Henry Courtenay

Henry Courtenay and John Moran had been fishing in an open boat near Garden Island, and on the morning of 7 September 1894 were tied up alongside the Rockingham Jetty. At 12:30pm they decided to return to Fremantle with a load a fish to sell.

At the time there was a strong wind blowing from the South West. Police Constable Scott was also on the Jetty at the time, inspecting stores onboard nearby ships. He had warned the crew to be careful as it was very squally. Despite his warnings they left. The constable noticed the bad way in which the boat was being handled, and alerted a nearby Captain.

After only a mile or so, the onlookers from the Jetty could see the boat had sunk. A boat from the Barque, Niola, which was alongside the Rockingham jetty loading timber, immediately set off to the scene and rescued Moran in a late state of exhaustion.

Police Constable Scott interviewed Moran upon his return. Moran stated that before the vessel sank, it had taken in a quantity of water and he had been bailing out the boat, and was running “before the wind”.

According to his statement “she went down stone first”. It was thought that the ballast had shifted and she could not be righted.

Courtenay, who had a heavy overcoat on, managed to grab an oar and a water keg which kept him afloat. Initially Moran clung to the boat and managed to remove his clothes.

Moran called out to Courtenay if he needed help, but he replied that he could get along all right. Moran made out for the Rockingham Jetty and after some time heard Courtenay crying out. When he returned to the spot he could see nothing of him.

Police Constable Scott patrolled the beach for traces of Courtenay, but only found an oar washed up. The boat was found the next day in Careening Bay, with both sails set and fastened to the cleats.

On the 20 October, Mr James Thomas discovered the dead body at Key’s (or Kay’s) Point, four miles on the Fremantle side of Rockingham. The body was very much decomposed and identified by Police Constable Scott.

Courtenay was described as a comparative stranger in the colony, believed to have no relatives or friends. He was buried in Rockingham. He held a mate’s certificate, and was formerly second mate off the S.S. Flinders.

Moran had been described as a strong swimmer, and it was for that reason that he likely survived the ordeal. He was a Mason by trade, who had turned his attention to fishing.

In April 1901, he met a similar fate to Courtenay, but under different circumstances. He had been operating the fishing boat, Lavinia, with Peter Manolis and John March. He was last seen alive taking a midnight swim in the Fremantle harbour near the baths.

Alec Robinson, a barman of the Esplanade Hotel reported seeing the body of a man floating close to the shore on the Esplanade.

An inquest was held before the Acting coroner (Mr. James Lilly) and jury at the local Coroner’s Court. The jury returned a verdict that Moran met his death by drowning, while in an intoxicated condition. He was 27 years of age and single at the time.