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).