The Wreck of The Doncaster
The Doncaster was on her way from Mauritius to England in 1836 when she was wrecked at the mouth of the Ratel River, east of Quoin Point. There were no survivors. Locals described how bodies were washed ashore. The sight was gruesome as limbs and other body parts also washed ashore. The local field cornet and his men buried over 50 people.
The mostly naked bodies were disfigured and difficult to identify.
For some time the beach was covered in parts of the ship, uniforms other clothing, and other personal belongings. There were not any really valuable items amongst the goods that were washed ashore but a sale was held, proceeds of which went towards paying for the services of the field cornet and the other men who had patrolled the shores and buried victims and salvaged goods.
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