RODE OUT THE STORM.

The Advertiser (Adelaide) Wednesday 5 April, 1911.

RODE OUT THE STORM.

THE COOMA'S EXPERIENCE.

The Howard Smith liner Cooma rode out

in Mackay Harbor the cyclone which

wrecked the Yongala. The Cooma was a

little late arriving there, and at dusk they

were informed on board by signal that a

cyclone was reported north-east of 

Bowen. Captain Smith decided to go into 

Mackay Harbor. Later on driving rain fell

heavily, and although one attempt was

made to get out, the vessel could not do

so, owing to the weather closing in again.

Eventually the Cooma left at 2 o'clock on

the next day. At the time they endeavored 

to go out the rain was falling in such

torrents that Round-top was shut out of

sight. Quite an ordinary passage was

experienced to Townsville, while on the

return trip nothing of an untoward 

character happened.

Captain Smith says that he overtook the

Yongala on the voyage up the Queensland

coast, leaving her up as far as Lady Elliott's. 

The Yongala at the time was well in hand and 

running under easy steam, as it was not 

necessary for her to arrive at Mackay till 

daylight. At Dent Island Captain Smith 

hailed the station, and enquired which side 

of the Whitsunday Passage the Yongala 

had taken. The answer was that the Yongala 

went through at 6 o'clock on Thursday night,

March 23. That was the normal time for

her to be there. The Yongala was to the

northward of the passage. "As for us,"

added the captain, "we suffered nothing

except for the rain."

This is a fascinating account loaded with revealing information. We know that Yongala did not have a Marconi set. This was widely quoted as one of the reasons why Captain Knight was unaware of the extent of the cyclone into which he sailed. However, Captain Smith made the point that he was warned by signal of the cyclone and took shelter at Mackay harbour. 

It does appear more and more that Captain Knight was a risk-taker.