AUSTRALIA'S FIRST WHITE CAIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 79

AUSTRALIA'S FIRST WHITE CAIN.

The loss of the steamer Windsor on Pelsart Island, or, rather, on one of the cluster of dangerous reefs and rocks extending from Wreck Point to North Island, recalls to the historic memory (says the Sydney Muil) t be fact that * here began European geographical Knowledge of the vast western coast of our continent. It* was in the year 1616 (ten yeare after the Duyfhen's visit to the Gulf of Carpentaria and the passage through Torres Straits by the navigator whose name they bear) that Captain Dirk Hartog, of the' ship Endracht, from Amsterdam, visited ] these latitudes, and left on the island ' christened after him a metal plate attesting his visit. Six years afterwards the Leeuwin (or Lkmees) sailed along the west and south-west coast, and its unknown captain named the terrible Abrolhos after al Dutch navigator of considerable distinction, who did not, however, at any time float a vessel in Australian waters. The Abrolhos, which, Mr George Collingridge. tells us, is Portuguese for "look out," or "keep your eyes open," have been a menace to navigation in this part of the Indian Ooean ever since the' wreck of the Batavia — the colsnising vessel despatched by a Dutch company under Francis Pelsart in the year 1628. In all probability <.ht Ridderschap was also lost on these treacherous reefs. It was to find this missing vessel' that William de Vlamingh came to Western Australia in, 1696 — a visit which resulted in the discovery and naming oi , the Swan River. After the wreck- of his ship, the Batavia, which had become separated from her consorts in the storm, Pelsart set out in one of the ship's boats in search of fresh water on the mainland, but finding none, even of the most brackish description, steered rortli-west to procure assistance at the Dutch colony of Batavia. In his absence the supercargo, one James Cornelius, brought a long-meditated mutiny to al bloodstained climax, everyone refusing to hail him as Captain-general being promptly and cruelly massacred. One company, however, under a French soldier of Scotch descent, Weybehays (or Webby Hayes), defended themselves valiantly,- inflicted condign punishment on the assassins, and finally managed to take Cornelius prisoner. Then, fresh water being found, me two hostile camps sat down to await the reappearance of Pelsart. The mutineers designed to surprise the Commodore, but the unexpected and successful resistance of Weybehays and his soldiei comrades seriously inflected their plans. By-and-bye the Sardam, with Pelsart on board, appeared m the ofling, and a boat put off to meet the vessel, and that boat was pulled from the shore by men dressed in officers' uniforms of the richest description, made from the silks and velvets that had formed part of the Batavia's cargo. Pelsart scented rebellion ; Weybehaya came off at the same time .and confirmed the Commodore's suspicions X and the partisans of Cornelius had the guns of the Sardam turned upon them, and were forced to surrender. All the malefactors were tried and hanged on the spot, the worst of them having their hands and feet struck off by an axe prior to execution.^ The death-roll of Jerome Cornelius, A=us» ; tralia'i first white Cain, was 123 lives of men, women, and children. :