YONGALA REVISITED.: NARES ROCK REVISITED.

The Advertiser (Adelaide) Saturday 1 April, 1911.

DID SHE STRIKE NARES ROCK?

A REMARKABLE DISCOVERY

Brisbane, March 31.

The steamer Queensland arrived at

Maryborough this afternoon from

Townsville. Captain Wilson reported that

vessel left Townsville on Tuesday afternoon

for Maryborough. Moderate south-east to

southerly winds, with smooth seas, were

experienced throughout the trip. "On leaving

Townsville he instructed everyone on board to

keep a keen look-out for signs of wreckage,

and on Wednesday last, when passing Mount

Roundback, some apples were seen floating

about. At about 11.15 a-m. the same day, the

Queensland was passing Nares Rock, when

he noticed that the rock presented an

appearance that differed from what he had

been accustomed to for the past 36 years.

During that time the rock had a black appearance,

but on this occasion a patch of white was presented

to view. The Queensland was hove-to, and a man

dispatched in a boat to make close examination of

the rock, and on his return to the steamer he

reported having found a large new break on

the southern side, and a number of large pieces

of stone recently broken off were lying at the foot

of Nares, with smaller pieces and a lot of splinters.

The rock appeared lo have been struck by

some heavy object or subjected to attack

by some high explosives. The fact that

Nares Rock is composed of hard blue

metal precludes the idea that the break

was caused by waves dashing against the

cliff. An examination was made at a low

water and the break was found to extend

right to the waters edge. The mate also 

picked up a handful of case-hardened bullets,

but they appeared to have been in the

water a considerable time. Captain Wilson 

expresses the opinion that the break

in the rock was not more than a week old.

He added that, deep water extended right

up to the rock.

A Customs officer at Mackay, who was

formerly stationed at Bowen, says that

for a number of years warships on the

Australian station when in northern

waters have used Nares Rock as a target

for gun practice, and he thinks this might

account for the break discovered by the

masters of the Queensland and Ouraka.

Mr. Wareham, manager of the Adelaide

Company, stated to-night that nothing had

been received from Cairns or Townsville

respecting the search for the Yongala. Mr.

Wareham said he had instructed the

Townsville office, in the event of the

Tarcoola failing to locate the wreck, to 

dispatch the company's small steamer 

Pelican aft daylight on Saturday to search the

reefs southwards from Keeper Reef right

down to the boulders off Cape Upstart, where 

the Gothenburg was wrecked. ''The Pelican," 

said Mr. Wareham, "is a small craft, and will be 

able to go right over the reefs."

Brisbane. March 31,

The mayor of Brisbane decided to-day to

call a meeting of citizens for Tuesday in

connection with the disaster to the Yongala 

to discuss means for showing practical

sympathy with those of the bereaved who

need assistance. The Governor sent a letter

to the mayor expressing his deep regret at

the loss of the steamer, and enclosed a

cheque for £10 as a contribution to the

mayor's fund.