Running Down the Barque ‘Ada,&#821…

Rare engraving depicting the down of the barque  Ada by the steamer Jeddo between Garden Island and Bradley’s Head, Sydney.

The Ada sunk in the fair way between Garden Island and Bradley’s Head, in eleven fathoms of water, with 500 tons of coal on board.

Account: Mr. John Cuthbert, the well-known shipbuilder of this port, became the purchaser, and at once commenced raising the ship. In order to effect this two large hulks were obtained, and moored close on either side of the wreck, which was found to be so deep in the mud as to render it impossible to ‘sweep her’ in the ordinary way. To obviate this a strong cable was passed right round the vessel under her tuck, partially under her bilge, and well down her stem-post, purchases were then fastened to the cable and taken to immense beams lying across the decks of the hulks. At low water the purchases were hove taut, and as the tide rose the floatage power of the hulks acted as an equipoise to the weight of the wreck, which was thus lifted several feet each tide, and by the aid of steam tugs the hulks and their load were gradually removed into their present position off Darling Point, where the Ada’s deck is now so far above water as to permit the broken portion being temporarily repaired, for the purpose of pumping her out and removing her to Mr. Cuthbert’s establishment at Miller’s Point, which will probably be effected in a few days.

From the original edition of The Illustrated Sydney News.

References:
Gibbs & Shallard. Illustrated Sydney News. ISSN 2203-5397.

Collections:
State Library New South Wales: F8/39-40
State Library Victoria: PCINF SLVIC=1853-1872
National Library Australia: Bib ID 440095