Phatisalam
Encyclopedia
The Phatisalam was a ship that was wrecked in 1821 leading to the death of eight people.
The Phatisalam, a ship of 259 tons, was built in 1816 in Cochin, India
. Under the command of Captain Peter Dillon
the ship left Calcutta on 25 January 1821. It was a slow journey and in early poor weather the ship began to leak badly, taking on board nearly 50cm per hour. The crew of Lascars
fared badly on the slow and arduous trip with several dying and the rest suffering from starvation and illness. In a gale on the night of 9 July 1821 the ship was beached on Hunter Island, Bass Strait
. Nobody was injured in the beaching, however after waiting several months for rescue, it was decided to try and make Port Dalrymple. When one of the longboats was launched it capsized leading to the deaths of six crew and two prisoners. The only survivor was a female passenger.
The remaining passengers and crew reached George Town, Tasmania
after a stormy trip of some twelve days. In mid October the wreck was surveyed and burnt by the surveyors.
The Phatisalam, a ship of 259 tons, was built in 1816 in Cochin, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Under the command of Captain Peter Dillon
Peter Dillon
Peter Dillon was a sandalwood trader, self-proclaimed explorer, raconteur, and discoverer of the fate of the La Pérouse expedition.-Early career:...
the ship left Calcutta on 25 January 1821. It was a slow journey and in early poor weather the ship began to leak badly, taking on board nearly 50cm per hour. The crew of Lascars
Lascars
See also Lashkar, LaskarA lascar and was a sailor or militiaman from the Indian Subcontinent or other countries east of the Cape of Good Hope, employed on European ships from the 16th century until the beginning of the 20th century...
fared badly on the slow and arduous trip with several dying and the rest suffering from starvation and illness. In a gale on the night of 9 July 1821 the ship was beached on Hunter Island, Bass Strait
Bass Strait
Bass Strait is a sea strait separating Tasmania from the south of the Australian mainland, specifically the state of Victoria.-Extent:The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Bass Strait as follows:...
. Nobody was injured in the beaching, however after waiting several months for rescue, it was decided to try and make Port Dalrymple. When one of the longboats was launched it capsized leading to the deaths of six crew and two prisoners. The only survivor was a female passenger.
The remaining passengers and crew reached George Town, Tasmania
George Town, Tasmania
George Town is one of the larger towns in north-east Tasmania, on the eastern bank of the mouth of the Tamar River. At the 2006 census, George Town had a population of 4,266. It is the regional centre of the George Town Council Local Government Area....
after a stormy trip of some twelve days. In mid October the wreck was surveyed and burnt by the surveyors.