Captain Ricketts was a well-known sea captain in Taree in the 1800s. He was a big man with a flowing grey beard. He had a good sense of humour and a kind heart.1 There used to be a large wharf at Fotheringham Park from which Captain Ricketts sailed ships in and out of the Manning River.2
One day a steam ship called SS Rosedale hit a sunken shipwreck while coming over the bar at Harrington. It tore a hole in her hull and she started to sink. All of the passengers were saved and the 200 pigs on board managed to swim to shore.3 They didn’t become bacon that day!
Captain Ricketts came to the rescue of the captain and his ship. He organised a diver to fill the hole and then pumped the water out of the hull. They waited for high tide to refloat the ship but it took over two weeks for that to happen. Finally on the 10th May 1889, the whistle of the Rosedale was heard as it steamed down the Manning River with all of its flags flying.4
Captain Ricketts had saved the day, as he did many times. The next time you feel the breeze come along the river listen for the whistle of the Rosedale and remember that old salty sea dog Captain Ricketts. Oink oink.
Author: Janine Roberts
References:
1 Macleay Argus, 25 Jan 1927, 3.
2 Taree rate books, 1885-1889.
3 Port Macquarie News and Hastings River Advocate, 27 April 1889, 4.
4 Australian Town and Country Journal, 11 May 1889, 16.
