Lot 6167

Description

National Shipwreck Relief Society of New South Wales, silver medal (46mm), 'Awarded to Angus Sutherland, Pilot Moruya for Risking His Life at Wreck of S.S.Kameruka 16 Oct 1897'. Engraved. In case of issue. Good very fine.

Steaming at full speed in a calm sea the well known steamer 'Kameruka' struck Pedro's Reef near Moruya Head on the south coast of New South Wales at about midnight on 16 October, 1897 while bound for Moruya to pick up passengers and cargo. She struck about 150 metres from the shore, enabling her live deck cargo to swim ashore. Passengers were then taken ashore in a cage suspended to a rope attached from the vessel to a rock. The only person injured was Captain Hersee, who fell from the bridge when the ship struck. The vessel lay awash on the rocks for some time, but eventually broke up. The Kameruka was no stranger to tragedy. On 22 February, 1882 near Beecroft Head whilst on passage from Eden to Sydney, she collided with the ketch 'Esther Maria' which was bound for Jervis Bay. In the collision the ketch sank and her first mate was drowned.