FIFTY LIVES LOST

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 145, 16 March 1934, Page 11

FIFTY LIVES LOST

Coastal Craft Founder in Raging Seas QUEENSLAND CYCLONE Three Luggers and Three Launches Missing GREAT DAMAGE ASHORE By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received .March 15, 10 p.m.) Brisbane, .March 15. Great damage and loss of life was caused by a cyclone which swept the North Queensland coast on Tuesday morning. The. lugger Mildred floundered between Schnapper Island and Cape Tribulation, about 35 miles from Cooktown, with the loss of 1.0 lives, but the number of cyclone deaths jumped from 10 to 50 when a report was received from Port Douglas saying that two more luggers had foundered in terrific seas at Bat Reef, 20 miles due east of Port Douglas. It is feared that still another lugger named the Alexia has been lost. Altogether six boats, comprising three launches and three luggers, are missing. It is practically certain that they have foundered. An aerial search for survivors was without result. Of those aboard the Mildred, a man, his wife, and four children, and two women and two men were drowned. Some others of the vessel’s company swam ashore, including Captain Kono. The- vessel was engaged in beche de meat and trochus shell fishing, and was making for Townsville. An airman, who was searching for the missing launch Mossman, reported the loss of the Mildred, but learned nothing of the launch. The wreck of the Mossman was discovered 67 miles north from Cairns. The crew’s fate is unknown. The launches Quest and Trinity are among the other vessels missing. Great damage was done ashore in the Daintree district. Large areas of scrub and bush were flattened, and several houses wrecked, a sawmill unroofed, and timber stacks scattered. The damage is estimated at about £40.000.