In September 1858 the French ship Saint Paul was wrecked off Rossel Island east of New Guinea with as many as 370 people on board. Of those, fewer than a dozen men escaped with their lives. One of whom was Narcisse Pelletier who escaped to Cape York and lived with the Uutaalnganu people for theContinue reading “The Loss of the Saint Paul and its Horrific Aftermath– 1858”
Tag Archives: New Guinea
The Loss of the Maria: A Cautionary Tale
If ever there was a cautionary tale warning of the perils of going to sea ill-prepared, it is that of the tragic loss of the Maria in 1872. The Marine Board inquiry blamed the captain’s poor navigation and equally poor character for the loss of the ship and so many lives. But, the underlying causesContinue reading “The Loss of the Maria: A Cautionary Tale”
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Tales from the Quarterdeck 