Reports state that Captain Sim, Grantala, departed Townsville 4 pm, 23 March. Finding the 'weather dirty' he put into Bowling Green Bay, 7 pm - 7.30 pm, where he anchored for the night. The distance covered was roughly 38.5 n miles equating with 14 knots, which makes sense. Captain Sim stated that the barometer fell from 29.75 to 29.25. I am still astounded that Captain Sim departed Townsville under these circumstances. Such a radical drop in barometer pressure was a clear warning of exceptionally severe storm conditions. Whether a warning was issued at Townsville or not the rapidly falling barometer and a gale coming up from the southeast / west, should have been good enough reason to stay put. After all most of the masters on the coast that awful night were under the impression that the storm system was approaching from the south, which in the case of Captain Sim would have meant that he was steaming into the brunt of the system - contrary to this, Captain Knight thought he was outrunning the system.
The fact that Captain Sim did not stay in Townsville or put back to Townsville suggests that masters of the Adelaide Steamship Company were under pressure to keep to schedule come what may....
A very confusing time with tragic consequences.
The fact that Captain Sim did not stay in Townsville or put back to Townsville suggests that masters of the Adelaide Steamship Company were under pressure to keep to schedule come what may....
A very confusing time with tragic consequences.
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