Alert was built at
Port Glasgow in 1877 and later sailed to Australia as a three-masted
schooner with her funnel and propeller stowed in the hold. After a few years on the
Melbourne–
Geelong route she temporarily replaced the on the
Gippsland–Melbourne run in 1893 whilst
Despatch was being refitted. During a
gale, the ship set out from
Lakes Entrance bound for
Melbourne via
Port Albert. Of the 16 people on board, the only survivor was Robert Ponting, the ship's cook, who was washed ashore at
Sorrento "back" (ocean) beach after clinging to a portion of cabin door. He was found and revived by locals using
brandy and the body heat of a
St. Bernard dog. Two bodies were also washed ashore at Sorrento back beach. An inquiry was held and attached no blame to the lighthouse keeper or the captain but, after years of
litigation, compensation was awarded to Ponting and the wife of one of the deceased. ==References==