15 DEGREES.

Inquiry:

Evening Journal, Adelaide, 9 June, 1911.

Mr. Munro—Did she take a list when

light?

Mr. Wareham—Nothing extraordinary.

She would have a slight list of 15 deg. in

light trim, but was never uncomfortable

for those on board.

Mr. Munro—Had she any tendency to

heel over?

Mr. Wareham—Not at all.

It is extraordinary to read this extract overlooked in many similar reports, including the Inquiry transcript. A list of 15 degrees was extreme to say the least. 

In the case of the inherently top heavy Waratah, during her first voyages she was tender, some might argue dangerously so, periodically hanging in a list for days at a time. Even at Waratah's worst her angle of heel was never more than 4 or 5 degrees.

15 degrees must surely be regarded as extreme and dangerous. To say that 'it was comfortable for those on board' is not the issue at hand. This steamer had a stability problem, outlined most eloquently in the previous post.

Yongala was in light trim during her last, ill-fated voyage.

According to the "Law of 15's", a ship should not list beyond 15 degrees if there are heavy beam seas and winds. Mr. Wareham had admitted to this threshold in evidence. Once the hurricane winds came to bear on Yongala's starboard bow and beam, all in effect, was lost.

Edwin Rothwell, master mariner and Government
pilot, gave evidence regarding his unsuccessful 
search for the Yongala on the Porpoise. 

In his opinion the Yongala did not go on a reef 
at all. The hurricane came from the north-east 
and progressed landwards, and if she was driven 
anywhere it would be on the main shore. 

He believed the Yongala met the full force of the 
storm at about midnight and she simply went
down.

Precisely what happened.

The force of the storm would naturally give her
a list, and some cargo might have moved and 
prevented her from recovering. He did not think
there was much chance of further search proving
successful. 

All that was found was a hatch. Asked why none 
of the boats was found, he said they were securely 
lashed. 

Contrary to previous reports that a portion of lifeboat 1 from the port side, was discovered, Mr. Rothwell denied such. His explanation made complete sense.

The fact that the music room doors had been found 
went to prove that she shipped heavy seas before 
going down. 

Again entirely plausible.

It would be possible for the cargo to move, even if
well stowed. Unless something like that happened
he thought a ship like Yongala would have weathered
the storm. He did not believe she succumbed through
instability, but through some minor disaster.

So close but not prepared to take that final, damning plunge.

Mr O'Shea—You don't suggest neglect in the 

storage of the cargo?

Witness—Not in the least. There was nothing 

lacking either in the ship, its officers, or crew.

Mr. O'Shea—Do you suggest any human

effort could have saved her? 

Witness—The only thing would have been to 

anchor in Whitsunday Passage. 

Indeed, this was an opportunity lost.

Continuing, witness said he had concluded that

the Yongala did not strike a rock, because of the 

small amount of wreckage found. The portions of

the ship picked up did not in his opinion, point 

to her having gone on a rock.

courtesy Trove