Brisbane Courier Wednesday 15 March 1899, pages 5, 6
National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3690056
THE LATE HURRICANE.
CRUISE OF THE WARREGO.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
REPORTS OF THE PEARLING
CAPTAINS
THE ESTIMATED LOSS OF LIFE
(By Telegraph from Our Special Correspondent)
COOKTOWN, March 14.
The steamer Warrego left Cooktown on
Friday last, and anchored abreast of Ingram
Island on the 11th instant. The cutter
Spray was seen, and Captain Dakle, the
master, stated that on the 4th instant he
anchored at Stapleton Island, in company
with a cutter owned by a Japanese. The
wind blew strongly from the north-east, and
the sea, which was mountains high, carried
away the Jap's boat, the occupants being
drowned. The Spray was dashed ashore,
but without damage. A previous gale had
left shell on the island, but after the gale it
was found to be covered with huge boulders,
as if a volcanic eruption had taken place.
At Pipon Island Mr. Vidgen, of the pearling
schooner Olive, was seen. He reported
that on the 4th he was anchored at No. 1
Claremont Island. In the afternoon the
wind was from the south-east, and at 10
o'clock it was blowing a gale, the glass
standing at 29.10in. The sea was running
mountains high, and the Olive dragged her
anchors from the north-west to the south
east side ol Burkitt Island, but escaped
without damage. The weather calmed on
the 5th. The bodies of twenty-seven
coloured people were seen at Cape Melville,
and aboriginals had buried thirty-seven. The
bodies were mutilated by sharks. One of
the Olive's employees saw a portion of the
Channel Rock Lightship on Pipon Island.
The steamer Victory was afterwards met,
and the master reported having passed thirteen
bodies. He had towed the dismasted
schooner Crest of the Wave to Flinders.
At Flinders the Warrego met the steamer
White Star and about thirty pearling-boats.
Mr. George Smith, a well-known pearling
owner, reported that he went ashore at
Howick No. 2 Island, and found the lugger
Rosa a total wreck, and the William high
ashore. The schooner Meg Merrilees, owned
by Bowden and Doyle, of Thursday Island,
was a total wreck on the outer reef between
I and J Reefs, but her cargo will probably
be saved. The Tarawa, schooner, was
ashore at Pelican Island, partially damaged.
The Gavarra Peres, owned by Bowden and
Doyle, was a total wreck at Pelican Island;
also the Two Brothers, Yomoto, and Jenny.
The luggers Rotomuh and Martha were partially
damaged, and four other boats were
ashore on No. 1 Claremont Island. Of 265
of Smith's employees twenty-eight are alive;
and of forty boats working, near Cape Melville,
only one is afloat. The fleet was not
insured.
Captain Porter, of the schooner Crest of
the Wave, reported that he was anchored off
Cape Melville, and at 10 o'clock at night the
glass fell to 20in., the wind being strong off
the land, and the Vessel dragged in consequence.
The cyclone cut away the masts,
and the schooner sprang a leak, but he went
ashore with his wife and child. He picked up
an Asiatic named Pitt, with two coloured
women, who had been in the water for
twelve hours. The former reported seeing
Mr. Alfred Outridge and Captain Thompson
on the Meg Merrilees, and the fleet were
anchored off Pelican Island. The wind at
midnight on the 4th blew with hurricane
force from east to north, and tremendous
seas struck the vessel and washed away the
whaleboat. The vessel dragged for ten miles,
and then struck a reef north-east from the
position where she had been anchored. She
dragged her anchors like straws, and became
a total wreck. One lugger which was anchored
alongside drifted a mile away, and
was smashed to pieces on A Reef. Of six
employees two were saved. Another lugger
drifted six miles with her masts broken off.
The Claremont lugger dragged for a quarter
of a mile, and then broke to pieces, five men
being drowned. Two other fleets were
smashed on the reef.
Captain Jones states that the schooner
Tarawa was anchored east of Pelican Island,
and at 3 o'clock on the morning of the 6th
both cables parted, and the vessel was driven
ashore. Captain Thompson rendered valuable
assistance, and the vessel was taken to
the Flinders Group for repairs. He picked
up a Samoan and a gin off A Reef in an
exhausted state. They had swum a distance
of twenty miles in four days. No
lives were lost in the Tarawa. Captain
Murro states that the schooner Aladdin
escaped with little damage.
The only survivor from the schooner Silvery
Wave says that when the storm struck
the vessel the captain cut away the masts.
Neither Captain Jefferson nor Messrs. Attow
and Nicholas was seen afterwards. The
survivor remained on the wreck till daylight,
when be escaped on a plank.
