Carron, William

FIRST EDITION, 8vo (215 x 134mm.), [ii], 98pp., folding lithographed map, hand-coloured in outline, contemporary Australian morocco-backed cloth, map with 2 tears neatly repaired, repair to p.15 and p.49, occasional slight soiling, new endpapers, binding slightly rubbed and slightly marked

Ferguson 5010

Occasional slight soiling, new endpapers, binding slightly rubbed and slightly marked
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The author's own copy, inscribed on the title in pencil ("W. Carron Botanic Gardens"). In addition inscribed at head of page 1 "Emily Noble Carron from her affectionate father 10th Jany 1876" (he died on 25 February of that year). There are very occasional notes or marks in the margins and loosely inserted are four pages (on three leaves) of manuscript notes on Carron and his family, by his daughter and another family member.

William Carron was one of only two survivors of  Kennedy's expedition, instructed to explore the Cape York Peninsula having been landed at Rockingham Bay. After five and a half months the party was at Weymouth Bay, and Kennedy realised they would not make their Cape York rendezvous where they were to pick up supplies. Eight members of the expedition were left at Weymouth Bay, including the botanist Carron, while Kennedy pressed on with his aboriginal guide and three others. According to Jackey-Jackey, Kennedy divided the party yet again when William Costigan accidentally shot himself. Costigan and the other two men were left at Shelburne Bay, and never seen again. Kennedy pressed on but was later killed by aborigines, but Jackey-Jackey reached Port Albany with the information that enabled the Ariel to at least rescue Carron and Goddard.

This is the first published account of the tragic expedition.