THE CYCLONE.

The Advertiser (Adelaide) 1 April, 1911.

THE YONGALA'S FATE.

NOT A VESTIGE OF HOPE.

"Not a vestige of hope is held out for

the return of the Yongala, and she has

evidently been torn asunder by the 

treacherous rocks of the Barrier Reef. 

The discovery of further wreckage 

confirms the worst fears of the owners 

of the vessel. Probably it will be left to 

such inanimate objects as the door of 

the music-room mutely to tell the sad 

story of the drowning of the 130 persons 

on board the ill-fated steamer. The 

Adelaide Steamship Company's officials 

in each State, are fully satisfied that the 

Yongala has been wrecked.

The only further news received by the

Adelaide secretary of the Adelaide 

Steamship Company yesterday was 

a telegram that the steamer Tarcoola 

was continuing her search from 

Flinder's Passage to Cairns, and 

was expected to arrive at Cairns on 

Friday afternoon. A fierce cyclonic 

storm has been raging this week 

along the coast in the vicinity of 

Cairns. The wind is reported to be of 

almost hurricane force, accompanied by 

a downpour of driving rain. This cyclone 

will still further scatter the remnants of the 

Yongala, if such previously were jammed 

on a reef or in some such position. The 

tempestuous weather prevailing would 

break any wreck in its sphere of influence.

Speaking with regard to the weather over

Australia generally, Mr. Griffiths, the 

Assistant Meteorologist in Melbourne, 

said on Thursday, that the outstanding 

feature of the map was a tropical 

cyclonic development that had 

developed on the north-east coast 

of Queensland. "Within the last few 

hours," said Mr. Griffiths, "the storm 

has increased considerably in 

energy. Strong gales, accompanied 

by heavy rain is to be expected and 

shipping on that part of the coast 

should be prepared for some trying 

experience. The rough conditions 

are likely to extend southwards 

down the New South Wales coast."

The point is well made that the cyclone associated with the loss of the Yongala was severe and could increase in intensity in a matter of a few hours. 

AVERAGED 11.2 / 12.7 / 16.5 KNOTS?

QUEENSLAND.

MISSING STEAMER YONGALA.

BRISBANE, Monday. — The

steamers Taroola and Suraka have

been sent out to search for the

missing steamer Yongala. The 

Suraka returned to port after an 

unsuccessful search, but started out

again.

The following notice appears on

the Devonport telegraphic shipping

board: — 'Brisbane advises on Sunday

— 'Townsville reports at 10.20 a.m.

that the SS Yongala left Flat Top

(Mackay) for Townsville at 1.40 p.m.

on March 23, and has not since been

heard of.' ' Flat Top is 208 miles

from Townsville, and the Yongala 

belongs to the Adelaide Steamship .Co.,

which trades from Fremantle, in

Westralia. right round the Australian

coast line via Adelaide, Melbourne,

and Sydney to Cairns in Queensland.

The distance between Mackay and Dent Island is roughly 55 nautical miles. If Yongala departed Mackay at 1.40 pm and was sighted from the Dent Island Light at 6.35 pm, we can calculate that she averaged 11.2 knots, which was well below average with the wind behind the steamer and no sense of urgency, given the falling barometer. 

Seems highly unlikely!!

If we take the sometimes press reported time of 6.00 p.m., Dent Island, we get an average speed of 12.7 knots. Again this was sub optimal for a steamer with Yongala's 17 knot potential.

If, we take 5.00 p.m., Dent Island ( I shall return to the reason for this in coming posts), we get 16.5 knots which makes more sense in the context of Yongala's potential and the urgency of a serious storm brewing. 

Given that Yongala's chronometer indicated 11.45 p.m. as the time of the disaster (subjected to flooding and excessive pressure through sinking) and the wall clock stopped at 12 midnight, an interesting scenario manifests. 

The distance from Dent Island to the site of the wreck is 105.5 miles via Grassy Island (inner, inside passage). We have three options again:

- Dent Island 6.00 p.m. to 11.45 p.m. = 5.75 hours, giving an average of 18.34 knots which was beyond the sustained limit of Yongala's engine.

