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THE ADMELLA TABLET. (From the Argus.) Perhaps no better mode of placing on record the heroic conduct of the men who were instrumental in rescuing from a watery   grave the few of our fellow-colonists who survived the frightful sufferings accompany-     ing the wreck of the ill-fated Admella in August, 1859, could have been suggested than   that adopted by the Committee of the Admella Relief Fund, of erecting, a tablet in   the long room of our new Custom-house. As a work of art, the monument reflects great credit upon the sculptors, Messrs. Marsh and Grout, of Stephen-street. It is of marble,   and forms a panel divided into three portions. On the upper one, 3ft by 1ft 6in., is a well-   sculptured wreath of immortelles — below that     is the inscription, occupying a space of 4ft ;     and underneath it is a bass-relief, showing   the position of the wreck at the time of assistance being rendered by the Portland           life-boat. The details of this portion of the   tablet are well executed, and bear the closest examination. Those persons who recollect       the appalling circumstances of the wreck, the   disappointment caused to the unhappy passengers from the failure of one boat's   crew to release them from their perilous             position, will recognise in the bas-relief the         whole scene. Standing on the highest side of the wreck are the passengers, eagerly stretch-             ing out a rope to the boat which is approaching     ing them, whilst on the shrouds of the solitary     mast left standing, and on which is the flag of distress, is a man slinging, evidently worn out with constant watching and privation. The design of the tablet is Grecian, in accordance with the architecture of the room.         The outside border is composed of laurel     leaves and berries, the latter being gilded and       polished. The inner border is a scroll formed by a rose, shamrock, and thistle, and is       finished by a beading and reel. The inscrip-   tion was composed by Mr. Mossman,     and revised by Professor Irving. It is as follows :— "To commemorate the heroic exertions of   those who, at the risk of their lives, rescued,     after seven days and nights of mental agony                     and bodily suffering, the 22 survivors from the wreck of the Admella screw steamer, lost on Carpenter rocks, near Cape Northum-       berland, on the 6th August, 1859, during her voyage from Adelaide to Melbourne. Those           who, with the help of God, did this brave   deed, were, John Leach and Robert Knap- man, two sailors, who dared to leave the     wreck upon a raft. and having reached the shore, spread the sad tidings; James           Fawthorp and crew of the Portland life-boat — William Rosevear, coxswain, Abbot Carey,   James Diamond, Charles Patterson, William                                   Guy, Thomas Ward, Phillip Francis,               Hugh McDonald, William Booth, William     Kirkin, James Kean, John Dusting,   Thomas Tweedle, John Frederick John- stone ; Benjamin Germein and the crew of         the Admella's life-boat — Henry Smith,             Henry Wiley, Charles Almack, Thomas Anderson, William Mabin, William Baker ;       Peter Greig, master of the s.s. Lady           Bird, two of the crew. — George Edmonds, William M. McDonnell; James Cambrey, and       the crew of the Portland whaleboat — William   Wright, John Morgan, George Scoffat,     William King, John Spiers ; Louis Thomas,     and the crew of the Adelaide pilot-boat — Peter Smith, George Fowles, William     Thomas, Uriah Marshall, John Penny. This           tablet was erected by the committee of the Admella Relief and Reward Fund at the   desire of the inhabitants of Victoria."   The entire cost of the work is calculated at 200 guineas ; and in order that a view of it may be circulated throughout the country,     the sculptors will procure several photographic   copies, which, we are informed, will be com-   pleted in a few days.

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State Library of Victoria
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