7

6
deposited the ships papers with
some valuables of my own in a
large tin box over which water
proof cloth had been firmly tied,
and fastened it by a strap to the
fore top. A greater part of the top
had been broken off. The box
had either floated away or sank.

The sea had evidently washed
over the whole of the masts &
rigging as portions of seaweed
& coral sand were aboard cling-
ing to the different parts. A
larger piece of coral was found
on the fore top [foretop], at least 30
feet above the bed of the reef.
From these evidences I think
that the unfortunate men left
on the wreck could not have
survived the exposure more
than two days, & I also think
that as all the yards (the
most available materials where-
with to make a raft) were still
floating about, they had made
no attempt to leave the wreck.

[signed] Thomas Tate

Declared before us at
the Police Office Cardwell
this 6^th day of March
1872

[signed] Brinsley G Sheridan PM
[signed] P. F. Sellheim J.P.