber obtained from near Coraki. The builder, Mr. Yabsley, was owner and master. He went to the Clarence with a load of pine from the Richmond for D. B. Selman, mill owner, and in endeavouring to sail out (no tug being available) the ship went ashore. The description given in this diary can be appreciated by anyone who knows what a task it is to haul a vessel of that size out of the sand at the edge of the sea, over a terrace, and then into the river again – a distance of somewhat over a mile. This vessel was so strongly built that after all this experience she did not leak a drop on re-launching. At one period of the salvage operations, an easterly gale had moved all the timber that had been placed under her, and left her hanging by the middle.
COMMENCING THE TASK
May 1. – The vessel hard and fast in the sand. The crew working hard to refloat the vessel, but made no headway.
May 2. – The vessel settling deeper in the sand. W. Yabsley and H. Yabsley arrived from the Richmond.
May 3. – T. King and C. Yabsley arrived.
May 4. – The vessel about eight feet in the sand. H. Yabsley started to Coraki for a team of bullocks.
May 5 and 6. – Sailors getting spars and sails down.
May 7. – Sailors getting spars ashore.
May 8. – Finished getting spars and sails ashore, some of the sailors left.
May 9. – H. Yabsley arrived with bullock team. T. Yabsley, O. Jones, J. Flynn and R. Thompson arrived.
May 10. – All hands cutting logs in scrub about a mile away for blocking under the vessel. Bullocks hauling same.
May 11. – All hands cutting timber. Bullocks hauling.
May, 14. – All hands cutting logs. H. Yabsley arrived with more bullocks.
May 15. – C. and T. Yabsley started to look for some long trees to use for levers for lifting the vessel. Found 40 good ones, from 50 to 65 feet long and about 24 inches diameter at big end and about 14 inches diameter the small end.
May 16. – Some of the, men cutting logs and trees for levers. W. Exton arrived.
May 17. – All hands, cutting timber. Bullocks hauling.
May 18. – All hands cutting timber, s.s. Ballina crossed out for Sydney.
May 20. – T. King and crew squaring logs on two sides, some for blocking under the vessel and some for putting under the screw jacks and the levers.
May 21. – W. Yabsley and J. Flynn digging a saw pit for sawing cleats for bolting on the side of the vessel, for the end levers to grip under. These pieces being 6 feet long and 8 inches wide and 6 inches thick, bolted on with three bolts 7/8 inch thick.
May 22. – W. Yabsley and Flynn sawing cleats. T. King and crew squaring logs.
May 23. – All hands squaring logs. Bullock hauling.
May 25. – Queen’s Birthday. All hands squaring logs. Passenger steamer came from Grafton with a number of passengers to look at the vessel.
May 25. – All hands squaring logs. Bullocks hauling same.
May 27. – Some hands bolting on cleats. Others getting levers in position with the ship’s derrick tackle and winch.
May 28 and 29. – Bolting on cleats and getting levers in position.
May 30 and 31. – All hands digging sand away from under the vessel to get the screw jacks in.
May 31, June 1. – Mr. Selman delivered 40 pieces of timber sawn, 6 x 3, s.s. Agnes Irving crossed in. Jimmie, the sailor, left.
June 2. – Joe Cook came on a visit from the Richmond.
June 3. – Commenced to put logs under the vessel to put the screw jacks on. Mr. W. Gollan, J. Lang and two young ladies passed from the Richmond. A sailing vessel crossed in.
June 4. – Putting logs under the vessel to put the screw jacks on.
June 5. – All hands working with screw jacks and 40 levers, 20 each side of the vessel, lifting the vessel 8 inches. Mr. Borton the mailman from the Richmond, stayed at night.
LIFTING THE VESSEL
June 6. – Lifting the vessel 2 feet by the stern. The barque School Boy passed from the Richmond down to Sydney, s.s. Ballina crossed in.
June 7. – Lifting the vessel 2 feet by the stern. H. Yabsley, John Yabsley and John Lenos came from Coraki.
June 8.- Lifting the vessel 2 feet by the stern. Misses A. Yabsley, E. Yabsley, E. Robinson and J. Robinson came on a visit.
June 9. – H. Yabsley and John Robinson started for Coraki.
June 10. – Heavy rain. Not much work doing.
June 11. – Raining, the cook left, John Ford took on the cooking.
June 12. – Lifting the vessel 2 feet inches by the stern. Finished lifting the stern. H. Yabsley and P. Hyland came with two bullocks to kill for beef. Three young ladies and J. Robinson started to Coraki. s.s. Agnes Irving crossed out.
June 13. – All hands commenced to get the rudder off the vessel with a lever, which broke. One piece flying up and striking T. Yabsley on side of head, knocking him about three yards across the deck, insensible for some hours. John Robinson, John Yabsley and P. Hyland started to Grafton in a boat for a doctor. Dr. Houson came. W. Green, C. Benger and T. Baxter came from Coraki to work. s.s. New England crossed out.
