SUPPOSED WRECK

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4316, 27 March 1901, Page 5

SUPPOSED WRECK

ANXIETY ABOUT THE FEDERAL

A SEAMAN’S BODY FOUND

(Received March 26, 9.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 26. A quantity of wreckage, including a piece of wood with “s.s. Federal, of Melbourne,’’ written in pencil on it,, and the body of a man, were picked up off Gabo Island. South of Cape Howe. The Federal is one of Mcllwraith, McEacham and Co.’s fleet, and left Port Kembla on the 20th with a cargo of coal for Albany direct, and passed Gabo Island the following afternoon. (Received March ~i . 1.10 a.m.) 1 MELBOURNE, March 26.

A message received from Gabo Island to-night states that a life-buoy marked ‘‘Federal/’ and a quantity of wreckage, have been washed ashore. The body recovered is that of a mid-dle-aged seaman.

Hero is still a possibility that the steamer was swept by a sea in a gale, and that the man and wreckage were washed overboard, but the almost general 'Opinion in shipping circles, in. eluding the owners, is that the Federal has foundered. She was under command of Captain Coull, and carried a crew of twentynine all told. (Received March 26, 10.47 p.m.) MELBOURNE, March 26. The owners of the Federal have no information regarding the vessel. The manager says that viewing all the circumstances, he is almost driven to expect the, worst. Had a mail beenwashed overboard only in view of the 1 ga'/e raging, be thinks the captain would have signalled the safety of the vessel at the first opportunity. .The steamer Surrey signalled Gabo a few hours ahead of the Federal, and struck the beginning of what is described as a terrific cyclone when ninety miles beyond Gabo. Therefore the Federal might have got the fujl force( of the hurricane. She is due at Al-. bany on Friday or Saturday. The steamer Peregrine has arrived, and reports having passed the Federal a few miles north of Gabo. A heavy gale was blowing at the time. Possibly tile man found was washed overboard, and the articles supposed to be wreckage were thrown to him. ■ ■