A DANGEROUS COAST.

The Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday, 29 March, 1911.

YONGALA WRECKAGE

WASHED UP ON THE

COAST.

CARGO FROM LOWER HOLD.

NO TRACE OF PASSENGERS

OR CREW.

ALL HOPE ABANDONED.

TOTAL OF 141 SOULS ON

BOARD.

... wreckage washed ashore at Cape Bowling 

Green, a notoriously treacherous spot, and 

elsewhere, is ominous, and little hope remains.

The Yongala had on board 141 souls all told

— a crew of 73 and 68 passengers in all classes

It is feared that all have been lost.

According to the wreck report, there were 48 passengers and 72 crew = 120. How could such a discrepancy arise? In fact other sources quote a total complement of 122. 

See: 

http://ahoy.tk-jk.net/macslog/Themysteriousdisappearanc.html 

for passenger and crew names.

IN THE TEETH OF THE GALE.

Cape Bowling Green, where what is believed to be portion of the Yongala's cargo 

came ashore yesterday, is an extremely dangerous portion of the coastline. Shoal 

waters extend for a considerable distance eastward, the banks in the vicinity are 

constantly shifting, and the tidal streams set strongly and irregularly over them. 

The lighthouse stands 70 feet above high water, and shows a light visible 44 miles. 

Great caution is necessary when navigating in this neighbourhood. So much water 

is thrown over the Barrier Reef and through the Barrier openings by the heavy sea 

that the currents in the inner route become very erratic at such times.

These conditions might explain why a mariner in a previous post suggested that Captain Knight should have hauled north-north-east after clearing the islands, perhaps to avoid the 'shoal waters extending for a considerable distance eastward''. The 'erratic currents' would certainly have contributed to deteriorating circumstances within a tropical cyclone. It must have been terrifying last minutes. 

On Monday, as on Sunday, excited crowds

watched the notice-boards at the G.P.O. in

Brisbane, and with every passing hour their

anxiety increased. Many were waiting for

relatives and friends. But no news came

until yesterday. With the finding of the

wreckage the watchers gave up hope.

WRECKAGE IDENTIFIED.

The Queensland manager for the Adelaide

S.S. Company, Mr. E. B. Wareham, stated

that the bags of bran and pollard had been

identified as part of the Yongala's cargo, which

had been shipped at Brisbane. The bags had

been placed in No. 3 lower hold, a secure 

part of the vessel, and the fact that they had 

been washed ashore caused him to entertain 

the gravest fears regarding the vessel.

This suggested that the hull had been ripped open or the main hatch had breached inundating the vessel with tons of water which displaced the cargo.

Cape Bowling Green is 40 miles south of

Townsville. A message from Townsville 

received yesterday stated that wreckage was

floating about Cleveland Bay, and that a 

number of oil drums, coal baskets, timber, 

etc., had been seen.

Last night a search boat reported on returning 

to Townsville that a quantity of wreckage had 

been found in the vicinity of Keppel Reef, 

including two cases of kerosene, two

bathroom gratings, portion of a cabin 

trunk, two lifebuoys bearing no marks, 

and two pillows marked "A. S. Coy."

Kerosene was stowed on Yongala's deck. If ever there was movable cargo it was this! 

A TERRIFIC STORM.

The weather along the Queensland coast 

towards the end of last week was exceedingly

bad. It has been very severe, in fact, for the

past fortnight.

Captain Milson, of the steamer Guthrie,

which arrived in Sydney last Wednesday from

the north, reported having met the full force

of the cyclone which passed over Northern

Queensland, wrecking the township of Port

Douglas, and doing great damage also at 

Mossman and other places.

The force of the gale, he said, was terrific,

and his vessel was in danger all the time

the gale lasted. The indications of the storm

were seen before his vessel reached 

Rockhampton, and on the afternoon of the 

16th inst. he brought the ship to anchor 

inside Low Woody Island. Two anchors 

were lowered with 120 fathoms of chain on 

each. During the afternoon the wind increased 

in violence, and the sea rose rapidly until it 

was impossible to move about the decks. 

Two lifeboats were blown or washed from 

their tackle, all movable obstacles were 

washed overboard, the tarpaulins were 

stripped from the hatches, and the top of 

the bridge roof was blown away. A change in 

the wind caused a most dangerous cross sea, 

which continually swept the ship fore and aft, 

and several times she was almost thrown on 

her beam ends.

A vessel in light trim, Captain Milson said,

would have a poor chance in such a gale.

Yongala was in light trim and the description of a dangerous cross sea throwing the vulnerable steamer onto her 'beam ends' ---> rolling over, is most sobering.

The steamers Cooma, Taiyuan, and Wodonga, 

appear to have experienced the same weather 

as the Yongala, but reached their destination safely.

Captain Mackay, of Brisbane, speaks of the

storm as of quite exceptional violence, and

points to the fact that the Taiyuan had two

of her boats blown away while sheltering

north of Dent Island.

Note that most of these vessels took shelter and dropped anchor. Why did Captain Knight not do this?

"DID NOT PASS."

