Hugh Norman

The Hugh Norman was in command of Captain William Dundee. He had made his way to Western Australia from Sydney to Fremantle in 1900. He was a Master Pearler. His records indicate multiple voyages to Singapore, which is where crews were indentured, so it seems Captain Dundee brought crews for the pearling fleets and returned them at the end of their contracts. For the most part he was contracted to deliver new boats and to take damaged boats south for repairs and re-fits.

In 1891 William was in command of the lighter Gazelle, working for John Bateman, prominent Fremantle merchant and ship owner. William was charged with using the lighter and unloading goods. The case was dismissed because there was not enough evidence.

The charge was not a deterrent for William. In April 1895 he had been convicted in the Supreme Court, Perth of stealing cargo. He was sentenced to five years in prison.

In 1902 William was in court again, defending 3 charges of not paying wages while in command of the newly wrecked Dawn. The court ordered he pay half of the sums asked by the defendants.

Theodor Enoch Anderssen [Anderson] emigrated from Sweden. He was born between 1875 and 1880 and emigrated when he was 30 – 35 years old. He was a seaman and found work aboard luggers in the northwest.

In October 1910 William and Theodor were aboard the Hugh Norman with David McDonald, known as "Nugget". Hugh Norman was a brand-new lugger built by Alfred Edmund Brown in Fremantle for Robison & Norman Ltd, as an addition to their northwest pearling fleet. She was a 20-ton lugger with two masts, built in the style of most luggers of her day. She was 37.6 x 12.6 x 4.87 feet. She was given the official number 125030.

The Hugh Norman was due to depart Fremantle on 20 October when the authorities detained it because Captain Dundee was hopelessly drunk and obviously incapable of properly sailing the vessel. The schooner sailed the following morning, after the owner’s agent had confiscated what he thought was the only remaining bottle of liquor aboard.

Hugh Norman left the Fremantle harbour on 21 October 1910. She was on her virgin voyage, being delivered to the Robison-Norman fleet at Broome. She was named after Hugh Davis Norman, a founding pearl master of Broome. Hugh first sailed into Roebuck Bay in 1887. He became a founding member and president of the Pearlers Association, and in 1914 delegated in London, Paris and Berlin. He was the mayor of Broome in 1909 and 1910, a master of the Masonic Roebuck Lodge and participated in the horse racing club and sporting clubs in Broome.

On her way out of the harbour, William failed to navigate around the North Mole, hitting it hard enough for the foremast to part and the rigging drag in the water. Nugget was disturbed. He claimed William was not sober enough to navigate the Hugh Norman and an argument started. Nugget jumped off the boat, and ran ashore, determined not to make the journey to Broome with Captain Dundee.

Theodor remained on board and took the tiller. William kept drinking, unable to man the tiller until 23 October. By then Theodor was exhausted and fell asleep quickly once he was relieved.

Theodor woke up to hear canvas flapping. It was dark. He saw the tiller swinging free.William had fallen asleep. Theodor tried to work out where they were, but before he could assess the situation the boat struck a reef and immediately listed to port. The port rail was under the water. It was after midnight.

William woke up and started drinking again. Theodor worked out where they were and estimated correctly, they were near Green Island.

Theodor ran to release the dinghy. Unfortunately, the painter parted and the dingy drifted away from the lugger. William was furious and ordered Theodor to jump into the water and swim after it. Looking over the side of the boat Theodor saw large sharks circling and refused to go into the water. William attacked Theodor then and bit his hand causing significant wounds to his fingers.

Over the next three days the boat listed further, and the port side submerged. Theodor began to bail the boat out. It was a huge job, but he aimed to lighten the boat as much as possible so that it might float on a tide. Hugh Norman floated and started to move out to open water. Theodor took the tiller and guided the boat towards the shore. Theodor kept bailing and Hugh Norman bounced across the reef. William rigged a sail, and she floated off the reef.

William was drinking again and fell asleep. Theodor dragged him from the port side over the raised starboard side to prevent him from drowning. Theodor was exhausted. William was willing to take watch, and Theodor decided to sleep. It was noon on 27 October.

At 9pm Theodor woke to see William’s small trunk and his belongings on the deck. As he got up to investigate, he heard a splash. Looking over the side he saw William swimming towards shore. He called out telling him to stop and return to the boat. William did not respond, and he did not stop. 

The next day Theodor weighed up his options. He had run out of food and fresh water. The wind had changed and there was a risk the Hugh Norman would be blown out to sea. At 4pm he got into a life buoy and jumped in the water when he was about one mile from the beach. It took an hour to make the shore.He waited until first light and started walking. He looked for William’s tracks, feeling sure he made the beach. Not finding any footprints or other signs, he kept walking.

Eventually Theodor found a cart track heading away from the beach but obviously used. He started walking. Without shoes, his feet were cut and sore. He had no fresh water and had not eaten for two days.

Theodor kept walking for five days until eventually he arrived at the property of Leslie Bower at Dandaragan. Leslie sent for constable Aliss. Theodor was fed and watered and was able to rest before boarding the train for Fremantle. Constable Aliss arranged for him to stay at the Sailors’ Rest.

The Sailors’ Rest was a charity hospital run by Matron Knight for ailing sea men in Fremantle. Theodor was admitted and given care and rest. His days of privation took a heavy toll on his health.From his bed he provided statements to Constable Aliss of Moora Police, Captain Smith, Shipping Master, and Inspector McKenna. They noted his statements were consistent and details did not vary.

Theodor told them about William’s drinking, falling asleep at the tiller, his poor navigation, striking the North Mole at Fremantle and the reef near Green Island. He told them William attacked him and showed them the lacerations on his hand from the bite William made.

Meanwhile Constable Aliss reported to Inspector McKenna. Leslie Bower was coopted to help search the coastline for William and for any sign of the Hugh Norman. On 13 November they searched 17 miles of coast but did not find any trace of William or the missing lugger. On 14 – 15 November a search in the other direction for 26 miles was also fruitless.

Constable Piblett from Gin Gin set out on 11 November and searched the coast until 15 November, going as far as Moore River. There was still no trace of Captain Dundee.Without a trace of him on land, it was assumed he had drowned or was taken by sharks at sea.

On 15 November 1910 Chief Harbourmaster Captain Irvine in Fremantle held a preliminary inquiry into the circumstances around the loss of the Hugh Norman, the survival of Theodor Anderssen and the death of Captain William Dundee. Reports were sent to the Colonial Secretary with information from witnesses, noting there was no further sign of Captain Dundee.

The inquiry found that the Hugh Norman wrecked because of Captain Dundee’s misconduct via drunkenness and neglect of duty. The conclusion was that he had lost his life in a vain attempt to swim ashore and no further action would be taken.

In December Constable Aliss contacted Mr Water Bowers who claimed he had seen the Hugh Norman fast on a rock, holed in her side. In his opinion it would not be possible to refloat her. Mr Bower also found the dinghy and a lifebuoy. Around the same time Martin Petersen of the Silvery Wave returned from the area and stated he had located Hugh Norman at Green Island, and there were scattered pieces of her lying around the rocks. Some anchor chains and spars were recovered.

Theodor remained at the Sailors’ Rest for some time, recovering his health. Matron Knight made a public appeal for clothing, bedding and money to help him. He had lost all his possessions, money and clothing in the Hugh Norman.

Captain William Dundee was never seen again.

Theodor was heard of again in 1911. He had worked his way to Brisbane and from there he worked his passage to British Columbia.