Survivors rescued of the wrecked Dutch bark ship Vice-Admiraal Rijk according to the Nederlandsche Staatscourant dated 16 November 1852

Batavia, 30 August. According to the so-called Anjer report of passing ships dated 27 August passed the Dutch ship Amicitia master D. Crap Hillingman 26 August Anjer with on board 3 survivors of the Vice-Admiraal Rijk wrecked off Christmas Island. The survivors lived for 56 days in the worse conditions. They were Pieter Graat first mate, sailor Carel Kipping and passenger Roelof Arnold Herman Tollius Bennet. The bark ship Vice-Admiraal Rijk had left Ramsgate 7 March with a general cargo towards Batavia. The crew consisted of master J. Bakker, first mate Pieter Graat, second helmsman F. Schelkes, third helmsman H. Vuijk, boatswain M. Zeilstra, sails Monson, carpenter Matzen, cook R. Hollander, sailors Carel Kipping, P. Visser, P. van der Wal, L. Ringsma, M. Zwensen and E. Hansen, ordinary seamen J. Booij, J. Terhagen, W. Bakker. J. Valkema en P. Engelhart and passenger Tollius Bennet. They arrived off Christmas Island 27 June and sighted the island 21.30 o’clock and sailed on at a distance of circa 2,5 miles the island in the North North East. The first mate was released by the master and went to bed. Graat awakened in the morning of 28 June 03.30 o’clock when he heard the second helmsman shouting that there was a heavy storm swelling. When Graat went on deck she all ready hit the ground and begun fast sinking. All men went on board of the little boat still hanging in the davits. Due to the suddenly heavily weight the front tackle unleashed and the boat collapsed causing everyone falling in to the water. Graat and Kipping succeeded to spring out of the boat and saved their selves on the roof of the smashed cabin rescuing Bennet and the cook Hollander, the latter two both swimming. They stranded all four 16.00 o’clock at the North West point of Christmas Island causing the dead of Hollander. After staying there for 34 ships they went to the south west point and were 23 August saved.