THE YONGALA WRECK

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 266, 31 March 1911, Page 5

THE YONGALA WRECK

VESSEL SINKS IN DEEP WATER. ACTIVE SEARCH CONTINUES. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Brisbane, March 30. The Wooloura will take up the Yongala's running. In consequence of the small quantity of wreckage that has come ashore thero is a growing opinion that the Yongala foundered immediately after striking, and sank in deep water with all hands. Two men reported that they heard the Wowing of whistles and an explosion off Bowling Green Point on Friday afternoon, but the steamer Grantola, which was sheltering there at the time, heard and saw nothing. Little * importance is attached to the report. The Government is taking an active part in the search. The Premier has ordered that no expense shall be spared. The finding of the mail bag is accepted as strong evidence of the vessel having foundered. The mail room is below the deck. The finding of the bag eo soon is taken to indicate either that the vessel opened out or that she has .broken, up. The usual crops of warning- and coincidental escapes associated with wrecks are forthcoming. A number of those who should have travelled by the Yongala failed' to do so. The authentic list of those aboard is not yet available, and inquiries are proceeding. The cargo included- £7200 worth of sugar, and machinery valued at £BOO, the property of the Colonial Sugar Company. A COMPLETE SEARCH. MORE WRECKAGE. CHANCES OF SAVING LIFE REMOTE. Received 31, 12.50 a.m. Brisbane. March 30. The whole coast has been patrolled by search steamers, from Townsville to south of Cape Bowling Green. The only other wreckage found are a couple of lifebuoys, hatch grating and a few other small relies brought by the steamer Alert to Townsville. These were discovered on the Wheeler Reef, thirty miles north-east of Cape Bowling Green. The other steamers are still out. The chances of finding any survivors it considered remote. The Yon«ala passed Dent Island at 6 o'clock at night. The cyclone broke a couple of hours afterwards, giving her time to get through Whit Sunday passage. The theory is held that the captain, in running for shelter in the dark and tempestuous sea, struck a reef, which ripped the vessel's bottom out The local manager of the Adelaide Company scouts the idea that the Yon- j gala" turned turtle. I The lists have been revised as far as possible. These make the number of the crew 72, and the passengers about 50. Possibly there are one or two other passengers whose names do not appear on the list.