THE LOSS OF THE FEDERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 16

THE LOSS OF THE FEDERAL.

TH*J I3ODLES IDENTIFIED.

A FAREWELL MESSAGE.

MELBOURNE, April 2

The fact of the body of a negro being found at Liptrap is evidently the result of an imperfect burial at sea. The bos was weighted with scwt of scrap iron.

April 3

The clothing sent here, which was picked op at Cape Liptrap, has been identified as belonging to the chief engineer of the Federal.

Apiil 6,

Five bodies, a boat, and three oars were washed ashore at Mallacoota. One of the oars was marked " Federal."

April 8

The bodies found Imve been definitely identified as. those of the members of the Federal's crew. A bottle has been picked up off Geelong Heads which is supposed to contain the last message from the Federal.

It bears date " Gabo Island, April 1," land says : " Stormy night, boat sinking faEt, wind terrific. A small party lowered into boat, and started for land." The message is signed by Captain Coull and some cf the members of the crew.

The owners of the Federal are taking steps to give present relief to the widows and families of the lost. It has also been decided to inaugurate a, relief fund, to jirhich the firm have contributed £500.

The hull of the Federal was insured against total loss for the sum of £14-,750, the amount being distributed among eaveral marine offices. One of the chief holders was the North Queensland. The owners also ihold a considerable risk on the vessel. Sir M. M'Eacharn etates that to replace the 'Federal by a similar vessel would mean an expenditure to his firm of £35,000. Her /value, if sold in open market, was some/where about £25,000. The cargo of coal, amounting in all to 3486 tons, was insured at co3t price f.o.b. . Assuming that the worst fears entertained ffor the safety of the Federal are well grounded, the circumstances surrounding her Soss are similar to those attending that of khe collier Taramung nearly 10 years ago, "an that not a soul survives to tell the awful /tale. Coincidences of a more or less striking nature are not rare in- connection with marine calamities. Absolutely the last record of the Taramung standing in the office diary ■joi her .pwners, Messrs James Paterson and Co., is the following entry: — "Taramung Dassed by the steamer Federal off Cape St. George on the 31st May, 1891. Supposed to have been lost on the night of Sunday, the n st June, or on the following day. Nothing since seen or heard of her." The Tsramung left Newcastle oa the night of the 30th May,

1891.' She was afterwards seen of? Capo St. George by the steamer Era, and finally, as already indicated, by the Federal, which is now supposed to have shared a similar fate. The first and only indication of the loss of the Taramung was furnished by a quantity of wreckage wliii'h was washed ashore, but beyond this significant fwaenco of disaster nothing regarding her fate has ever been elicited.