- Dent Island 6.35 p.m. to 11.45 p.m. = 5.17 hours, giving us an average of 20.4 knots, which is ridiculous.

- Dent Island 5.00 p.m. to 11.45 p.m. = 6.75 hours, giving us an average of 15.6 knots which is entirely realistic and allows some leeway for the catastrophic, sudden foundering of the steamer.

We shall return to this controversial and highly significant analysis anon.

STABLE VESSEL.

The Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday 29 March, 1911.

SURPRISE IN ADELAIDE

A STABLE VESSEL.

ADELAIDE, Tuesday.

The news of the finding of portion of the

steamer Yongala's cargo near to Cape 

Bowling Green lighthouse came as a 

thunderbolt to nautical men at Port Adelaide, 

most of whom had been optimistic concerning 

the missing vessel The optimism, however,

changed to pessimism and, while hoping for

the best the majority of the seafarers could

only shake their heads on Tuesday afternoon.

The idea of the steamer having turned turtle

is generally scouted because the Yongala 

was always regarded in Port Adelaide as a 

stable vessel.

Mr Harris (engineer surveyor to the

Marine Board), who was in the sister ship

Grantala for six years informed a reporter

that he was never in a better vessel in

his life and this seems to be the universal

opinion of those who have travelled in her.

Captain Gibbon (Lloyd's surveyor), when

asked to express some theory as to the loss

of the Yongala said it is Impossible to tell

what has happened. She may have struck

a reef or uncharted rock and gone down.

One never knows in these matters There

is a big section of that north-eastern 

coast line which has never been properly 

surveyed. You will recall the loss of the 

steamer Quetta some 25 years ago. 

In her case it was an uncharted rock. 

Of course, on the other hand, the Yongala 

might have become disabled in the cyclone. 

But what's the use of speculation in a 

matter of this sort?

Some at least of the Yongala's officers and

crew were known intimately at Port Adelaide.

Captain Knight has been trading there for

so many years that he was almost regarded

as a South Australian. No master in the

service of the Adelaide Steamship 

Company was more respected for his 

ability as a seaman and navigator. Mr. 

H. Harden, the second officer is a son-in-law 

of Captain Thompson (master of the company's 

coasting steamer Paringa). His wife resides 

in Sydney. Mr. T. Jarvis, chief engineer, 

the oldest official in the engine-room 

department of the company, was for many 

years a resident of Semaphore. He has 

been in most of the steamers of the

coast. The chief steward. E. Mawby, is also

well known at Port Adelaide as one of the

senior stewards in the company, and R. 

Williams, chief officer, was there in 1907 

as chief officer of the Rupara.

Although the telegraphed list gave the name

of J. Roberts as purser, it is believed that he

is in hospital at Sydney, and that his place

was taken by Mr. A. L. Garling, formerly

purser of the Marloo.

It is interesting to note that 'turning turtle' was an initial reaction which generated defensive responses, including overstatement in the form of 'never (been) in a better vessel in his life'. Likewise the comment,  'No master in the service of the Adelaide Steamship Company was more respected for his ability as a seaman and navigator'. I find this hard to believe taking into consideration the Glanworth disaster - see previous post.

Although Nares Rock was often quoted as the only potential rock for a strike the point is well made that this section of coast had not been thoroughly surveyed and there was every chance Yongala had struck an uncharted rock. It will be interesting to see if this theory panned out....

Sad footnote that Mr. Garling took the place of an ill colleague and paid for this with his life.

SS Rupara (courtesy State Library South Australia).

SUFFICIENT LIFEBOATS.

The Advertiser (Adelaide) Wednesday 29 March, 1911.

SOME THEORIES.

Brisbane, March 28.

