Cato Reef

Cato Island is one of the largest of the Coral Sea Islands

Cato Reef, a part of the Cato Bank, is an area in the Coral Sea off the northeastern coast of Queensland, Australia that is of approximately 21 km by 13 km of this 200 km² area, where depth of water is typically less than 17 m. Upon Cato Bank Cato Reef encircles an area of 3.3 km by 1.8 km, area 5 km² including a small shallow lagoon which contains Cato Island, a low-relief cay in the west that is approximately 650 by 300 m, area 15 hectares, 6 m high. Close to the southeast corner of Cato Bank is Hutchison Rock, with 1 m depth over it.

General

Solar powered weather station on Cato Island

Cato Island 23°15′S 155°32′E / 23.250°S 155.533°E / -23.250; 155.533 (Cato Island), is a small oval-shaped island lying approximately 375 km east of Gladstone, Queensland and about 270 km east-southeast of the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. This island is approximately 115 km south of Bird Islet, part of the east end of Wreck Reefs

The island is a mound of coral debris and grit 5.8m high covered in grass and creepers up to 1m high . An automatic weather station, with two radio masts and a silver-painted hut, stands on the north-east end of the island.^[1] The island is almost entirely surrounded by reefs: there are three narrow boat passages through the reefs on the northern side. The best entrance is the center one, located 350 meters north of the eastern end of Cato Island; it has a conspicuous rock at half tide on its Eastern side

The island lies on the western end of an oval-shaped reef enclosing a lagoon. The lagoon contains numerous coral heads. The sea breaks over the reef in all weathers. The reef lies on Cato Bank, which falls away steeply on all sides.

Hutchison Rock 23°15′S 155°36′E / 23.250°S 155.600°E / -23.250; 155.600 (Hutchison Rock - Cato Island), with a depth of 5.5m, lies 3.5 km East of Cato Reef.

Danger Patch lies near the outer end of the Eastern ledge of Cato Bank. A tidal race is found between the Eastern end of Cato Reef and Danger Patch.

History

Early reports

Cato Island, and then Bird Islet, were found by Captain John Park in the Indiaman Cato (ship) and Lt. Robert Fowler in HMS Porpoise (1799) on 17 August 1803. The latter ran aground on Wreck Reef. Matthew Flinders (1814) on the Porpoise reports that all the cays held many birds, laying in the period August–October^[2]

Cato Reef continued to present a hazard to shipping plying between Australia and Canton (modern day Guangzhou) or India (where cargo was collected on the way home from Australia to Europe). In due course the southern reefs were surveyed by Captain H. M. Denham (ms, 1860) in the HMS Herald in 1858–60

The area was also visited by increasing numbers of whalers during the off season in New Zealand, in search of the many wintering Humpback Whales and fewer Sperm Whales^[3] in the middle of the 19th century.^[4] Denham reported that in July 1863 the islets only had two or three plants, including a bush 3–4 m high, and were frequented by sea turtles weighing 60–100 kg

On 12 October 1858 Denham reported that Cato Island was more substantial than other cays in the area, measuring ⅓ by 1/6 miles, rising to 19 ft, and covered in coarse tufted grass,Rottboilla; a creeping plant, Nyctagin portulaca; and a sort of buttercup Senebiera crucifera, undermined and fertilised by burrowing mutton birds, the only species that the sailors wished to eat. There were dense colonies of gannets, man-of-war birds and boatswain birds, terns and noddies, with eggs and chicks, and he shot a godwit and a brace of plovers. There were records of repeated visits by whalers but now only one Humpback was reported offshore. Rayner also recorded a Limosa, Charadrius, Strepsilas interpres, and a land rail. When they returned with plants from the Percy Isles and seeds from Sydney to provide succour for castaways in August 1859, Denham again reported that the birds formed a cloud hovering 60 feet above the island, though “a few visits like ours would tend to check the accumulation in proportion to each boat bringing off upwards of 100 dozen eggs at a three hours gleaning!

Capital of the Gay And Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands

Cato Island is the purported capital of the Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands, an unrecognised micronation founded to protest Australia's disregard of same-sex marriages.

