..the Board fully realise the difficulty inseparable from the task assigned to them, inasmuch as, while partaking to some extent of the nature of the ordinary inquiry into a marine disaster, the cause of which, by personal evidence and attendant circumstances, is usually ascertainable, its identity with such is impaired in this case by the fact that to enable them to arrive at a definite finding no such testimony is available, and it would therefore appear to the Board that, in order to account for the total disappearance of the ill-fated vessel with all on board, the inquiry will chiefly be in the direction of the ship's stability, equipment, and seaworthiness, together with the question of Captain Knight's carefulness and general efficiency as a shipmaster.
As in the case of the Waratah, there was no physical evidence or verifiable eye witness accounts to support the position and cause of the Yongala casualty. In one sense this placed undue pressure on the Court to establish cause and effect. However, in my opinion, there was enough evidence to support the fact that Captain Knight was not as careful and efficient as he might have been.
...to be continued...
As in the case of the Waratah, there was no physical evidence or verifiable eye witness accounts to support the position and cause of the Yongala casualty. In one sense this placed undue pressure on the Court to establish cause and effect. However, in my opinion, there was enough evidence to support the fact that Captain Knight was not as careful and efficient as he might have been.
...to be continued...
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| The position of the Yongala wreck was discovered many years after the Inquiry. |
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