It has been learned that the lifeboats

carried by the Yongala were sufficient to

accommodate 317 persons, and as the 

passengers and crew on the Yongala 

numbered 120 all told, there was a good 

margin of space. Though from reports 

concerning the discovery of wreckage on

Keeper Reef, north of Townsville, it would

appear that the Yongala was swept past

Townsville and dashed on to a reef, the

general opinion, which is strengthened by

the finding of cargo in Bowling Green Bay,

is that the missing vessel struck somewhere 

in the vicinity of Cape Bowling Green and 

foundered, the wreckage found on 

Keeper Reef having drifted north. This

theory is further borne out by the fact

that the steamer Grantala, which usually

met the north bound boat three hours'

steam south of Cape Bowling Green, did

not on this occasion see anything of the

Yongala. This seems to indicate that

the latter vessel met the gale soon after

leaving Whitsunday Passage and struck

and foundered before the Grantala 

passed that way.

Very astute assumptions. However, Grantala was anchored in Bowling Green Bay during the cyclone and would not have seen the Yongala during this time.

The general opinion now held by ship-

masters is that the Yongala has gone down

with all hands, but as to the cause and

manner of the foundering opinions vary

considerably. Some think the ship was

driven on a reef with such force that she

went down, leaving no time for anything

to be done to save life. Others believe

the vessel was blown clean over.

THE YONGALA DESCRIBED.

The Yongala, with her sister ship, the

Grantala, is amongst the latest additions

to the Adelaide Steamship Company's fleet,

and is regarded as one of the most modern

vessels engaged in the Australian coastal

trade. The steamer was built in 1903 by

Messrs. Armstrong, Whitworth, & Co., at

Newcastle-on-Tyne, and reached Australia

on her maiden voyage at the end of that

year. Her length is 350 ft., beam 45 ft. 2 in, 

and depth 27 ft. 2 in, gross tonnage 3,064, 

net 1,825 tons Her engines were supplied

by the Wallsend Slipway Engineering

Company, and are 690 nominal horsepower.

The Yongala has accommodation for about

250 saloon and second-class passengers, and

about 1,700 tons of cargo. She was built

especially for the Australian passenger trade, 

and was first engaged in the run from 

Sydney to Melbourne, Adelaide, and

Fremantle, but latterly had been engaged

for the trade between Melbourne and Cairns 

(Queensland).

Yongala carried 617 tons of cargo when she foundered. This was 36% of her capacity, which must to some degree have contributed to a relatively light condition when she steamed into the cyclone.

VESSEL VERY STABLE.

The missing steamer Yongala was the

chief topic of conversation at Port Adelaide 

on Tuesday.

The officials of the Adelaide office of the

Adelaide Steamship Company stated that

they had no misgivings concerning the

safety of the vessel. They asserted that

mishaps, any one of which might have 

delayed the vessel for a day or two,

might possibly have occurred, but they 

refused to believe the steamer had

foundered. They were of opinion that 

when struck by the full force of the 

cyclone the Yongala's machinery might

have been injured, and the vessel have 

been driven south. In the event of the

vessel escaping rocks or reefs after 

repairing the injuries the Yongala would

probably put into Brisbane This, however, 

was before the news arrived of the finding 

of the cargo.

'Don't you think the vessel has turned

turtle' a reporter'asked the assistant

manager (Mr. Morphett) of the Adelaide

Steamship Company, on Tuesday morning.

"That would have been impossible," was

the response. The vessel had a good cargo,

and even when empty she is a most stable

" steamer." "

'You don't think it is a repetition of the 

Waratah case?'

"NO; unless the vessel struck a rock or

got on a reef she is safe."

A very interesting comparison suggesting that there was talk of a top heavy Yongala foundering in a 'storm of exceptional violence'.

'It is a very dangerous coast?'

"Yes," assented Mr. Morphett, "but

Captain Knight knows every inch of it."

'The weather has been cyclonic lately?'.

Cyclonic weather suggests that the cyclone of 23 March was not an isolated occurrence. Due care should have been taken. Captain Knight should have taken heed of the rapidly falling barometer signaling the approach of a cyclone.

"Yes, but we are optimistic."

'The vessel is four days overdue, 

and there is no sign or news of any sort?'.

