41 
COOTHARABA LAKE AND THE WRECK OF THE 
"STIRLING CASTLE." 
E. J. Smith. 
Tile following short account of tlu^ rescue ot* Mrs. 
P'raser and other survivors of the '\Steriing Castle'' wreck 
has been Avritteu for members of the Queensland Natur- 
alists' Club that they may be able, in imagination, to 
follow the adventures of tlie rescued and theii* rescuer, 
who travelled along the sea coast, and across the lakes 
of tlie selfsame territory in Avhicli the lf)o4 Easter Camp 
was situated. 
AndrcAv Petrie, in his flournal of an Expedition to 
the “Wide Pay Hiver" in 18b4 writes: “This bay or inh't 
[Laguna Bay] has a rivei- in the bight [Noosa Kiverlr 
which forms several large lakes, or sheets of Avater. A 
feAv miles inland from one of these lakes, ^Irs. Fraser 
[Avife of Captain Ph-aser of the “Stirling Castle"] was 
rescued from the blacks by Bracefield [a convict wlio 
lived with the blacks] and conveyed to the boats whicli 
were anchored at the same place where avc encamped" 
{Tom Petvie^^ Reminiscences p.262) 
There are tAvo inaccuracies in this statement. Mrs. 
Ph-aser Avas not rescued by Bracefield, and slie Avas not 
conveyed to Laguna Bay. She Avas rescued by a convict 
John Graham, and Avas conA'eyed to the boats at Double 
Island T^oint. 
ScA'eral conflicting accounts of the Avreck of the 
“Stirling (Castle" have been Avritten. lioth Stuart Russel, 
in The Genesis of Queensland and AndrcAV Thdrie be- 
lieved the story that liraeefield had told them. IIoAvevei*. 
John Gibbing in John (G-aham (convict), gives copies 
of official reports of the rescue of Mrs. P'’i‘aser and the 
survivors of the Stirling (''astle Avreek, namely John 
Graham's report to the Commandant at Moreton Bay. 
Lieut. Otter's report to the (k)mmandant, the Comman- 
dant’s report to the Colonial Secretary and other official 
documents. 
These rc]K)rts clearly sIioav that iNfi's. Ph'aser Avas 
rescued by John Graham, convict, in August. 188b. 
during an expedition under the command of Lieut. Otter 
Avho Avas the lieutenant of Commandant Captain PVans 
of the fourth regiment (King’s Oavu). 
The expedition tra\'elled in tAVo Avhaleboats manned 
by convicts, and camped respectively at 
and at Double Island Point. At Laguna 
Avent alone and unarmed to search for 