The steamer Grantala, a sister ship to the

Yongala, arrived at Brisbane on Monday, after

a trying trip from Cairns, during which she

had to run into shelter from the hurricane.

It was usual for these two boats to pass each

other, in the night between Townsville and

Bowen. They should have passed on Thursday 

night — the night of the storm — but Captain

Sim, of the Grantala, saw nothing of the other

vessel's lights. He was not surprised at this,

in view of the dirtiness of the weather, which

he described as the worst he had experienced

during the two years he had been in charge

of the Grantala.

Captain Sim also made the sensible decision to take shelter in Bowling Green Bay. It was unlikely that he would have seen Yongala's lights under these circumstances. The wreck site is 11 miles from the Cape Bowling Green Light and possibly as much as 17 miles from the position of the Grantala.

A DANGEROUS COAST.

Cape Bowling Green, where part of the cargo

has come ashore, marks a very dangerous

part of the coast. The light is visible 14 miles

out at sea. Mariners are warned to exercise

great caution when navigating the waters 

of this neighbourhood.

Not all mariners exercised great caution on the night of 23 March, but there again perhaps Captain was committed to a course and destiny.

In January, 1890, a very heavy easterly and

south-east gale, with torrents of rain, was

experienced by H.M.S. Dart in the vicinity of

Cape Bowling Green. The barometer fell to

29.68. So much water is thrown over the

Barrier Reef and through the Barrier 

openings after a heavy sea that the currents 

in the inner route become very erratic at such

times. The Dart was set 33 miles north 60

degrees west in 24 hours, and subsequently 

10 miles north 50 degrees east in 12 hours.

In 1875 the Gothenberg was totally wrecked

on one of the reefs in the vicinity of Cape

Bowling Green, and the steamer Quetta was

wrecked north of that point some 21 years ago.

The point has been thoroughly made that the section of coast in question was challenging at the best of times and treacherous in a cyclone. The rapidly dropping barometer on board Yongala should have been sufficient warning of conditions to be expected. In light trim one does wonder what was going on in the minds of master and officers....

SUSAN ANDREW.

The Advertiser (Adelaide) Wednesday 5 April, 1911

STEWARDESS A HINDMARSH LADY.

Miss Susan Andrew, a stewardess on the

Yongala, was a resident of West Hindmarsh 

for ten years in the home of her

parents, who are now dead. In early life

she lived in the Gawler River district for

many years Her sister is a stewardess on

the steamer Ferret.

SS Ferret (courtesy wikipedia)

A DOUBLE TRAGEDY.

The Advertiser (Adelaide) Saturday 1 April, 1911.

A DOUBLE TRAGEDY.

The fate of Mrs. English, the chief

stewardess, it is stated, completes a double

tragedy of the sea. She was the widow of

Captain English, who was part owner of

the Glenelg, a little steamer running some

years ago between Melbourne and the

Gippsland lakes. The Glenelg foundered,

the captain was drowned, and only three

or four hands escaped. The Masonic Lodge

of which Captain English was a member

wished to establish his widow in business.

She declined the proffered assistance

preferring to follow the sea to earn a living

for herself and daughter. Miss English is

being educated in Melbourne.

Glenelg (courtesy Flotilla Australia)

NARES ROCK REVISITED.

The Advertiser (Adelaide) Saturday 1 April, 1911.

DID SHE STRIKE NARES ROCK?

A REMARKABLE DISCOVERY

Brisbane, March 31.

The steamer Queensland arrived at

Maryborough this afternoon from

Townsville. Captain Wilson reported that 

vessel left Townsville on Tuesday afternoon

for Maryborough. Moderate south-east to

southerly winds, with smooth seas, were

experienced throughout the trip. "On leaving 

Townsville he instructed everyone on board to

keep a keen look-out for signs of wreckage, 

and on Wednesday last, when passing Mount 

Roundback, some apples were seen floating 

about. At about 11.15 a-m. the same day, the 

Queensland was passing Nares Rock, when 

he noticed that the rock presented an 

appearance that differed from what he had 

been accustomed to for the past 36 years. 

During that time the rock had a black appearance, 

but on this occasion a patch of white was presented 

to view. The Queensland was hove-to, and a man 

dispatched in a boat to make close examination of 

the rock, and on his return to the steamer he 

reported having found a large new break on 

the southern side, and a number of large pieces 

of stone recently broken off were lying at the foot 

of Nares, with smaller pieces and a lot of splinters.

The rock appeared lo have been struck by

some heavy object or subjected to attack

by some high explosives. The fact that

Nares Rock is composed of hard blue

metal precludes the idea that the break

was caused by waves dashing against the

cliff. An examination was made at a low

water and the break was found to extend

right to the waters edge. The mate also 

picked up a handful of case-hardened bullets,

but they appeared to have been in the

water a considerable time. Captain Wilson 

expresses the opinion that the break

in the rock was not more than a week old.

He added that, deep water extended right

up to the rock.

A Customs officer at Mackay, who was

formerly stationed at Bowen, says that

for a number of years warships on the

Australian station when in northern

waters have used Nares Rock as a target

for gun practice, and he thinks this might

account for the break discovered by the

masters of the Queensland and Ouraka.