The captains of the various vessels report
the following losses:—
Fourteen Europeans —
Captain Jefferson and Messrs. Atthow
and Nicholas, of the Silvery Wave ; Captain
Murray, Messrs. A. Outrldge and H. Outridge
(brother and nephew of Mr. P. P. Outridge),
and one man, name unknown, of the
schooner Sagitta ; Captain Powell and two
whose names are unknown, of the schooner
North Wales; Fuhrmann, Lee, and two
others, of the Channel Rock lightship; also
360 to 400 coloured employees. The schooners
Sagitta, North Wales, Silvery Wave, Meg
Merrilees, Admiral, and Waiweera were lost,
with forty-five luggers belonging lo the
fleet, fifteen others belonging to various
owners, and twenty swimming and diving
boats.
The Channel Rock lightship sank at her
moorings. The schooners Tarawa and Crest
of the Wave were disabled. Tbe total
damage is estimated at over £50,000.
Experienced captains and old aboriginals
state that they never saw such a
storm before. At Bathurst Bay there
is quite a forest of mastheads and
floating wreckage, the boats having
evidently sunk at the anchorage. There are
tons of dead fish, fowl, and reptiles of all
descriptions, and the place presents the appearance
of a large cemetery. All the trees
have been stripped of their leaves. Many
porpoises were found at a height of 50ft.,
having been thrown up by the sea. Stones
were embedded in the trees to a depth of 6in.,
and rocks weighing tons were thrown up.
Two coloured women swam for ten hours
with children on their backs, but the children
were dead when landed. The coloured
crews behaved well. The fleet were doing
splendidly at the time of the gale. All the
beacons are down. All the captains state
that they were powerless against the wind,
and the sea was the worst they ever experienced.
It is estimated that Messrs. Smith and
Clark's loss is £12,000; Bowden's £4000;
and Doyle's, £1800. Many vessels were
worked by coloured owners, and it is supposed
that they have been lost.
The steamers Victory and White Star are
now searching the coast for bodies and
wreckage.
Young Pitt, who escaped, hearing a false
report that his father had been drowned, attempted
to commit suicide. Several aboriginals
on shore perished in the storm. The
harbour-master at Cooktown has distributed
bags of flour among the aboriginals.
The Warrego brought 100 cases of shell
from the Flinders Group.
Parties will probably be sent to search
Barrow Point and Bathurst Bay.
The lightship and beacons require replacing
Immediately.
ANOTHER REPORT.
(By Telegraph from a Correspondent.)
PORT STEWART (via Coen), March 12.
On visiting the Birkett Islands I saw the
first indications of the fury of the recent
gale, each of the reefs and islands having
from two to six pearling luggers high on
the reef. The Meg Merrilees, schooner, the
property, of Messrs. Bowden and Doyle, became a total wreck on an uncharted reef
north-east of I Reef, but all hands were
saved after having experienced a terrible
night. Captain Thompson reports that the
gale commenced at midnight on Saturday,
and blew with hurricane force. He cut both
masts away, and lost all his boats. The
vessel took the ground in 6ft. of water.
There was no fresh water obtainable for
thirty-six hours, during which time they
built a craft to reacue all hands, when a
lugger rescued tbem. The Tarawa, schooner,
the property of a Sydney firm, got stranded
on Pelican Island, but got off the next day,
slightly damaged.
The height of the storm seems to have
been experienced at Flinders and Melville
Islands, where the schooners Sagitta, Silvery
Wave, and Admiral were all lost, with
only one life saved. Captain Jefferson and
Messrs. Murray, Outridge brothers, and
Nicholas were all lost. The pearling luggers of the schooners Crest of the Wave, Silvery
Wave, and Sagitta were all lost, with
all hands, except thirty-eight coloured men.
The lugger North Wales, Captain Powell
in charge, was also lost, one coloured man
only being saved. The estimated loss of life
is fully 300, and over forty boats and
schooners have been lost.
A large number of bodies have been found
and buried, amongst which was that of Mr.
Outridge, sen. Some most thrilling experiences
and hardships are related, but the full
extent of the loss will never be known.
The force of the gale must have been
awful. All the trees have been completely
stripped of leaves and branches. Large fish
and a number of boats were thrown upon
the cliffs many feet high. One boy relates
having swam for three days from the Howicks to Bathurst Bay. One cutter saw fifteen
bodies on a small island. No traces, excepting
some small wreckage, have been seen
of the lightship. Mr. Munro buried a number
of the bodies which were recovered.
The White Star will proceed to search the
Barrier Reef.
REPORT BY THE KASUGA MARU.
The Nippon Yusen Company's steamer
Kasuga Maru, from Hongkong and Japan to
Melbourne, via ports, arrived and anchored
in Moreton Bay about 6 o'clock on Monday
evening. This vessel, it will be remembered, called in at Townsville on Friday last,
and reported having been boarded by the
captains of the pearlshell fishing schooners
Crest of the Wave and Tarawa, both of which
had come to grief in the recent hurricane.
