Dragon
On 23 October 1823, Captain R.S. Walker sailed Dragon into the Bay of Islands from Sydney, on a trading voyage.
Although now in the safety of a harbour, Captain Walker had sailed into a storm at the Christian Mission station. Reverend Samuel Marsden was at the Bay and was organising for missionary John Butler to leave his post. The mission was in turmoil with power struggles and infighting and Henry Williams had been brought in to settle the mission and its disputes. The Reverend's first attempt to leave the bay had been halted when Brampton, Captain Moore, had foundered on a reef in September. Now Marsden was able to arrange passage for himself, Captain Moore, and those of the Brampton, and John Butler and his family, on board Dragon for her return trip to Sydney.
On 27 October, Samuel Marsden wrote to John Butler accusing him of being drunk on board Dragon. Butler believed this was an attempt to slur his name and justify his removal from the mission. Butler had been on board Dragon at the time in question but insisted later that he was there seeking a chief from whom land was being purchased. According to Butler he joined Captain Walker in one small glass of Hollands and water, remaining on the ship for less than an hour.
James Spencer who was a survivor of the wreck of the Cossack and had been staying with Butler came forward as a witness to Butler's side of the story. His character was then called into question by Marsden, and Captain Walker promptly refused the man passage on Dragon. Spencer offered to take enough provisions on board for his passage and said the men were more than happy to accommodate him. However, Captain Walker ordered that no man should let him board the ship. Butler later claimed this was an attempt to stop Spencer from testifying on his behalf in Sydney.
Desperate and alone, James Spencer slept on the beach near Dragon until some of her crew sneaked him onto the ship in the night and when Dragon sailed from the Bay, Spencer was stowed away below decks. During the voyage Captain Walker got wind of the hidden passenger and called for him to come forward, which Spencer immediately did. Captain's Walker and Moore then began abusing him and threatening him with jail on arrival in Sydney. Spencer could only reply that he was a victim of two shipwrecks.
Butler and his family were forced to sleep in cramped conditions in the company of people with whom Butler's wife and his very ill daughter were not used to keeping. Their distress continued when they reached Sydney and they were abandoned on board the ship by Samuel Marsden. Not knowing anyone in Sydney and with nowhere to go, there they remained until Captain Beveridge of St Michael offered them accommodation on his ship. James Spencer was taken off Dragon by the crew and Captain Walker made no attempt to keep him from disembarking.
In March the following year, Captain Walker was back at the Bay of Islands on Dragon but after that it wasn't until 1830 that the ship reappeared with Captain Stein in the whaling grounds of Cook Strait. There she worked and sailed between Hobart Town and Cloudy Bay transporting cargoes of whale oil.
Although now in the safety of a harbour, Captain Walker had sailed into a storm at the Christian Mission station. Reverend Samuel Marsden was at the Bay and was organising for missionary John Butler to leave his post. The mission was in turmoil with power struggles and infighting and Henry Williams had been brought in to settle the mission and its disputes. The Reverend's first attempt to leave the bay had been halted when Brampton, Captain Moore, had foundered on a reef in September. Now Marsden was able to arrange passage for himself, Captain Moore, and those of the Brampton, and John Butler and his family, on board Dragon for her return trip to Sydney.
On 27 October, Samuel Marsden wrote to John Butler accusing him of being drunk on board Dragon. Butler believed this was an attempt to slur his name and justify his removal from the mission. Butler had been on board Dragon at the time in question but insisted later that he was there seeking a chief from whom land was being purchased. According to Butler he joined Captain Walker in one small glass of Hollands and water, remaining on the ship for less than an hour.
James Spencer who was a survivor of the wreck of the Cossack and had been staying with Butler came forward as a witness to Butler's side of the story. His character was then called into question by Marsden, and Captain Walker promptly refused the man passage on Dragon. Spencer offered to take enough provisions on board for his passage and said the men were more than happy to accommodate him. However, Captain Walker ordered that no man should let him board the ship. Butler later claimed this was an attempt to stop Spencer from testifying on his behalf in Sydney.
Desperate and alone, James Spencer slept on the beach near Dragon until some of her crew sneaked him onto the ship in the night and when Dragon sailed from the Bay, Spencer was stowed away below decks. During the voyage Captain Walker got wind of the hidden passenger and called for him to come forward, which Spencer immediately did. Captain's Walker and Moore then began abusing him and threatening him with jail on arrival in Sydney. Spencer could only reply that he was a victim of two shipwrecks.
Butler and his family were forced to sleep in cramped conditions in the company of people with whom Butler's wife and his very ill daughter were not used to keeping. Their distress continued when they reached Sydney and they were abandoned on board the ship by Samuel Marsden. Not knowing anyone in Sydney and with nowhere to go, there they remained until Captain Beveridge of St Michael offered them accommodation on his ship. James Spencer was taken off Dragon by the crew and Captain Walker made no attempt to keep him from disembarking.
In March the following year, Captain Walker was back at the Bay of Islands on Dragon but after that it wasn't until 1830 that the ship reappeared with Captain Stein in the whaling grounds of Cook Strait. There she worked and sailed between Hobart Town and Cloudy Bay transporting cargoes of whale oil.