Queensland Times, Wednesday 13 December, 1911.
ENVELOPE IN A BOTTLE.
" It Is A Case Of Goodbye,"
Mackay, December 12.
The local agent at the Adelaide Steamship Company received a letter to-day containing an envelope, which was found in a bottle washed up a few miles south of Mackay. On the envelope the following words were written :--"S.S. Yongala. Terrible storm, 8.30 p.m. It is a case of good-bye. J. West, cook." The agent wired to Brisbane, and received a reply that the Yongala's records show that T. West. aged 58, was a cook on the Yongala.
Most bottle messages were hoaxes. This one is probably no exception. It would not have been difficult to establish who was on board Yongala during her final voyage. Passenger and crew lists were constantly appearing in the Press. It might also explain why 'T' was replaced with 'J'.
But IF it were true, tragic in its brevity, where would that have placed Yongala at 8.30 pm? According to my calculations Yongala would have been in the proximity of Hobourne Island and Nares Rock - see image below.
Contrary to veracity must surely be the time, 8.30 pm. For Yongala to have arrived at her final position by 11.45 pm, 23 March, implies that she continued to steam at a steady 16 knots for 3 1/4 hours after this note was written. This is certainly not a description of dire straights.
If Yongala ran into imminent danger in the close vicinity of Holbourne Island would it have been an option to beach her there??
ENVELOPE IN A BOTTLE.
" It Is A Case Of Goodbye,"
Mackay, December 12.
The local agent at the Adelaide Steamship Company received a letter to-day containing an envelope, which was found in a bottle washed up a few miles south of Mackay. On the envelope the following words were written :--"S.S. Yongala. Terrible storm, 8.30 p.m. It is a case of good-bye. J. West, cook." The agent wired to Brisbane, and received a reply that the Yongala's records show that T. West. aged 58, was a cook on the Yongala.
Most bottle messages were hoaxes. This one is probably no exception. It would not have been difficult to establish who was on board Yongala during her final voyage. Passenger and crew lists were constantly appearing in the Press. It might also explain why 'T' was replaced with 'J'.
But IF it were true, tragic in its brevity, where would that have placed Yongala at 8.30 pm? According to my calculations Yongala would have been in the proximity of Hobourne Island and Nares Rock - see image below.
Contrary to veracity must surely be the time, 8.30 pm. For Yongala to have arrived at her final position by 11.45 pm, 23 March, implies that she continued to steam at a steady 16 knots for 3 1/4 hours after this note was written. This is certainly not a description of dire straights.
If Yongala ran into imminent danger in the close vicinity of Holbourne Island would it have been an option to beach her there??
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| Holbourne Island |
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