The captain of the Japanese steamer, on
being interviewed in Moreton Bay, reported
that she had encountered very strong head
winds, accompanied by nasty rain squalls,
right down the coast. Questioned as to the
recent hurricane. Captain, Haswell stated
that he had nothing to add to what he had
already reported at Townsville. Captain
Craig, who is piloting the vessel down the
coast, replied to the same effect, explaining
that the vicinity where the storm appears to
have been felt most severely was passed by
the Kasuga Maru at night time, and that
both the preceding and the following days
were so overcast and hazy that it was impossible
to see any distance, the vessel at
times having to simply grope her way along.
Pilot Craig also expressed some doubt as to
the correctness of the statement made by
the captain of the Crest of the Wave to the
effect that previous to the hurricane the
glass fell as low as 26. He had, he said,
been in some of the worst typhoons ever
experienced in the China seas; but he had
never known the glass to fall lower than
about 27.30. In course of further conversation,
Captain Craig, who has traded regularly through
the inner route for many years,
stated that it was just possible that some
of the luggers had been blown clean over
some of the reefs into the sandy lagoons that
exist here and there along the route. In
such case, although the vessels will probably
be found to be irreparably damaged, the
crews will be rescued.
In conversation with a gentleman who for
some years past has been closely connected
with the pearl-shell trade in Torres Straits,
and who is proceeding to Sydney by the
Kasuga Maru, en route for London, some
information was obtained with reference to
the working of the fishing fleets. As has
already been stated, the schooners, which
are known as floating stations or depots,
have a fleet of from ten to sixteen luggers.
These luggers each have their own diver
and work separately. The pearlshell is
collected every evening and conveyed,
generally in a whaleboat, to the schooner,
where in due course the pearls are extracted
and the shell cleaned and packed ready for
export. The schooners carry large supplies
of provisions and stores, which are served
out to the luggers as occasion requires. On
Saturday evening the luggers all come in and
anchor around their respective schooners,
starting out to work again early on the
Monday morning. It is this fact, no doubt,
that accounts for the great havoc wrought
by the recent hurricane. According to reports,
it was Saturday evening when the
hurricane commenced, and no doubt the
luggers, anchored as they would have been
in groups around the various schooners,
were caught unawares.
In all about twelve bodies were passed by
the Kasuga Maru, and of these several
were those of white men. Shortly after the
vessel left the dismasted schooner Crest of
the Wave, a body clothed in a diving dress
was passed. The headpiece and the loaded
boots were missing, and the dress, which
was floating high out of the water, appeared
to be Inflated with air.
GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS WRECKED.
The following is a copy of a telegram
forwarded by the Post and Telegraph Department to the under Secretary for Works:
-Coen officer in charge reports met labourer Burton
from Musgrave (a post and
telegraph station in the Gulf) at 5 p.m. on
the 9th instant. The Laura mailman was
assisting him to repair the line. They reported
that the Musgrave office and all other
buildings, including the police station at
Musgrave, were blown down by a cyclone
early on the 6th instant."
SAFETY OF THE WANETTA.
A private telegram received yesterday
from Thursday Island reports that the
schooner Wanetta, concerning which some
apprehensions were entertained, is safe at
Moa.
We are informed that the fourth man on
the Channel Rock lightship was Daniel
Crowley, not John Anderson, as previously
reported.
| |
The Brisbane Courier, Thursday 16 March 1899, page 6
National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3690109
THE RECENT HURRICANE.
REPORT FROM THURSDAY ISLAND.
RECEPTION OF THE NEWS
DISTRESSING SCENES
(By Telegraph from Our Correspondent.)
THURSDAY ISLAND, March 15.
The steamer Tokio Maru arrived yesterday afternoon from the South, and resumed
her voyage in the evening. She brought no
fresh information regarding the disaster to
the pearling fleets. The voyage up was
terrible, the squally weather making it imperative to anchor at night.
On the receipt of news here yesterday definitely
stating the loss of life in the recent
disaster, a most distressing scene occurred,
especially on the part of the coloured
women whose husbands it became known
were gone. The various business houses
closed, flags were flying half-mast, and today
business is suspended. The craft in
the harbour are also flying flags half-mast.
Captain Williams, who was recently with
the China Navigation Company, but is now
engaged in pearling, arrived here in the
lugger Spray from Amboyne, having had a
fearful trip. He hove to in Endeavour
Straits, not knowing where he was. The
sun being obscured, he was unable to take
bearings. The night before getting into
port he anchored under the lee of Horne
Island, and witnessed the phenomenon
known as
"St. Elmo Lights."
