CHAPTER XX
FLINDERS, continued
WITH THE "CUMBERLAND" TO TORRES STRAIT, 1803 CAPTIVITY AT MAURITIUS, 1803-10 AND CLOSE OF HIS CAREER
AFTER consultation with Governor King, Flinders determined to go to England as a passenger by the "Porpoise" under command of Lieutenant Fowler, to lay his charts and journals before the Admiralty and to solicit the grant of another vessel to continue his investigations. Fowler's instructions were to go by Torres Strait "by the route Captain Flinders may indicate." The "Porpoise" left Sydney on 10th August, 1803, accompanied by the "Bridgewater" of the East India Company, and the "Cato" of London, both bound for Batavia.[1]
On 17th August, the "Porpoise" which was in the lead, struck on Wreck Reef (22° 11′ S., 155° 13′ E.) and the "Cato" immediately did the same. The "Bridgewater" weathered the reef and shamefully deserted her consorts. (She reached Bombay and left for London; after which she was never heard of again.)
Three lives were lost in the wreck, but the remainder (ninety-
- ↑ Terra Australis, II, p. 286.
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