Two Friends

The fishing boat, Two Friends, left Geraldton on the 6 August for a northward cruise, expecting to be at sea for two or so weeks. When she left Geraldton she was in “perfect order”, carrying enough provisions for 30 days.

The Two Friends was around 15 tons, built by Alfred E. Tilley of Fremantle and was owned by Francesco Olivari. Her crew comprised of Francesco Olivari (59), Giorgio Lombardi (45) (the skipper) and Marcello Prioli (49). Olivari also owned the Invincible, and Giorgio Lombardi and Marcello Prioli jointly owned the Stella, which was also built by Tilley. They fished from Fremantle, Geraldton and Shark Bay.

After eight or nine days at sea, the Two Friends encountered the Wanderer off Cape Inscription, at the North of Dirk Hartog Island. The Wanderer was on her way north, whilst the Two Friends was sailing south, without any fish onboard.

The Police Report from Geraldton actually names the Magnolia as the last vessel to sight her. The Skipper of the Magnolia stated he and his crew had seen the Two Friends at anchor between Bernier and Dorre Islands. They had spoken to the crew of the Two Friends and they had stated that their main sail had blown to pieces, but they had canvas aboard to mend the sail.

On 18 August, Carmelo Miragliotta of the Fleetwing picked up a boat’s stringer about four miles due west of the South Passage, which separates Dirk Hartog Island from the mainland.

Initially the stringer was thought to belong to the Emu, a vessel that was lost a month prior in a storm. The crew also sighted a bucket and an oil can. A smashed icebox was later found near Surf Point by Water Police Constable Rupert Howard searching the area.

According to the Police Report by Howard, “it smelt strongly of having fish in it recently and the skeletons of some snapper were washed up”.

He searched the coast with horses and a departmental launch named Thalia with Inspector Edwards for thirty miles, but found no trace of the missing crew. The fishing boat, Wanderer, also assisted the search from False Entrance to South Passage.

The seas near the disaster were considered shark-infested with a dangerous coastline. There had been no rough weather at all during the time she was absent, and from Port Gregory north, to where she met the Wanderer, there were no reefs or dangerous places.

Howard surmised that either the Helmsman fell asleep and the fishing boat drifted ashore, or it may have struck a whale. He had known the crew well, and described them as “hardy experienced men of the sea”.

The following year, more wreckage, including a boats jib boom was discovered at False Entrance. Some of the wreckage was painted green and so was the hull of the Two Friends. The ultimate fate of the boat and crew will forever remain a mystery.

Francesco Olivari was born on the 17 November 1866 in Camogli, Italy, to parents Fortunato and Maria Mortola. He married Enrichetta (Enrica) Canevello, and arrived in Australia in 1897. They had four children together; Fortunato, Emanuela, Bartolomeo and Maria.

Francesco’s son Fortunato was also meant to make the trip, but he had injured his hand, so he returned to Fremantle to bring back a new suit of sails for the boat. The name “Fortunato” in Italian translates to “Lucky”.

Giorgio Lombardi was born on 13 January 1880 in Viareggio, Italy and arrived in Australia in 1898. He married Maria Olivari, the daughter of Francesco. They had three children born in Fremantle named Angelo, Frank and Lawrence. Angelo was also meant to make the trip.

Marcello Prioli was born on the 25 March 1876 in Cattolica, Italy, to parents Luigi and Filomena Andriatini. He left behind a widow named Maria Cervella, in Italy who he married in 1906. It is not clear whether he had surviving children.

On the 11 May 1926, at the Supreme Court in Perth, an Order presuming the death of Prioli was granted, occurring on or about the 16 August 1925. He died intestate.