June 14. – Lifting the vessel by bow 2 feet. Dr. Houson started to Grafton. H. Yabsley and John Robinson started for the Richmond. Three sailing vessels off the Bar.
June 15. – Lifting the vessel 2 feet. Mr. Selman delivered 110 pieces of sawn planks 6 x 3.
June 16. – Joe Cook and Arthur Yabsley came from Coraki on a visit. The schooner Lookout crossed out. s.s. Ballina crossed in. Mr. Selman came on a visit.
June 17. – Lifting the vessel 3 feet. Joe Cook started for the Richmond. Thomas Yabsley getting better. Three sailing vessels crossed in.
June 18. – Lifting the vessel 2 feet.
June 19. – Laying ways to launch the vessel inland to get clear of the breakers. s.s. Agnes Irving crossed in. s.s. Ballina crossed out. Two sailors came from Grafton looking for work and were taken on. These men refused work on the s.s. New England, and got three weeks free lodging at Grafton (in gaol).
OLD JINKER DIES
June 20, 21. – Laying way to launch the vessel inland.
June 21. – Killed old “Jinker” for beef; about 15 years old. Good old fellow. Seen his last days on the beach. T. Yabsley started to Coraki to have a rest.
June 22. – All hands out in bush falling and squaring logs. Bullocks hauling same.
June 23. – Mr. Garrett came on a visit from Chatsworth.
June 24. – All hands falling and squaring logs. s.s. Ballina crossed in.
June 25. – Launching the vessel towards the land with bullocks and tackle; 15 feet. The barque School Boy passed, bound for the Richmond.
June 26. – Sliding the vessel inland 20 feet. The Rev. C. F. Curry came on a visit and went up in the main top to have a look round.
June 27. – Sliding the vessel, inland 15 feet.
June 28. – Sliding the vessel inland 10 feet. Split three sheaves in the tackle blocks. Two schooners passed out.
June 29. – Sliding vessel inland 25 feet. s.s. New England crossed in.
June 30. – John Robinson started for home. A stray sheep came along the beach. Don’t know where it came from.
July 1 and 2. – All hands putting logs under the vessel to launch her towards river, Matthias King and Barrett Hollingsworth came from the Richmond on a visit.
July 3. – Laying ways under the vessel.
July 4. – All hands putting logs and ways under the vessel. Pilot Freeburn came on a visit.
July 5. – All hands removing sand.
July 6. – s.s. Ballina crossed in.
July 8. – All hands bolting planks together for launching vessel on.
July 9. – W. Yabsley making large tackle blocks. Others bolting planks together. A large dingo that often came by night and had a look at the vessel was caught in a snare last night, but got clear. All hands putting way under vessel.
SHIFTING SAND
July 11. – All hands removing sand.
July 12. – S.S. Athletic crossed in.
July 13. – All hands putting down wooden anchors to hook the tackle on to.
July. 14. – W. Yabsley started to Coraki.
July 15. – Bolting launch ways together. Sailors strapping blocks. Mr. Yeager came on a visit from the Richmond.
July 16. – Rigging four large tackles and four small ones to hook on to the larger tackles for the bullocks to haul on. One sailor left.
July 17. – Commenced to haul the vessel towards the river with four teams of bullocks. Only removed her two feet. The anchors would not stand the strain.
July 18. – Easterly gale and heavy sea. Washed the logs from under the vessel, and let her down in the sand. Mr. Cravigan came from Tuckombil Station and stayed all night.
July 19. – All hands, putting logs in and blocking the vessel up.
July 20. – All hands lifting the vessel with levers and screw jacks.
July 21. – Mr. Garrett came on a visit.
July 22. – Hauling the bow inland to get clear of the breakers. Broke the big cable – 1½ chain doubled.
July 23. – Hauling the vessel inland 14 feet. Two vessels sailing out.
July 24. – Hauling the vessel inland 20 feet. The horses left with the postman. The barque School Boy passed, bound for the Richmond.
July 26. – Hauling vessel inland 18 feet. Killed two bullocks for beef. s.s. Helen McGregor crossed out.
July 28. – Hauling vessel inland 20 feet. Mr. Garrett came on a visit.
July 29. – All hands laying ways under vessel to launch her toward the river.
July 30. – Commenced to haul the vessel toward the Clarence River, 10 feet. Laying way and hauling vessel – 15 feet.
August 1. – Laying way and hauling the vessel towards the river – 15 feet.
August 2. – Laying way. Digging sand hill and hauling vessel 20 feet.
August 3. – Digging sand hills. Laying way. Hauling vessel 25 feet. James Cook came to work. H. Yabsley and J. Ford started home.
August 5. – Hauling vessel 40 feet. Broke straps on the block.
August 6. – Hauling vessel 50 feet.
HAULED 99 FEET
August 7. – Hauling vessel 99 feet. Mr. Borton, the mailman, came and stayed all night.
