Birth Of The ‘Shepherdess’
The ‘Shepherdess’ arrived at
Constant Bay on Sunday
afternoon 1879 31st August
sea calm virtually no wind
but no harbourmaster on duty
she lay off the entrance harbour
until the following morning
awaiting signalled to enter port
light breeze weather fine clear
attempting to tow the schooner
‘Shepherdess’ into port
through narrow rocky entrance
using a dinghy surf boat
to secure anchorage mooring rocks
suddenly a large wave swamped
stout dinghy threw
Thomas Bailie, Charles Craddock
into tidal sea surge
Bailie managed to clamber back
into surf boat then pulled dragged
Charles Craddock
back in but tragically immediately
a second wave smashed
into the boat, overturned the boat
again two men are thrown into surf
what wave force
second wave overturned the dinghy
impossible to right
no option but try to swim for shore
pounding surf smashed valiant efforts
into ocean inlet
floor time time again, each try time
it hope appeared
they might reach safety, wild breakers
drove two back, while crowd watched
life drama helplessly
two men struggled, desperately constantly
for their mortal lives
none attempted, dive into boiling waters
none thought to throw hope a rope
a large crowd gathered
perhaps none could swim wild tide
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poem by Terence George Craddock
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