"No news is good news."

The Adelaide manager (Mr. Haggart)

received on Tuesday afternoon this

telegram from the manager of the company

in Brisbane - "Bags of chaff, pumpkins, bran 

and pollard hive been found on the beach at 

Cape Bowling Green, which is 35 miles from 

Townsville.

Mr..Haggart said, although the telegram

pointed to disaster, he still hoped that the

vessel was afloat. "I have every confidence 

in Captain Knight," he remarked, "and the 

steamer is one of the best. She is only 

seven years old." Mr. Haggart said he did 

not know of any Adelaide people being on 

board.

THE INSURANCES.

The Adelaide secretary of the company

stated on Tuesday afternoon that the

Yongala was covered by insurances

amounting to £90,000. One-fourth of that

amount is with the Adelaide Steamship

Company, and the balance of three-fourths

is divided between the South British Company 

and the Union Insurance Society of Canton.

Sadly there was only one truth regards the Yongala - she had foundered with all hands in the cyclone.

Cape Bowling Green.

KENNETH SAUNDERS; FREDERICK BROWN; HENRY ADAMSON; CAPTAIN MACKAY - OPINIONS.

The Argus (Melbourne) Tuesday 13 June, 1911.

William Kenneth Saunders, chief officer

of the Grantala, said that he was for two

years second mate on the Yongala. She

was a first class ship, well found in every

respect. It was Captain Knight's practice

to go inside the islands except when the

weather was very bad. He did go outside 

on a few occasions while witness was 

with him. Witness's opinion was that the 

Yongala hit something.

Frederick Kirket Brown, chief engineer

of the Grantala, said that be had been

second engineer on the Yongala. He had

never known the coal to shift. The 

ballast tanks were filled and emptied 

independently of each other, so that the 

ship could be trimmed as required.

Henry Adamson, superintendent engineer

of the Adelaide Company, said that he

never had the slightest fear of the 

Yongala under any conditions. The 

Yongala was tested for stability as well 

as speed. The Yongala had never had a 

breakdown, nor had there been one with 

the company's other vessels. He did not 

think the Yongala disaster could have 

been due to any mishap to the machinery, 

which was the strongest he had seen on 

the Australian coast.

Captain Mackay said that he thought the

board was perfectly satisfied as to the

stability of the ship.

The Inquiry into the loss of the Yongala convened 2 1/2 months after the disaster. I shall return to the details in later posts, but for now these witnesses gave an impression of closing ranks. It was never going to serve the purpose of establishing the truth by parading ASC employees before the Court. They were unlikely to offer confirmation of a compromised steamer or a 'reckless' master while attempting to further their careers within the company. 

But it is interesting to note reassurances relating to underlying concerns:

- Captain Knight preferred the more dangerous and shorter inside passage except when the weather was bad. However, 'on a few occasions' strongly suggests that Captain Knight, as on 23 March, was more inclined to take his chances weaving through the islands in 'thick weather'. Captain Sim of the Grantala stated that Captain Knight always used the inside route. 

- Suggesting that the Yongala hit something was plausible and would explain the discovery onshore of cargo from the lower hold. Partially-submerged ship wreckage could have presented such an unpredictable obstacle but was unlikely to have resulted in the rapid disappearance of a 350 ft. steamer. 

-  Mr. Brown brought up the subject of 'shifting coal' and 'independently filling and emptying ballast tanks' in a positive reinforcement context, which suggested that these issues were on the table as regards contributory cause/s with an obvious reference to stability.

- Mr. Adamson used the interesting word 'fear' to reassure the Court that Yongala was safe. Again a negative slant on a positive opinion. Yongala's machinery was not in question as she was not discovered adrift. But having said this if her engine had failed she might have gone broadside to the cyclonic gale - not a good thing.

- Finally Mr. Mackay 'thought' that there were no official stability question marks hanging over the Yongala. He covered himself in case something to the contrary emerged during the course of  the Inquiry.

The scene is set for interesting exploration to come....