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Historical Records of New Zealand South

A Piratical Nest

A Piratical Nest,

which is known to have rendezvoused in the sound. In August, 1828, the brig Cyprus, conveying 31 convicts, under a corporal's guard, from Hobart Town to Macquarie Harbour,—the latter being rigorous or secondary punishment settlement of the day—was seized and taken possession of by the convicts. She was in command of a skipper named Carew. Getting becalmed, in Recherche Bay, on the Tasmanian coast, after allowing the irons to be taken off certain of the convicts, he and the surgeon-superintendent went in the ship's boat to fish. A seaman named Swallow, whose name afterwards became popular as the "Bold Captain Swallow," had distinguished himself as a daring and withal skilful seaman. On a prior occasion, when the vessel was in imminent danger and every soul on board expected death, he volunteered to cut adrift the rigging, which had been shattered in a severe storm. Being a bold, intrepid, rowdy character, despite his good services, he got into bad grace with the convict authorities, and was despatched per Cyprus too the more rigorous settlement. Headed by Swallow, the guard was overpowered and driven below. They were then disarmed, and sent ashore on a wild, desolate part of the coast. The ship's crew and thirteen convicts elected to leave the vessel. Swallow, who took command, allowed them a quantity of ship's stores, and afterwards voluntarily sent further supplies, which, considering what the ship carried, was deemed handsome. After enduring considerable hardship, the shore party was rescued, and returned to Hobart. Meantime, Swallow and the others set sail. As soon as they lost sight of land, a course was steered for New Zealand. Reaching its coast, they esconsed themselves in Dusky Bay, where they rendezvoused for a time, until all probability of pursuit had been abandoned. Some of the party remained at Dusky in the avowed character of a seal gang. The others proceeded in the Cyprus to the Friendly Islands, thence to the Islands of the Japanese. Eventually the Cyprus reached China. The account they gave of themselves being suspected, they were seized and brought before a committee of supercargoes, who handed them over to an English man-of-war. Hobart Town Courier, July 24, 1830, supplies the sequel: —"News reached us by the Nimrod that our colonial brig Cyprus, which was piratically carried away from Recherche. Bay, after visiting New Zealand, reached Canton, where, being overhauled by a King's ship, and her papers not being able to bear close scrutiny, and other suspicious circumstances appearing, the crew were placed under arrest. One or two of the number came forward, and disclosed the whole matter. In consequence, the men were put in close confinement, and with the vessel, may be expeted back in Hobart Town, under convoy of one of the sloops of war on the Indian station."

Another vessel "cut out" at Hobart concealed for some time in the sound. Subsequently she was run ashore at Java. The runaways proceeded to Batavia, where they were detected and sent back to Hobart.

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The Trial, a brig "cut out" at Sydney, was discovered a wreck on the coast, but no account was ever got of the runaways. A fine schooner, the Eclipse, was "cut out" by convicts in 1825 at Newcastle, and was never properly accounted for. There is reason to assume the mysterious Haast River wreck had to do with that craft.

[Re Haast River wreck. In the year 1866 a piece of wreck was found in the bush, 300 feet above high-water mark, on the eastern bank of Tauperikaka, near Haast River, three miles south of Arnott Point. Portions of it were cut off and sent to Hokitika, and, upon these being examined, many suppositions were raised as to its identity, such as the possibility of its being a portion of La Perouse's missing vessels, or some missing whaler. Sealers well acquainted on the coast as late as 1840-41 were interrogated, but knew nothing of the wreck, nor had they previously heard of its existence. That is the only wreck on these southern coasts remaining unaccounted for.]

Sydney Customs Records of November 26, 1814, report: —The brig Campbell Macquarie (Burnett, master), arrived here. She reports having left the Matilda (Fowler, master), at Otaheite, with a short crew, having lost 14 of his men on the south-west coast of New Zealand, together with three of his boats. One was stolen by the natives, another was carried off by six of his crew of Lascars, supposed to be rendezvousing in Dusky Bay. The third was sent with his chief officer (Brown), two Europeans, and five Lascars to Cloudy (Chalky) Bay, all of whom are supposed to have foundered, as no tidings were got of either boat or crew. Latterly the ship's provisions became so scant that only half a pound of potatoes were allowed per day.