Robert Burns

The wooden schooner Robert Burns ran aground on a sandbank near Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, on December 4, 1908.

• The Ship: The Robert Burns was a colonial-era wooden schooner built in 1857 by Alexander Bruce Smith at Long Bay, Hobart, Tasmania. It originally measured 54.3 feet long, was later enlarged, and transferred to South Australian coastal trade in 1897.

• The Wreck: During heavy weather on December 4, 1908, the vessel stranded on a sandbank near Kingscote. Reports indicated the master (Captain Johnson) mistook a light on the shore (Ozone Hotel) for a navigation marker.

[1908]  . . . As the vessel held together well no loss of life occurred. She had on board a small cargo consisting of 25 tons of copper ore consigned from the newly started copper mine at Rapid Bay on the mainland, for Port Adelaide, also a small quantity of building material for Mr Thos. Keley, builder of Kingscote. Capt. Gibbon (the Underwriters' Surveyor) and Mr F. C. Malin, repre-senting the Colonial Mutual Fire and Accident office, which is directly interested, arrived by the steamer Karatta on Wednesday evening last to superintend salvaging operations, and shortly after arranged with Capt. Sheridan of the ketch Ina to salvage the cargo and all available gear, anchors, chains, etc., belonging to the vessel. The weather having moderated, an early start was made on Friday morn-ing, and at low water about 6 tons of the ore was recovered in addition to a portion of the building material which was carried on deck and had not been washed overboard. The sails were unbent and along with the the ore transferred to the 'Ina.' The hold of the ' Robert Burns' is full of water at high tide, and at low water there is from two to three feet inside and all around her. Some of the caulking having come out of her planking on either side, the water has free ingress and egress. The vessel is lying on her starboard side and in all probability has sustained damage to her bottom as she received a good deal of bumping after grounding. Much sympathy is felt for Capt. Johnson who is part owner in conjunction with Mr Jenkins, of Birkenhead, and only carries a small amount of insurance on his half. It is anticipated that tenders will shortly be called for the purchase of the remainder of the wreck consisting of hull and masts.

SALVAGING A WRECK.

The ketch Ina returned to Port Adelaide on Thursday from a salvaging expedition at the wrecked ketch Robert Burns, which grounded on the spit, 2½ miles off Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, recently. Capt. Gibbon (underwriters' surveyor) and Mr. F. C. Malin (representing the Colonial Mu-tual Accident office), were instructed to proceed to the wreck and salve all that was possible. After visiting the scene of the disaster, negotiations were entered into with Capt. Sheridan, of the Ina, and work was speedily and successfully performed, with the result that all the cargo of ore, consisting of 25 tons from the newly formed copper mine at Rapid Bay, together with a small quantity of timber, was saved and brought to Port Adelaide. In addition to this, all sails, anchors, running gear, and movable spars were dismantled. Capt. P. O. Johnson, who was master and part-owner of the wrecked vessel, also returned in the Ina; he has lost all his belongings. Tenders will shortly he called for the hull, as it now lies, with lower masts.