Guano mining

On 27 October 1862, the British government granted an exclusive concession to exploit the guano on Lady Elliot Island, Wreck Reefs, Swain Reefs, Raine Island, Bramble Cay, Brampton Shoal, and Pilgrim Island^[5] to the Anglo-Australian Guano Company organised by the whaler, Dr. W.L. Crowther in Hobart, Tasmania. They were apparently most active on Bird Islet (Wreck Reefs) and Lady Elliot and Raine Islands,^[6] losing five ships at Bird Islet between 186l and 1882.^[7]

The Daily Southern Cross, 19 September 1863, reported on page 2 that the following memorandum, enclosed in a bottle, was picked up by Captain Harris, of the Caroline, which arrived in Hobson's Bay during Wednesday night, with a cargo of guano from Cato Island, and was found on the Cato Bank:- "25 June 1863 – Prince Edward, of Auckland, Geo. Cook, master, 7 weeks from Bay of Islands, 80 sperm, 6 of blackfish. All well. – Argus,26 August.^[8]

Known shipwrecks on Cato Reef

Dockenhuden

Dockenhuden 3 August 1853. Cato Reef Ship German ship, from Melbourne to Bombay, missed stays when off Cato Reef and having no room to wear, struck the reef and became a total wreck. The crew spent 15 days repairing the ship's boats before leaving for Moreton Bay, which was reached on 27 August.^[9]

Thomas King

Thomas King A Barque of 346 tons. Built for the West Indian sugar run, then taken to Australia for the gold rush. Captain J.H. Walker. With a crew shanghaied with the help of local police, because the original crew from England had deserted for the gold fields, left Sydney on 4 April 1852 for the Philippines and China with a cargo of sugar and spirits. wrecked on a reef east of Cato Reef, Queensland, 17 April 1852. The Barque Struck reef and became total wreck. Some of her boats were washed away. A boat set out for the mainland to seek help, leaving survivors on the reef. After 14 days they were rescued by the whaler Lady Blackwood. The other boat eventually made Double Island Bay, but when the occupants set out overland for Moreton Bay they were tracked down and killed by aborigines all but the captain and one seaman were killed. When lost, THOMAS KING carried 3,500 Pounds worth of specie, and 8,000 Pounds worth of gold dust^[9]

At the time of sailing it was reported that the gold aboard the Thomas King, consisted of 212 ounces owned by L. and S. Spyer. 220 ounces 8 penny weights 12 grains owned A. and M. Moses. Giving a total total of 432 ounces 8 penny weights 12 grains or 13.45 kg of Gold^[10]

The Thomas King barque, Captain J. H. Walker, sailed from Sydney, bound for Manila, on the 7th April 1852. On the 17th of April Captain Walker considered himself to be about 17 miles to the eastward of Cato's reef, but as the wind was veering from E. to E.S.E. with dark hazy weather, the ship was kept under easy sail; at 3:30 a.m. while the second mate was walking the quarter deck and the captain reading in his cabin, the vessel struck ; the helm was immediately put down and the yards braced round for the purpose of canting her off, but without effect, and she came with her port broadside on to the reef, heeling over with the heavy sea breaking on board which in a few moments carried away the port quarter boat.

Captain Walker finding it impossible to get her off, ordered the other boats to be cleared away; two hands then got into the gig, but in lowering the sea swept it away, together with the men in her; the long boat, after great difficulty, was then hoisted out, and with three hands was dropped astern by a hawser, for fear the vessel should go to pieces. At this time Mr. Orton, the mate, on getting on to weather rail, observed that the ship's bottom had parted; the masts were then cut away and she righted a little.

The crew then endeavoured to haul up the longboat (as the decks were breaking up and the sea making a clean wash fore and aft through tho hold), but unfortunately the heavy surf filled her, and her bows coming out the three men were left adrift, but eventually reached the reef, (where they found the two men who had been washed away in the gig), where they had to remain till day light with the sea breaking over them, the remaining crew on board being huddled together on the quarter gallery.

In the morning the men on the reef having found the boat which had been washed away, lying bottom up, they succeeded in righting her and launching her into deep water on the inside of the reef, but having no oars the captain and carpenter swam ashore with one apiece from the wreck, and having gained the boat, which had been blown adrift, succeeded in reaching a small sandbank about a mile from the reef; after landing four of the crew they returned to the wreck and eventually rescued the remainder of the crew, who were all safely- landed.

On the second day a case of wine, some brandy, and four casks of bread were obtained, but no water, although several attempt were made to sink for some in the sand. The next day the carpenter and third mate got on board the wreck by means of the mast lodging on the reef at low water, and saved from the cabin a chronometer, chart, and sextant ; and the jolly boat having been repaired as well as circumstances would permit, Captain Walker, Dr. Alsop, the second male, and four hands started for the main, taking three days' provisions, in hope of getting some water and relieving the remainder of the crew ; but they had not since been- heard of. previously to leaving.

Captain Walker desired the mate to remain ten days, if possible, but after that period, should no relief come, to do the best be could. The survivors remained fourteen days after the boat left, subsisting on such things as were from time to time washed ashore ; but being without water they suffered severely, and were rapidly sinking, when providentially the Lady Blackwood, whaler, hove in sight on the 3rd May, being the 17th day from the time of the wreck, and seeing their signals of distress lent two whaleboats, which found a passage through the reef and carried them all on board, when Captain Evans finding the deplorable slate they were in deemed it advisable to bear up for Moreton Bay, which was reached on Thursday last, and as the Eagle steamer was on the point of coming out, they were placed on board and reached Sydney.

