THE LOST YONGALA.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 136, 9 June 1911, Page 5

THE LOST YONGALA.

CAUSES OF THE DISASTER. THEORIES AT THE INQUIRY. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 9.30 a.m.) BRISBANE, this day. At the. Yongala inquiry, Mr. Wareham, Queensland manager of the Adelaide S.S. Company, said she was a stiff ship, fully equipped with nautical instruments. The captain was an excellent seaman, and had no orders to push the ship owing to keen competition. He heard of no complaints by passengers of the Yongala's excessive rolling, and thought her immune from any other form of disaster than by striking a rock. Judging by the small quantity of c*rgo recovered a very small hole was torn in her bottom, and she foundered very quickly. She cost £102,000, and was insured for £65,000, the company carrying the 'balance of the risk.

Captain Hansen, stevedore, gave evidence that the Yongala's cargo was safely stowed. It was impossible that any cargo could have shifted. She had never been so light on the upper deck. She rolled a bit, hut not more than other ships. Captain Rothwell, Government pilot, was of opinion that the Yongala met the full force of the gale at midnight, and simply foundered. The search he made disclosed no evidence that she struck a rock. Possibly some of the cargo, shifted, otherwise a vessel like the Yongala would have weathered the storm. He did not suggest any negligence in stowage. There was nothing lacking in either ship, officers, or crew. Leslie, superintendent of the wharves, deposed that the Yongala was a tender but safe ship. She rolled heavily, and it took only a few tons on either side to give .her a list, but she righted steadily, and therg was no danger from this cause. She could not have been better found and eanipped. The cargo might have shifted, but he never knew it to do so. His opinion was that the disaster was caused' by the vessel striking some obscured object or obstruction. Other evidence supported the seaworthiness and proper equipment of the ship. There were no complaints by the captain or officers against the sailing capacities of the steamer.