The Telegraph, Brisbane, 5 April, 1911.
Captain Craig, of the Q.G.S. Lucinda,
who for 35 years was an officer in the
A.U.S.N Company's service, and who was
with Captain Knight when the latter was
in command of the Glanworth, yesterday
afternoon pointed out to a representative
of this journal that it is not always possible
to navigate a vessel in the desired
directions in a cyclone. Captain Craig
was associated with Captain Armstrong
on the Aramac, when that vessel was
driven on Bramble reef in the course of
a cyclone on the northern coast some
years ago, and on that occasion it was
found impossible, stated Captain Craig,
to follow the correct course. The Aramac
was caught in the centre of the cyclone,
and in spite of her own powerful
engines and every effort to save her,
she was driven aground.
Yongala foundered within the steamer track, suggesting that the disaster occurred very suddenly, otherwise 'it would have been impossible to follow the correct course.'
Certainly there was not many miles behind the Yongala,
Cid Harbour, one of the safest havens on the Australian
coast, but even if Captain Knight could have turned his ship
around with safety; there was the danger of striking an
unknown danger in the attempt to enter it. On the other
hand, also, Captain Craig stated, as a rule a shipmaster
has unbounded confidence in his vessel. Captain Armstrong
and his officers, for instance, did not doubt that the Aramac
would be able to weather the cyclone above referred to,
even, though they passed through the centre of it, and but
for her being blown on to the reef, no doubt she would have
come through the ordeal safely.
 |
| courtesy Google Earth. |
How Did It Happen ?
Speaking from a 26 years' close
acquaintance with the Queensland coast,
Captain Craig is strongly of opinion
that the Yongala struck Nares rock.
Tracing the usual course of steamers
navigating those latitudes, Captain Craig
pointed out how Captain Knight, so
soon as he was clear of Whitsunday
Passage, would probably set a course to
pass Eshelby Island, after which he
would head the ship so as to pass Cape
Bowling Green some five miles off. With
the hurricane behind her, it is quite
likely that the steamer passed Eshelby
much sooner than Captain Knight estimated
she would. Therefore the course set would
take her on to that great dread of all navigators
on that pact of the coast— Nares rock.
Launching the Boats.
'Striking such a danger as that mentioned, Captain
Craig has no doubt that but a few seconds, comparatively,
elapsed before the noble ship, together with all on board,
were engulfed in the raging waters. The only persons who
are likely to be about were the captain, the officer on watch,
and a couple of seamen. All the rest of the ship's company,
together with the passengers, no doubt would be sheltering
from the drenching spray, and also the heavy seas, which
would break on board. The fact that no boats were launched
confirms Captain Craig in his belief that the ship sank suddenly
and rapidly, even before her unfortunate passengers and crew
had time to realise what had happened. Had she floated for
even a few minutes, he states, no doubt one or more boats
would have been lowered, for even in the worst part of
the cyclone through which the Aramac passed it would
have been possible to get the boats out, the vessel forming a
natural breakwater as she drifted away from the centre of the
storm.
We know that Yongala was overwhelmed by the cyclone and did not strike Nares. However, this confirmation that 'no boats were launched', reflecting the general opinion, is further supported by the fact that not one body was ever discovered.
Finding of Cargo.
The finding of a small portion of the
ship's cargo, together with a mail
basket, puzzled Captain Craig for some
time, but eventually be came to the
conclusion that when the vessel was
discharging cargo at Flat-Top this cargo,
and possibly the mail basket also were
put on the lighter by mistake, but being
discovered at the last minute, was hauled
back on the ship, and in the hurry of
resuming the voyage was simply placed
under cover of a tarpaulin on deck as
he has seen it done scores of. times.
An interesting theory. However, foundering within the cyclone was more than enough cause for cargo from hold 3 to be liberated.
This would account for the very small
quantity of cargo discovered so far.
There was not a great deal of light cargo to start off with. Heavier cargo remained within the lower holds.
Another Light Wanted.
That another light is badly needed on
that part of the coast is strongly urged
by every master mariner spoken to on the
subject. The only question for their
minds is just exactly where that light
should be placed. But the general consensus
favours Gloucester Head.
Captain W. Hurford, master of the Howard
Smith Company's well known coaster Bombala,
who has a life long acquaintance with the
Queensland coast, spoke very strongly on the
subject of the lighting of that part of the coast,
yesterday afternoon. He, however, made it
clear that in doing so he did not desire
in any way to reflect, upon the administration
of the department controlling this
important matter. Queensland, he remarked,
was a young State, and the Marine Department
had done a good deal with the money at its disposal,
but when it came to a question of human life versus
economy of expenditure he thought human
life should have first consideration.
On that portion of the coast on which the
Yongala met her fate, Captain Hurford
pointed out, there is an unlighted stretch
of some 110 miles of dangerous coast.
That is to say vessels running past
Bowen have no guiding light between
Dent Island and Cape Bowling Green.
The principal dangers strewn along this
darksome stretch are Holb'orne, Double
Cone, Eshelby, and Rattray Islands, and
Nares Rock; Captain Hurford is emphatically
of opinion, apart from, the Yongala
disaster, that a first order light should
be placed on Gloucester Head. Had there
been a light on this prominence, Captain
Hurford states, it probably would have
averted the terrible disaster which has
overtaken the Yongala and all on board her.
And this is precisely what the authorities feared, and the repercussions thereof.
 |
| courtesy Google Earth. |
An incidental Suggestion.
Speaking of the lighting of the coast
generally, Captain Hurford observed that
all who were well acquainted with it
must admit that a goodly number of
lights were needed on the coast, in addition
to the one on Gloucester Head.
But as he had previously remarked, the
question of finance had to be considered,
he felt constrained, however, to mention
one place where he considered a light
was badly needed in south Queensland
waters, and that was off Sandy Cape.
 |
| courtesy Google Earth. |
By means of a chart, he explained to
the pressman, the dangerous character
of the spit, which juts out from that
point, and on which the Aramac came to
grief some few years ago. It was a
miracle, however, that they had not had
20 Aramac disasters on that very danger.
In his opinion, the shoal water at the
end of the spit should be marked by
means of a lighthouse, such as the Pile
lighthouse, which could easily be established
on one of the shoals at the end of the spit.
Ultimately a lighthouse was positioned on Fraser Island from which the spit juts out.
However, it appears that Cape Gloucester never got the recommended lighthouse despite numerous masters' pleas for such.
However, it appears that Cape Gloucester never got the recommended lighthouse despite numerous masters' pleas for such.
No comments:
Post a Comment