His Wonders to Perform: Miracles at Sea

This article from the March 1958 issue of FATE Magazine recounts a series of maritime disasters occurring in 1829. The narrative begins with the schooner Mermaid, captained by Samuel Nolbrow, sailing from Sydney toward Collier Bay. After encountering a storm in the Torres Strait, the ship was wrecked on a coral reef. All 22 persons aboard survived and were rescued by the ship Swiftsure. Subsequently, the Swiftsure was wrecked near New Guinea, and the survivors were rescued by the Governor Ready. The Governor Ready then caught fire, and the survivors were rescued by the government cutter Comet. Finally, the Jupiter, which had rescued the survivors of the previous three wrecks, struck a reef and sank, leading to a rescue by the City Of Leeds. During this final voyage, an elderly passenger named Sarah Richley fell ill. The ship's physician, Dr. Thomas Sparks, discovered that the woman was searching for her son, who had joined the Royal Navy 15 years prior. Dr. Sparks realized that a seaman aboard the ship, Peter Richley, matched the description of the missing son. The doctor orchestrated a reunion between the two, which reportedly improved the mother's health, allowing her to live for nearly 20 more years.