French folly and a quick quid when ship ran aground at Manly

TRAGEDY and loss are the normal accompaniments to a ship being driven ashore, not French folly and a quick quid, but 110 years ago Manly got a taste of both of the latter.

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TRAGEDY and loss are the normal accompaniments to a ship being driven ashore, not French folly and a quick quid, but 110 years ago Manly got a taste of both of the latter.

On the night of Thursday, May 24, 1906, the three-masted steel barque Vincennes was making her way down the peninsula coastline 66 days after leaving Yokahama carrying nothing but ballast.

MUST CREDIT: John Morcombe... The Vincennes on Manly Beach. Courtesy National Maritim Museum Picture: Morcombe John

The previous day, the ship’s master had mistaken The Skillion at Terrigal for Sydney Heads and only a timely warning from local fishermen saved the ship from going aground.

Now, with the Vincennes sailing into heavy seas and driving rain, it was Manly’s turn to be mistaken in the darkness for Sydney.

One crewman later said that, thinking he was off the Heads, the ship’s master, Captain Leviellent, burned blue lights to alert the pilot boat of his need to be led into the port but could not understand why his signals drew no response.

The Vincennes on Manly Beach

Another crewman, however, told the press that a red light high on the port bow had been mistaken for the entrance to the harbour, but locals denied there was any light that could have confused the French sailors.

As the stormy seas drove the Vincennes towards the shore, distress flares were fired and, when the helm would not answer and the sound of the surf was heard, the anchor was dropped.

But it was too late the ship came ashore stern first about 9.30pm between Pine and Carlton streets, then swung more broadside to the beach, where the pounding waves worked the ship even deeper into the sand.

MUST CREDIT: John Morcombe... The Vincennes On Manly Beach. Courtesy Manly Library (2) Picture: Morcombe John

MUST CREDIT: John Morcombe... The Vincennes On Manly Beach. Courtesy Manly Library Picture: Morcombe John

A few wet and bedraggled sailors made it ashore and, despite the language problems, were able to convey the news that the crew were in good health and spirits, and felt in no danger.

Once the locals realised the ship and 23 crewmen were in no danger, the scene took on a carnival atmosphere.

Members of the Manly town band had been drinking in a local hotel and, despite the rain, managed to give the Frenchmen a sodden, if not sozzled, rendition of the Marseillaise.

But the night was not without some drama several small boats were smashed and many heads were dunked during the night as the authorities tried to maintain communications with the grounded ship.

MUST CREDIT: John Morcombe... The Vincennes on Manly Beach. Courtesy Manly Library Picture: Morcombe John

The pilot boat had already decided the seas were too rough to attempt a rescue so the carnival went on the weather improved and word got about, and the entrepreneurs got down to business as tens of thousands of Sydneysiders travelled to Manly to view the stranded vessel.

Deckchairs were set up in rows on the beach, while pony rides were available for the children.

Photographers raced in for their shot, sped back to the darkrooms to print them by the hundreds, then had them back on the beach in a wink for sale as souvenirs many of which still exist.

One quick-thinking photographer even superimposed an advertising poster on to the side of the ship in an early example of virtual advertising.

MUST CREDIT: John Morcombe... The Vincennes on Manly Beach. Courtesy Manly Library Picture: Morcombe John

But it wasn’t all commercial a fete in aid of Manly Hospital was held on the beach, with nurses and friends serving afternoon tea to the sightseers.

So large was the number of people coming from the city to view the stranded ship that extra ferries had to be employed and even they were insufficient to accommodate the crowds, so thousands had to be turned away and police had to be deployed at Circular Quay to maintain order.

Poet Henry Lawson went to see the grounded Vincennes and wrote a poem, The Stranded Ship, which was published by The Bulletin on the poet’s 39th birthday – June 17, 1906.

To improve the chances of pulling the Vincennes safely off the beach, a large quantity of its ballast was removed and much of the rigging was dismantled, an anchor was taken out more than 360m on which to haul the ship once its winch had been repaired, and nearly 500m of new steel wire rope was taken to the scene so two tugs could try to pull the ship free.

MUST CREDIT: John Morcombe... The Vincennes on Manly Beach. Courtesy Manly Library Picture: Morcombe John

But after nine days the spectacle was over at high tide in the early hours of June 2 when the tugs finally pulled the Vincennes free and towed her to Sydney for inspection.

But even towing the Vincennes into Port Jackson proved problematic – several times the tow ropes broke and one of the tugs briefly fouled its own propeller.

Finally the ship was anchored in Neutral Bay, after which she was docked at Mort’s Dock for survey.

Damage to the ship was only slight and by the following month it was on its merry way, this time carrying coal from Newcastle to San Francisco, and was never seen near Manly again.