August 8. – Hauling vessel 68 feet.
August 9. – Lay ways, digging sand hill. Hauling vessel 92 feet.
August 11. – W. Yabsley started to Coraki, walking. Finding another arrival in the house. [a boy – Mark]
August 12. – Hauling vessel 162 feet. W. Yabsley came from Coraki.
August 13. – Hauling vessel 18 feet. Mr. C. Garrett walked along the beach from Ballina and stayed all night.
August 14. – Hauling vessel 132 feet. Captain Creer came on a visit.
August 15. – Hauling vessel 102 feet.
August 16. – Hauling vessel 10 feet. Strong wind blowing sand on the ways.
August 17. – Hauling vessel 194 feet. s.s. Ballina crossed out. Mr. Newby came from the Richmond on a visit, and stayed one week.
August 19. – Hauling vessel 139 feet. s.s. New England.
August 20. – Hauling vessel 199 feet. Broke some of the gear.
August 21. – Hauling vessel 138 feet. Captain Creer came on a visit.
August 22. – All hands digging away sand hills and filling up hollows. School Boy passed bound for the Richmond.
August 23. – Hauling vessel 190 feet. Captain Muir came on a visit.
August 24.- Hauling vessel 132 feet. Mr. McLaren and Arthur Yabsley came on a visit and stayed all night.
August 25. – T. King started to Coraki.
August 26. – Hauling vessel 150 feet. Mr Cook came from the Richmond on a visit.
August 27. – Lost some of the bullocks. T. King came from Coraki.
August 28. – Hauling vessel 173 feet. Sea Ripple crossed in.
August 29. – All hands digging away sand hills and filling hollows.
August 30. – Hauling vessel 130 feet. s.s. Ballina crossed out.
September 1. – Mr. Cook came from the Richmond on a visit.
September 2. – Hauling vessel 162 feet.
September 3. – Hauling vessel 169 feet. Mr. Cook started for the Richmond.
September 4. – Hauling vessel 143 feet.
September 5. – All hands digging away sand hills and filling in hollows
September 6. – Hauling vessel 237 feet.
September 7. – Hauling vessel 290 feet.
September 8. – Captain Holden came on a visit. Sea Ripple off to Ballina.
September 9. – Hauling vessel 190 feet. Schooner Sea Ripple taking in ballast.
September 10. – Hauling vessel 280 feet.
September 11. – Hauling- vessel 215 feet. Broke some of the gear.
September 12, 13, 14. – Hauling vessel.
September 15. – Mr. Garrett came on a visit.
September 16, 17. – Hauling vessel.
September 18. – Hauling vessel on to the bank of the Clarence River.
September 19, 20. – Lifting the bow with levers and screw jacks.
September 21. – Lifting the bow with levers and screw jacks for launching in the river.
September 23. – Getting launch ways under vessel.
AT LAST
September 24. – Day of joy to see the vessel plunge into the Clarence River. Tight and sound. Did not leak a drop. Pilot Freeburn, his crew and other visitors to see the vessel slide into the river.
September 25. – Commenced to get the top mast up.
September 26. – All hands sending up top masts and spars.
September 27. – All hands sending up spars and rigging. Schooner Welcome Home crossed out.
September 28. – All hands sending up spars and sails.
September 29. – Schooner Wallaby bar bound. Captain Pratt came on a visit.
September 30. – Working at the rigging.
October 1. and 2. – Setting up the rigging
October 3, 4. – Making spars and sending up sails.
October 5. – Finished the rigging.
October 6. – Taking in the gear.
October 7. – Taking supplies for tea.
October 8. – C. and T. Yabsley started home with the bullocks, bidding good-bye to the sand and the salt water. Came to Swan Bay in the day, and part of night. T. Baxter and P. Hyland started home.
October 9. – The barque Examiner laying at the Clarence Heads, ready for sea.
The bullocks were tailed every night till eleven o’clock by C. and T. Yabsley, and then put in yard and taken out in the morning at 4 o’clock by O. Jones, R. Thompson and Flynn until 8. o’clock, and then put in the yard and yoked for the day. Captain Yabsley supervised the work all day, and every night after tea posted up the cast of the day’s work.
The staff, Captain Yabsley and his four sons, William, Henry, Charles and Thomas, his brother John, Thomas King, John Robinson, Oliver Jones, John Flynn, Robert Thompson, John Lenos, James Cook, Patrick Hyland, William Green, Charles Benger, Samuel Baxter, John Ford, and two sailors who came from Grafton, and three of the crew who stayed on, all the other sailors left.
It is understood that Captain Yabsley never asked advice from anyone; he always carried out his work with his own judgment; also that the cost was about £1400. The cost to-day with engineer, book keepers, and the staff of men and wages, would run into a few thousand pounds. The insurance company was more than satisfied. It expected it would be three times the amount. It pays part of the cost.
