Step into open hold was John’s last

1874  – John  Clerke died when he fell into the hold of the ship under his command, during the dark of night.

He was the chief officer of the steamer Lady Bowen, which had just arrived from Rockhampton to Gladstone, a settlement which was only about 20 years old.

It was a long slow trip, taking about eight hours, and the ship arrived in Gladstone’s Auckland Creek well after dark, after 8.30pm.

Some wool was loaded, and  Captain Cottier left the ship, giving command to Clerke, who had the vessel shifted 40 yards to the Commercial Wharf.

The hatches were put back on while the ship was moved. However, mobile lights on the dock were not moved.

Clerke then ordered the hatches taken off, but as that was happening the boatswain ordered them put on again, to allow cargo in the horse stall to the taken out.

Clerke was leaving the area, when the carpenter called out “Mr Clerke, thc second mate is singing out for you.”

As Clerke replied “What does he want?” he lifted his leg to stand on the coaming of the main hatch – the vertical frame around the hatch.

At this stage two men were in the process of replacing that hatch cover.

Clerke stepped right into the open main hold hatch, brushing against the man holding the hatch.

Although the carpenter and another man shouted a warning, it was too late.

Medical aid was called to the unconscious chief officer, but he died two hours later, at midnight.

Clerke was from Tasmania, and had sent for his wife and four children to join him in Gladstone.

He had been there long enough to become a part of the community, as 30 sea-faring friends and tradespeople followed his Union Jack-draped coffin from the church to the Gladstone cemetery.

The flags of the vessels in port, and on all the wharves, stores and hotels were hoisted half mast, reported the Rockhampton Bulletin.

“Uninformed tattlers were busy, as is usual in these cases, with the cry of carelessness, not sufficient lights, etc.

rockhampton bulletin

An inquiry showed no such neglect, and it was pointed out that Clerke was in charge of the ship, which meant he was also in charge of the lights.

Sources: Northern Argus, Saturday 14 November 1874, p2

 Rockhampton Bulletin, Wednesday 9 December 1874, p6