Edwin Robert Fernee

Adelaide, Thursday.

Telegraphic information was received in Adelaide from Darwin this morning of a disaster which occurred at sea on March 13 off a remote part of the Northern Territory coast to a party of prospectors for oil working in the interests of Adelaide investors.

W. Bestwick, a well-known South Australian, was in charge of the party, which included E. R. Fernee and J. C.Sands, both of Adelaide, a Malay who knew the coast well, and two aboriginees of the Territory. In command of the lugger, which left Darwin about March 5, was a white skipper whose name is unknown, but who belonged to the territory. The voyage in the small craft, with stores and equipment, was to have been for 200 miles to search for oil on various holdings at Port Keats and on the Victoria River.

The message received from Bestwick stated that on March 13, while passing Point Pearce, the lugger was struck by a fearful "willy willy" at very short notice, and the craft was sunk within three minutes. All on board swam ashore, a distance of four miles, except Fernee and the owner, who, when the telegram was lodged, were still missing. Everything was lost.

On reaching the coast, Bestwick and Sands, the Malay, and the aborigines walked naked back to Port Keats 50 miles away, in expectation of picking up a passing lugger. They had no food, and suffered terribly from sunburn and mosquitoes. On March 23 aborigines whom they met stated that there was a lugger at Point Pearce. Sands and an aborigine went back and brought a launch to Port Keats, but it was unable to take them back to Darwin, and they had to proceed to the Victoria River depot. They did not reach Darwin until today.
The enterprises represented by the party were the Border Petroleum Company and the White West Gold Mining Company. All are interested in the quest for oil in the Territory.

Mr. D. G. Sands and Mr. C. Hewings, of Adelaide, both stated today that there is reason to hope that the two missing men will yet be heard of, as they were much better acquainted with the coast than Bestwick and J. C. Sands, who is a son of Mr. D. G. Sands. Fernee knew the locality particularly well, as he was with Mr. Brown a former Government geologist, prospecting for coal there about 15 years ago. His wife resides at Jeffcott-street, North Adelaide. The lugger was fitted with a small auxiliary engine.⁶

In fond and sincere memory of my stepfather, Edwin Robert Fernee who was lost in a boating disaster near the Victoria River N.T. on March 13th 1922. Ever remembered. --- Fanny and Harry Taylor.

In loving memory of Edwin Robert Fernee, who was lost in boating disaster on March 13th 1922. Inserted by his loving wife, Minnie Fernee.⁵