The Wreck of the Barque Stefano off the North West Cape of Australia in 1875

Gustave Rathe is a retired U.S. Naval officer who served in the South Pacific from 1942 to 1944 following the battle of the Coral Sea.

He feels he owes his very existence to the Australians, both black and white. His grandfather Micheal Baccich is the principal character in this true adventure story of the wreck of the barque Stefano which was first recorded in 1876 by survivor Baccich, just a few months after his rescue from the wilds of northwest Australia. He was only seventeen at the time.

His narrative begins in 1875 as the newly-constructed 160 foot barque Stefano, is being outfitted to put to sea. It is beset by storms which last for weeks. The northwest coast of Australia is sighted and the night after the ship runs aground about nine miles offshore and sinks.

Of the ten survivors, only two finally escape death with help from the Aboriginals who lead them to the tip of the North West Cape from where a passing pearler, Captain Tuckey of Mandurah, returns them to civilisation.