HOPELESS ANGUISH.

Cairns Post, 3 April, 1911.

False Alarm.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,-Is it not a scandalous shame

that thoughtless persons should 

circulate unfounded rumours like that

which was to be heard throughout the

town to-day alleging the wreck of

the Yongala had been located, and

adding what were given as details

of the position, etc.?

This rumour, as it was proved,

was entirely without foundation.

But not a few grief-stricken people

in Cairns, who. had dear ones on

board the steamer were, on first 

hearing the story, comforted not a 

little thinking there would be a 

chance of reclaiming a poor body 

from the water and giving it the last 

rites of Christian burial on land. But

who can describe their feelings when

they found there was no truth in

the statement. The anguish they

are suffering is quite terrible enough

without it being added to in this

manner. One gentleman, whose

daughter was on board the ill-fated

steamer, came to me expectantly,

asking if there was any truth in

the story. When I told him there

was none at all, the hopeless anguish 

in his eyes was heartrending

to see. For pity's sake, Sir, let

these idle, cruel rumours be stopped.

Will not the persons who are given

to this kind of thing think of the

pain and suffering they cause by

their heartlessness or 

thoughtlessness,

-Yours, etc..

JOHN PEEL."

April 2, 1911. P