 Having left London within days of the discovery of gold in Victoria, her master was unaware of the situation in port and over the following days most of the crew jumped ship.The "Nelson" was, nevertheless, towed to Geelong, loaded a cargo of wool and gold consigned by local merchants, and returned to Melbourne to find more crew.Captain Wright was staying in town, leaving the "Nelson" in charge of the First and Second Mates and three other crew, when a party of robbers estimated to number between ten and over twenty boarded the ship from two stolen boats, bailed up all on board, and forced their way into the lazarette containing the gold.