The Curious Case of the Missing Mermaid.

 

After borrowing and reading a copy of Cyril Moor's book 'Early Pioneers of Port Fitzroy' from an ex- sheriff in Whangaparapara, an article Moor included in the book caught my curiosity. The article explained that as a result of the author 'Lee Fore Brace' finding a ship's log in a Sydney bookshop in 1931, the following story, liberally using quotes from the log, became apparent.

 

A whaling ship called the 'Mermaid' left England in September, 1795 in a convoy of 54 sail protected by three naval ships, as the country was facing war with France. Admiral Nelson was hanging on in the Mediterranean, while Bonaparte's armies dominated the European continent.

 

On leaving the convoy, the Mermaid captured a French merchant vessel and sent it home as prize, before spending some months whaling in the Sargasso Sea and about the equator. It then headed for Cape Horn and the Pacific. In the South Atlantic it met the homeward-bound Brig 'England's Glory', which had been whaling and sealing on the New Zealand coast, and swapped a scurvied crewman for an English-speaking Maori pilot. This pilot was apparently either from this island or a close relative.

 

The Maori pilot's local knowledge and piloting skills brought the 'Mermaid' under Captain Trevarthen, up the East Coast of the North Island to somewhere off here by nightfall on the 3^rd of November, 1796 when a canoe came out to meet the ship and he and the crew were made welcome. By next morning….

 

"At daylight this day came up to soundings on west side of Heerikeematter. A fleet of ten praus came off and piloted the brig into a large land-locked bay on the north and west coast. Came to best bower in 12 fathoms at head of bay, at 9am. Brig was soon surrounded by large fleet of praus, more than 50 coming into the bay after we had anchored. Many Indians coming aboard the brig, among them being the king named Pekai…"

 

From 4^th November, 1796, 206 years ago, the 'Mermaid' spent some time extensively refitting in Fitzroy Harbour before signing on 8 local Maoris as crew and sailing for Australia. Who were these men, what adventures and trials did they experience, and did they return home? There were many other questions surrounding the voyage of the Brig 'Mermaid', the Maori pilot who guided it here, and the activities of 'England's Glory'. Was the 'Mermaid's log still in existence and if so where? 

 

The two April, 1937 Auckland Weekly News articles by 'Lee Fore Brace' include extensive quotes from the 'Mermaid's log.  

 

'Lee Fore Brace', I found, was a nom de plume of Forbes Eadie, an Aucklander who died in 1967, who wrote often on maritime topics, had a central role in the planning of Auckland City's centennial Treaty of Waitangi Celebrations during 1939 until interrupted by the war, and had a radio show every Friday night on station 1YA on maritime subjects for many years.   

 

The whereabouts of the 'Mermaid's log was not known to persons spoken to. Some effort went on until recently to try and find it. If it had have been found, and that and other sources such as Australian and English records been accessed successfully, it would have rounded out more of the detail of the 'Mermaid' and ‘England's Glory's voyages, and no doubt would have been an extraordinarily interesting addition to this island's already rich history.

 

After contacting the National Archives in Wellington, a very obliging researcher eventually found reference to Eadie's article which showed that it was all a great hoax by an otherwise skilled maritime historian. Mr. Eadie certainly appears to have led a number of researchers on a merry chase. I guess the 'real' story is why he wished to write such articles posing as true history in the first place.

 

Don Armitage © 2003