The ‘Sirius’ had arrived at Norfolk Island Saturday 13th March and most of the convicts and marines had gone ashore.
Ralph Clark, Second Lieutenant of marines wrote
"Got on shore about half after two, not without much getting my feet wet. I
never landed in such a bad place in my life: at the best of times it is a very
bad landing for there is always a great swell round the island."
Hunter was anxious to get everything ashore as soon as possible. On march 15 he wrote ‘These people were no sooner on shore than the wind shifted to the eastwood and the weather became hazy and blew strong, so that I had no prospect of being able to land any part of the provisions.’
As the weather seemed to improve by the 19th Hunter steered in toward Sydney Bay where the ‘Supply’ was anchored and thought he may land without danger from the surf.
Hunter wrote,
‘There is a reef of sunken rocks which lies off the west point of the bay
and
which (as the wind freshened and the sea rose) broke a considerable way out. The
‘Supply’, having drawn ahead, could not weather this reef. On this she tacked
and, as we drew near, I plainly perceived that we settled so fast to leeward
that we should not be able to weather it, so after standing as near as was safe,
we put the ship in stays: she came almost head to wind, but the wind just at
that critical moment baffled her, and she fell off again.
Nothing could now be done but to wear her round in as little room as possible, which was done, and the wind hauled upon the other tack, with every sail set as before; but still perceiving that the ship settled into the bay and that she shoaled the water, some hands were placed by one of the bower anchors, in five fathoms of water. The helm was again put down and she had now some additional aftersail, which I had no doubt would ensure her coming about. She came up almost head to wind and there hung some time, but by her sails being all a-back, had fresh stern way; the anchor was therefore cut away and all the haulyards, sheets and tacks let go, but before the cable could be brought to check her, she struck upon a reef of coral rocks which lies parallel to the shore, and in a few strokes was bulged.’
Governor King wrote;
‘The wind was now at south and the weather had a very threatening
appearance, and as the surf had risen considerably I thought there was the
utmost danger of the ship’s parting at the flowing tide, the consequence of
which must have been the destruction of every person on board. I therefore made
a signal for the wreck to be quitted and by the time it grew dark the captain
and most of the sailors were on shore, being dragged through very heavy surf;
many of them received violent blows from the rocks over which they were dragged.
Captain Hunter and Mr. Waterhouse were got onshore together and just as they got footing on the reef the captain was so much exhausted that he had nearly quitted his hold. The first and second lieutenant, with some of the sailors remained on board all night.
William Bradley, First Lieutenant of the ‘Sirius’ wrote:
A court-martial was held on board of ‘Brunswick’ to try Captain Hunter, the
officers and crew of the ‘Sirius’ for the loss of the said ship. When it
appeared that everything was done that could be done, Captain Hunter, the
officers and crew was honourably acquitted.
Lieutenant Ralph Clark lists in his journal the items, which he lost in the wreck of the ‘Sirius’:
Uniform coat worth £2 lOs
13 pairs of breeches
13 pairs of stockings,
23 shirts,
a mattress,
a pair of steel mounted pistols worth £4 4s.,
a tin tea kettle,
and ‘all my books’, valued at £10 lOs.
the total value lost put at £47 18s. 8d.
Included among his books he lost was probably his diary from March 1788 to February 1790.