At the time of leaving the wreck the poop and two sides had come on shore. An unfortunate accident occurred on board the Lady Blackwood the day after. leaving the wreck one of the survivors, named James Hayes, went aloft for the purpose of assisting in reefing topsails, when he fell from the furlock shrouds and struck the deck before the windlass, which fractured his skull, and, although every assistance was shown him, be died in about an hour. The rescued men all speak in grateful terms of the kindness and attention evinced towards them by Captain Evans while on board the Lady Blackwood, be having supplied them with clothes from his own stock, and contributed to their comfort in every possible way. The mate succeeded in saving some letters from one of the mail bags, which were forwarded to the Post Office.^[11]

As all the boats but one were stove, and it became absolutely necessary that relief should be sought forthwith, as there was no fresh water on the bank, Captain Walker, with Mr. Dalis, the second mate, three seamen, named Smith, Howard, and J. Thompson, and Dr. Hyslop, a passenger, left the wreck for the purpose of making this coast, leaving on the reef the first and third mates, boatswain, carpenter, steward, cook, two seamen and a boy, and a groom, who was a passenger.

The boat made the coast to the southward of Wide Bay, three days after leaving the wreck. On landing, the chronometer and some other articles were secreted in the sand, and the people travelled towards Moreton Bay. After a day's journey, some blacks came to them and robbed them of a portion of their clothing, allowing them afterwards to proceed, but early next morning the same party, or others, overtook and attacked them. Captain Walker received some severe injuries on the shoulder and one of the legs from blows of a waddy, after which he succeeded in escaping and secreting himself amongst some bushes. The seaman, Frederick Sherry, also escaped in a similar manner, after receiving a slight spear wound in the breast.

The captain waited till the blacks departed, and then came out from his concealment. He saw Dr. Hyslop lying badly wounded, who told him to make the best of his way off, for that he himself felt that be was murdered. The second mate was dreadfully wounded, and was lying on the ground in a state of delirium. The captain proceeded towards the southward, but wandered about for ten days before he again fell in with Frederick Sherry.

They then proceeded on their journey together, being kindly treated by other blacks whom they met, and subsisting on such fish, roots, etc as they could procure: Finally they were brought to Mr. Riehards's place by an old black and some gins, who, it is to be hoped, will be substantially rewarded for their conduct. They saw nothing of the other three men after they themselves escaped from the attack, and they believed them to have been murdered. The captain particularly was in a very exhausted condition on his arrival, and they had scarcely had any sleep for very many days and nights.

On Monday morning Mr. Richards arrived in town with information that the captain and one of the crew of the Thomas King had arrived at his residence, on tho outskirts of the town, and that they had been badly wounded by the native blacks of tho north coast, who had murdered five of their companions.

Captain Walker is going on favourably, under the care of Dr. Barton, house surgeon of the Brisbane Hospital, who has very kindly taken him into his own quarters ; and it is hoped that he may be sufficiently recovered to proceed to Sydney in the Eagle. The seaman Sherry is out of danger.

Unfortunately Dr. Hyslop was a married man died.^[12]

TUG Boats were despatched to the Bay, in search of the remainig crew of the Thomas King, they returned to Brisbane on Sunday the 19th the expedition consisted of Messrs. Robinson, Weaver, Richards, Walmsley, and Frazer, besides some blacks. Before leaving . Brisbane they had been

Informed by Captain Sproul, of the Fatima, that any assistance they required might be procured from his ship, and Mr. Harris, the agent, furnished them with a note, containing a request to that effect. As they met, on the passage down the river, .the Captain coming up in his boat, they presented the note, which was returned to them with the assurance that the chief mate would supply them with what they required. On their application to that officer he positively refused to saying that he instructions to give away no provisions without the order of the Captain; that "they were, going on a 'wild goose chase' and that as regarded their statement about having spoken to the captain, there was no believing anybody in this quarter, as they were all "old lags." Owing to this inhospitable conduct they were disappointed of obtaining a bag of biscuit, and some cutlasses, the former of which would have enabled them to continue longer out. They next boarded the Harp, and were very kindly received by Captain Sommerville, who offered them all the assistance in his power, but, having had a very long voyage from Sydney he had no spare provisions. From him they obtained a quantity of ball cartridge.

