Arpenteur facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | Arpenteur |
| Owner | William Owen & John Ridley |
| Launched | 1839 |
| Stricken | Sank 1849 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Brig |
| Tons burthen | 95 tons |
| Length | 72.2 feet (22 m) |
| Beam | 18 ft (5.5 m) |
| Draught | 10.6 ft (3.2 m) |
The Arpenteur was a type of sailing ship called a brig. It was owned by two people, William Owen and John Ridley. Sadly, the ship was destroyed at Hassell Beach in Cheyne Bay, near Cape Riche. A very strong storm pushed it onto the shore on November 7, 1849.
Contents
The Story of the Arpenteur
The Arpenteur was built from wood in 1839. This happened in a place called Mahe in the Seychelles islands. At first, it was registered in Port Louis in Mauritius.
New Owners and Cargo Trips
In 1847, William Owen and John Ridley bought the ship. They had it registered again in Port Adelaide. The Arpenteur was then used to carry goods. It sailed between Singapore, Java, and Adelaide.
Helping Another Ship
In 1848, the Arpenteur was commanded by Captain Allen. It was used to help rescue parts from another ship called the Wave. The Wave had been wrecked at Cheynes Beach. The owners of the Arpenteur bought the right to take things from the Wave for £330. When the Arpenteur returned to Fremantle, it carried 27 tons of flour. It also had 1,000 bushels of wheat, plus the ropes and sails saved from the Wave.
The Final Journey
On its very last trip, Captain John Raines was in charge of the Arpenteur. The ship was carrying mail from England. This mail had been picked up in Singapore and was supposed to go to Fremantle. However, strong storms made it impossible to enter Fremantle harbour.
So, the ship sailed on to Albany. But it still couldn't enter King George Sound because of very strong winds. The ship was damaged during this time. Eventually, the Arpenteur reached Cheynes Beach. It was loading whale oil when powerful storms came from the southwest. The winds blew the ship onto the shore. It sank and was destroyed. Luckily, all the crew members were safe. Only a small part of the cargo could be saved.
Where is the Wreck Now?
The remains of the Arpenteur are about 100 metres (328 ft) offshore. You can find them at the western end of Hassell Beach. The wreck lies on a flat, sandy seabed.
What Divers Can See
This site is now used for diving. About 4.6 metres (15 ft) of the ship's wooden planks and frame can still be seen. There are also some rounded stone ballast pieces. These heavy stones were used to help balance the ship.