Mr. Wareham, manager of the Adelaide

Company, stated to-night that nothing had

been received from Cairns or Townsville

respecting the search for the Yongala. Mr.

Wareham said he had instructed the

Townsville office, in the event of the

Tarcoola failing to locate the wreck, to 

dispatch the company's small steamer 

Pelican aft daylight on Saturday to search the

reefs southwards from Keeper Reef right

down to the boulders off Cape Upstart, where 

the Gothenburg was wrecked. ''The Pelican," 

said Mr. Wareham, "is a small craft, and will be 

able to go right over the reefs."

Brisbane. March 31,

The mayor of Brisbane decided to-day to

call a meeting of citizens for Tuesday in

connection with the disaster to the Yongala 

to discuss means for showing practical

sympathy with those of the bereaved who

need assistance. The Governor sent a letter

to the mayor expressing his deep regret at

the loss of the steamer, and enclosed a

cheque for £10 as a contribution to the

mayor's fund.

The police patrolling Barratta Creek to

Cape Bowling Green picked up a case 

of pears north of Sheep Station Creek

branded S. and A. in red and T. in a black

circle.

VALUE OF WIRELESS.

The Advertiser (Adelaide) Saturday 1 April, 1911.

THE VALUE OF "WIRELESS." 

MR. HUNT URGES ITS ADOPTION.

Melbourne, March 31.

Mr. Hunt, the Federal Meteorologist,

suggests that the wreck of the Yongala

advances yet another argument for the 

general equipment of at least all passenger

steamers with a wireless installation, so that

vessels making long runs on the coastline

may be warned of the existence, approach,

or development, of dangerous weather

conditions. The department, he points out,

addressed a circular note to all companies

whose vessels carry wireless installation,

and has without exception received promises 

of co-operation. Owing to the absence of land 

stations, only one message has been received, 

which was followed up by an account for 50/. 

He advises that at the next meeting of the 

shipping interests the subject of co-operation 

with the department should be discussed, and 

its decision communicated to the Government.

The SS Waratah disappeared without trace off the South African coast mid 1909. She was not fitted with a Marconi wireless. Subsequent to the tragedy this important form of communication generated much attention, spurring legislators to make wireless compulsory on vessels of a certain size. 

This report raised a very important issue. It was no good installing wireless on vessels if there were no stations to receive or issue SOS's and warnings. Yes, vessels with wireless could communicate with one another but this had limitations given the fact that most steamers on the coastal route did not carry a Marconi.

It is also important to note in this regard that the Koombana, which disappeared without trace, exactly a year later, carried wireless to no avail. Only one lad station at Perth, more than 800 miles away.

1905 - Australia's Wireless Telegraphy Act - limited to ship navigation and land-based amateurs.

1906 - Marconi Company opened stations at Queenscliff (Australia) and East Devonport (Tasmania).

1910 - first ship-to-shore station, Sydney. 

1911 - second station opened roof of the Australia Hotel.

1912 - permanent stations opened Melbourne; Perth; Sydney; Hobart and Brisbane.

1913/1914 - many stations introduced for ship-to-shore services, including islands. 19 radio telegraph stations operating from Australia for ships at sea.

Guglielmo Marconi demonstrating his apparatus 1890's (courtesy wikipedia)

http://bpadula.tripod.com/australiashortwave/id11.html

FOUNDERED WITH ALL HANDS.

The Advertiser (Adelaide) Wednesday 1 April, 1911.

FOUNDERED WITH ALL HANDS.

GENERAL MANAGER'S VIEW.

Mr. E. Northcote, general manager of

the Adelaide Steamship Company, in 

Melbourne, interviewed on Wednesday, 

said it was evident that the Yongala had 

foundered with all hands during the recent 

bad weather on the Queensland coast. He

hardly thought that any lives would be

saved, as no boat could live for an instant

in the sea during a cyclonic disturbance.

The Yongala was built in 1903. Asked

how he accounted for the date ''1900" being

engraved near the word "Festina' on the

music-room door found by the Alert,

Mr. Northcote replied that the Adelaide

Steamship Company was incorporated in

1900, being reconstructed and an increase

made in the capital. The word "Festina"

was part of the company's crest and motto,

"Festina Lente," and the year 1900 was

engraved underneath. The door was an

inner one, opening into the music-room

from a landing off the promenade deck.

CASTAWAYS. SLENDER HOPE.

Questioned as to the probable locality of

the wreck, as indicated by the wreckage,

an officer who has for over 20 years been

trading regularly to Queensland ports, said 

Captain Knight, on emerging from the

shelter of Hook Island, would haul round

to the north-north-east. The site of the

wreck must be one of the reefs fringing

the Barrier Reef. At the commencement

of a storm on that portion of the coast,

the wind blew from the south-east. That

would account for wreckage having been

found as far up as Keepers' Reef. The

currents varied daily, setting north with

the ebb and south with the flood-tide.

It is strange that this experienced officer suggested that Yongala would have 'hauled' round to the 'north-north-east', after leaving the shelter of Hook Island. If one looks at the image below, this would be heading away from Yongala's destination, towards the Barrier Reef.