On the arrival of the party at Callowanda, at the north end of Bribies passage, three of them, accompanied by six natives, walked along the, coast to the northward about thirty miles, when , they fell in with a tribe of blacks who informed them that three of the sailors were still alive. From the information gathered from the blacks it would appear that they had met the three white, men in the bush, about ten days after the murder, and, as they were stripped, one of the natives had given them a coat which lie had on. It was said that the Frazer's island blacks had brutally murdered the doctor and the other man (Dalis) and that the three survivors had plunged into an adjoining river, and swimming across, had escaped

Inquiry having been made amongst the blacks for the articles taken from the shipwrecked men, and flour, rice, and tobacco having been distributed amongst them, the following articles were delivered up to the party: – 1 gold watch and seal, 1 silver gilt ditto, and key, 1 miniature (believed to' be that of Dr. Hyslop) in gold setting, a pocket book containing a bill of exchange on the Bank of 'Australasia London, for' , £252 19s. 5d , a number of letters belonging to Dr. Hyslop, twelve American gold coins, three sovereigns and a half, 1 gold Dutch coin, a book, six shillings in silver, a brass ring belonging to the chronometer, and a boat-hook. All these articles, with the exception of the boat-hook, were safely delivered by the "party into the bands of Mr. Eldridge of Brisbane, who will account for them to the owners. They were informed that the chronometer was destroyed, and that one or two. rings were still in possession of the blacks, one of which (a diamond one) an old woman had on her finger, and would not give up. The party now searched about for tracks of the missing men. On the south bank of the Maroochydore, about 55 miles from the mouth of the Brisbane, they found the handle of a scythe fastened in the ground, with the two hand pieces pointing inland, and nearer to the sea a slab was stuck up, as if to draw attention to the other mark. Near the first, named spot were foot tracks, and some marks of a bird having been eaten there ; and the foot prints were tracked by the blacks about seven miles inland, to the edge of a scrub, where it t seemed that the men had been eating some wild raspberries. It seemed from the tracks that they had occasionally passed back towards the beach, and then again made their way Inland.

At first they were informed by the blacks that (the bodies of the two murdered men had been washed away by the sea, but it seems that this was not likely, and one of the women subsequently stated that the blacks had thrown the bodies into the sea. It is still equally probable that they were carried inland.

The party of blacks from whom the stolen articles were obtained consisted of about 200, and, many Frazer's Island natives were recognised amongst them.

It seemed likely, from the information obtained, that the murders were perpetrated about fifteen, miles south of Wide Bay. The blacks reported that the ship's boat was lying in a creek on the south side of the Wide Bay bar. The sail had been cut up by the natives.

As provisions were falling short, and there was a probability that the survivors might have been brought into Brisbane, the party resolved to return. They first, however, wrote a number of notes, with which they sent off the friendly blacks in different directions, so that if they should fall in with the seamen the latter might not fear to trust themselves to the guidance of tho natives. The blacks promised if they found them to keep them in safety on Bribie's Island, until the return, of the party.

On their way back to Brisbane, the party called on board the brig William Gladstone, and were very hospitably received by the mate, who regretted that they had not called on their out ward journey, as they could have had what provisions they wanted.

The native blacks reported that a large ship was lying ashore somewhere to the northward of Wide Bay Mr. Robinson's party found, washed ashore, some wax candles, part of them being whole, and a portion of the cabin windows of a vessel, some of the glass being entire.

The Police Magistrate of Brisbane having furnished Mr. Robinson's party with ample supplies for the resumption of their search, the same persons, in two boats, have again left Brisbane for the bay, and it is' hoped that success may crown the laudable efforts of the party. The property, recovered will, we understand, be taken to Sydney by Captain Wickham, he has promised to bring the praiseworthy conduct of the party under the notice of the Government, with a view to obtaining a reward, which has been justly merited by the skill and intrepidity already displayed in the search.^[13]

Notes

References

• Australian shipwrecks Vol. 1 1622–1850 By Charles Bateson. Sydney. Reed, 1972 910.4530994 BAT
• Australian shipwrecks Vol. 2 1851–1871 By Loney, J. K. (Jack Kenneth), 1925–1995. Sydney. Reed, 1980 910.4530994 LON
• Australian shipwrecks Vol. 3 1871–1900 By Loney, J. K. (Jack Kenneth), 1925–1995. Geelong Vic: List Publishing, 1982 910.4530994 LON
• Australian shipwrecks Vol. 4 1901–1986 By Loney, J. K. (Jack Kenneth), 1925–1995. Portarlington Vic. Marine History Publications, 1987 910.4530994 LON
• Australian shipwrecks Vol. 5 Update 1986 By Loney, J. K. (Jack Kenneth), 1925–1995. Portarlington Vic. Marine History Publications, 1991 910.4530994 LON

External links

• Satellite Images OcenDots.com at the Wayback Machine (archived 23 December 2010)
• nautical description (Sailing Directions)

Coordinates: 23°15′S 155°32′E / 23.250°S 155.533°E / -23.250; 155.533