EXPLOSION.

The Northern Herald, 3 October, 1913.

The Yongala.

THEORY AS TO HER FATE.

A startling theory is propounded

by Mr. H. A.. Hunt, the Commonwealth

Meteorologist, as to the fate of the 

steamer Yongala, which was lost off 

Queensland in 1911. 

He is of opinion since his recent visit north 

that the unfortunate steamer was caught 

in the vortex of a cyclone, and exploded. 

Mr. Hunt, although he did not visit the

locality where the Yongala was supposed 

to have foundered, made careful inquiries 

from ship masters - and residents in the 

North. In fact, Captain Gerrit Smith, of the

steamer Cooma, told him that he had seen 

a door of one of the cabins of the vessel

that had been recovered, and it presented 

all the appearances of having been blown 

out by some powerful explosion.

'That is probably what would have happened

if the Yongala had been caught in the vortex 

of a powerful cyclone;' added Mr. Hunt.

'With the prospect of a rough time before him, 

the captain would have had all movable fixings 

made fast, the doors and hatches closed, and 

secured in preparation for the pending storm.

These necessary precautions, however, would 

create just the conditions that would cause a

violent explosion if  the vessel were caught in 

the centre of a typhoon.

There would be a rapid reduction of air pressure 

outside the vessel and outside the hull. Finding no 

outlet, the explosion would follow, and blow the 

vessel asunder.' 

In support of his remarks, Mr. Hunt then made 

a practical demonstration of his theory with an 

instrument which the Weather Bureau uses for 

scientific experiments; An ordinary tumbler covered 

with a strip of rubber was placed inside air-tight 

glass jar. The air pressure inside the jar was reduced 

by a fraction. Immediately the air in the tumbler began 

to bulge and expand the rubber covering until it

appeared to be on the point of bursting. 

That, of course, concluded Mr. Hunt, is just a mild

illustration. I have only reduced the pressure by

a fraction, but you can imagine the immense force 

that must be exerted when the atmospheric resistance 

in the body has suddenly been reduced by several

pounds per square inch.

A highly plausible scenario when Yongala plunged into the vortex of the hybrid cyclone off Cape Bowling Green.

courtesy Trove