[1] According to accounts by the crew, on 24 February 1844, Cyrus anchored at Kema Roads, Celebes, with a valuable cargo of whale oil.
The incident had not been well documented, and there was not enough evidence to suggest one way or the other if Captain Spratly was guilty of abandoning them without a thorough search, therefore no jury trial followed.
1838–1844 Captain Spratly occasionally submitted navigational routes and survey information to The Nautical Magazine and the Naval Chronicles.
On nearing the beach was visible to the water's edge, the top appearing to be covered with small bushes, and about the height of a Ship's hull, with a black patch dividing the sandy beach in nearly two equal parts to the water's edge... One [of these two dangers] I call Ladd Reef, after Captain Ladd of the Ship Austen, who appears first to have seen it; the other Spratly's Sandy Island.The publication of his voyage in the Nautical Magazine and The Naval Chronicle popularized his naming of the island, even though the island had previously been named "Horsburgh's Storm Island" by Captain James Horsburgh.
Spratly, belonging to Messrs. Wilson and Cooke, London, was despatched by Mr. J.B. Wilcocks, from Plymouth, on Wednesday, 24 March, with 396 Government emigrants for Melbourne, comprising 26 married couples, 98 single men, 163 single women, and 83 children, of whom 147 were English and 249 Irish; under the medical care of Mr. J.S.
carrying 345 emigrants (28 men, 297 women, 20 children) 1860 30 May Atalanta arrives Victoria, Australia after voyage of 86 days 1861 Richd Spratly noted in Census.
Number 5 Jetty North Side East India Docks There is an entry for a Captain Richard Spratly as master of Redrose in 1864.
The informant was Richard's youngest child, Matilda M. Spratly, resident of Rock Ferry, Birkenhead.
[12] He married Jane Miller at St George in the East, Cannon Street Road, London in 1828.