FINALLY, CULPABILITY.

The Advertiser, Adelaide, Thursday 30 March, 1911.

THE YONGALA'S PROBABLE 

TRACK. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE COASTLINE. 

Captain D. Kerr, master of the Adelaide 

Steamship Company's steamer Marloo, 

which arrived at Port Adelaide from Western 

Australian ports on Wednesday evening, 

heard with deep regret the news of 

the missing steamer Yongala. Captain 

Kerr was for a long time engaged on the 

Queensland coast, and when asked for a 

description of the track usually taken by 

steamers, he said: 

"The usual track from Dent Island is 

to steer half a mile off the Dent Island 

lighthouse. Then to steer a various course 

in passing the many islets in a north-west 

direction until past Gloucester Head, one 

and a quarter miles distant, which is at 

the northern entrance to Whitsunday 

Passage. From there a direct course is taken 

north-west for about 70 miles, which carries 

the vessel to about six miles off Cape 

Bowling Green Lighthouse. The steamer 

then steers northwest for about 28 miles 

which would bring her to the Cape 

Cleveland lighthouse. Cape Cleveland 

forms one of the sides of Cleveland Bay, 

in which Townsville is situated. A further run 

from the cape of ten miles takes 

the vessel into Townsville Harbor. 

Captain Kerr called it as it was. No more beating about the bush about the inshore, inside route taken by masters of coastal steamers. This was the very thing the Inquiry wanted to avoid. But not only did Captain Kerr call them out, he provided confirmation with detailed instructions (directions).

It is interesting to note that the Yongala wreck is 11 miles off Cape Bowling Green and the course, as described, was 6 miles off the coast. This suggests that Yongala was 5 miles out of her course, further out to sea.  

Following the ordinary fine weather course as 

described the vessel would pass Nares' 

Rock, five and a half miles to the westward 

of that danger. When abreast of 

Cape upstart, the inner edge of the Barrier Reef 

would be about 13 miles distant, 

and the Queensland coastline about 10 miles

distant. 

The Barrier Reef is the nearest 

submerged danger. It is covered with 

boulders, partly dry at half ebb time. At 

high water these boulders are completely 

covered. There is deep water close to 

the reef. From abreast of Cape Upstart, 

fairly clear water is met with until in the 

vicinity of Cape Bowling Green, off which 

three to three and a half miles from the 

mainland there are some outlying reefs. 

This is interesting. There was an immediate threat off Cape Bowling Green in the form of outlying reefs, 3.5 miles out. Under normal circumstances, masters set a course 6 miles off the coast at this point, allowing a slim margin of 2.5 miles. 

When Yongala went down 11 miles off Cape Bowling Green the course might very well have been intentional, giving Captain Knight sea-room to maneouvre and avoid running aground. Deeper water would also have been the choice in severe storm conditions.

But anything beyond this brought the Barrier Reef into sharp focus, another imminent threat.

Nares' Rock is only 26 ft. high, and therefore 

is very dangerous. Holbourne Island, 

close by, is 360 ft. high. I do not wish to 

theorise as to the fate of the Yongala." 

Within the reef along the coast there is 

generally a calm sea, owing to the reef 

acting as a breakwater. The inside route 

is one that requires careful navigation, 

particularly at night, when the reef cannot 

be discerned at a greater distance than 

half a mile. In daylight it is said to be visible 

at a distance of four miles from the bridge 

and seven from the rigging. Sailing vessels 

which take the inner passage usually anchor 

at night for safety. 

Again the point is well made that this was a dangerous route in conditions of poor visibility. But Captain Knight was experienced and able to find the sensible middle course.

Steaming from Mackay to Townsville, a 

distance of 208 miles, the coastline is 

studded with numbers of small islands, 

and in thick weather navigation is extremely 

difficult. Shortly after leaving Mackay several 

small groups of islands, the largest being the 

Blacksmith group, are encountered. These are 

not difficult to avoid in clear weather, but if the 

atmosphere be at all hazy great care has to 

be taken owing to the strong currents. 

Dent Island, mentioned in the telegrams, 

lies at the southern entrance to Whitsunday 

Passage, and is provided with a lighthouse. 

It was from this lighthouse (says the Melbourne 

"Argus") that the Yongala was last seen. It is a 

matter for regret that there is no telegraphic 

communication between the lighthouse and 

the mainland. Between Dent Island and the 

Queensland coast is a small islet called 

Pine Island. Whitsunday Passage at this 

spot is only two and a half miles wide. 

Behind Pine Island is Cod Bay, a sheltered 

harbor, often used by ships in bad 

weather. The search vessels expected to 

find the Yongala in this bay. 

Contrary to previous press information, Dent Island did not have direct communication with the mainland which might explain why the warning of a cyclone off Bowen was not relayed to Flat Top AND Dent Island. 

If Dent Island had received the warning, this could have been relayed to Yongala via flag signals - daylight (5.00 p.m.) and reasonable visibility at that stage. 

It is a further likely reason why the Inquiry insisted that Yongala passed Dent Island at 6.35 p.m. well after dark and because Dent did not have Morse, a warning could not have been issued to the steamer rendering direct communications with the mainland a moot point.

This was clearly a weak link in the culpability of Queensland State. There should have been communications between Dent Island and the mainland and there should have been a Morse lamp. 

Perhaps this is why Adelaide, the port of register for Yongala, insisted that the Inquiry be conducted in Brisbane.

Come on Queensland, own up to your share of culpability in this disaster!!