A TERRIBLE DRIFT.

The Brisbane Courier, Thursday 6 April, 1911.

A TERRIBLE DRIFT.

Captain Lawson, of the dredge Willunga, 

who has been on the coast since the early 

eighties, and has an intimate knowledge of 

that portion from Mackay to Townsville, stated 

that there was a big set out from the direction 

of the mouth of the Burdekin in the hurricane. 

When no leads could be obtained, and no land

picked up, it would be impossible for a ship's 

captain to estimate the rate of drift. In fine 

weather, after a severe blow, it had been known 

to run sometimes six miles an hour. If the Yongala 

was caught in that drift, Captain Knight would have 

no means of telling where the drift was taking him. 

No captain living could do so. On one occasion when

the Burdekin was in flood, Captain Lawson said he 

tried to get in there, but could not do so. On the day 

the Gothenburg was wrecked on the Barrier Reef, 

Captain Lawson was sailing the vessel Diamond. 

She was blown ashore on to the sand at Cape Bowling 

Green. The Gothenburg passed at 5 o'clock in the

afternoon. Three hours afterwards she was wrecked. 

The Diamond afterwards got off the sand with a king 

tide. After the hurricane had passed the strength of 

the drift from the land could easily be seen. Captain 

Lawson added that it is probable that the Yongala was 

caught in such a drift.

We know from the facts at hand that Yongala foundered at a position exactly within the standard course for Townsville. Captain Lawson makes the point that it would have been very difficult to maintain such a course in cyclonic conditions. We know that Captain Knight used the inside passage and although it was regarded as injudicious I am left with an impression that Captain Knight was a remarkable master. I believe he thought he was outrunning a storm rather than steaming into one and Yongala's final position proves, in my opinion, that Captain Knight was a supreme commander. I am filled with admiration!