The lugger North Wales, which is reported
to have been lost while on her way
to Cooktown, was insured in the South
British Company for £300.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
The following wire was received yesterday
morning by the Portmaster (Captain T. M.
Almond) from the harbour-master at Cooktown
:-"Pilot Cole reports by wire from
Coen, under date 6 p.m. 13th, no tidings of
lightship or crew; supposed to have foundered
at moorings. Seen Captain Munro,
who states divers cannot go down yet, water
being too thick, and current too strong.
Victory now at Pipon Island, and reefs to
the eastward. News received eighty-seven
schooners and luggers lost and about 400
divers and fourteen white men."
The following wire was also received by
the Portmaster :-"The Victory arrived at 1
o'clock. She searched the various reefs and
islands, but could not land on the eastern
side of Cape Melville, owing to the strong
winds and heavy sea. Saw no wreckage of
the lightship. The Victory leaves at 10
o'clock for Cairns." |
The Brisbane Courier, Monday 20 March 1899, page 6
National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3690340
THE LATE HURRICANE.
RETURN OF THE WARREGO.
REPORTS PROM THE BOATS.
The A.U.S.N. Company's steamer Warrego,
{which, it will be remembered, was chartered
by the Government to go in search of the
missing pearlshell fishing schooners) arrived
in Brisbane shortly after 9 a.m. on Saturday.
The following account of the trip from
Cooktown to Claremont Islands, and the various
reefs in the vicinity, has been supplied by
the purser of the steamer:
On the point of leaving Townsville for the
South the Warrego was detained to turn back
and render whatever assistance necessary.
Coaling was immediately started and completed,
and stores capable of keeping 200 for
ten days were put on board. The Warrego
sailed at 11.40 a.m. on Friday, 10th, with Mr.
Ogilvie, Sub-collector of Customs, Cooktown;
Mr. A. R. Vidgen, of Burns, Philp, and Co.,
brother of Mr. H. G. Vidgen, of the schooner
Olive ; Mr. Ross Smith, of Sydney, nephew
of Mr. George Smith, of Thursday Island
(Mr. Smith came south in the Warrego
to join the Crest of the Wave, which was
totally dismasted off Cape Melville), and Mr.
Fowler, of the "Cooktown Independent," on
board. Captain G. King was in command,
and Captain Graham acted as pilot.
At 4.36 in the evening two small cutters
were seen anchored between the Lizards and
Newt Island. The steamer was brought to
anchor, and a boat sent off to the cutters,
which proved to be the Jamaica, in charge of
a West Indian negro named Douglas Pitt,
sen., and the Loafer, No. A260, In charge of
Charlie Lifu, a French negro.
The following information waB obtained
from Douglas Pitt:- He left Barrow Point on
28th February, leaving the Olive and a fleet
of forty-five working boats there. He did
not know the intention of the fleet. Two
days later (2nd March) he fell in with two
cutters, the Caledonia and La France, in
charge of two Frenchmen, with a crew of six
aboriginals and one Bengalee. These he left
at anchor off No. 8 Howicks, and proceeding
South, anchored in a bay on the north-east
side of the Lizards. On the way he saw the
Channel Rock lightship safe, and believes
the bodies seen by the Warrego were the
crews of the Caledonia and La France. While
anchored at the Lizards the wind blew with
hurricane force from the east, and he lost
both his anchors, and was blown between
the Lizards and Newt Island, and made fast
alongside the Loafer. On Sunday morning
the wind blew with terrific force, and shifted
to north-east, and finally died away from
north-west. He had three sons in the fleet
and was very anxious as to their safety. It
was afterwards found that two of these had
been drowned, and the third, young Douglas
Pitt on hearing a report that his father was
drowned, attempted to take his life on Flinders
Island. He was not in need of provisions,
and on being told that another storm
was forecast determined to sail for Cooktown.
The master of the Loafer gave similar
information as to the weather.
OFF THE HOWICKS.
On the return of the boat the Warrego
proceeded and came to an anchor at about
10 p.m. off the Howicks. At daylight on
the 11th another start was made. At about
8 a.m. three boats were seen at anchor off
Ingran Island. They proved to be the Spray,
a cutter of 2 tons, owned by Edward Moresby,
of York Island, and commanded by R.
Hanson, a Dane; the Dackle, A 11, owner
Douglas, of Darnley Island, "Jimime," a
York Islander, in charge; and Yunyo, 346,
owner a Jap, and native in command. On
being interviewed, Hanson reported that on
the 4th he was anchored off Stapleton Island,
in company with a Japanese cutter,
when the wind started to blow, strong from
the south-east, and about midnight changed
to east. About 9 p.m. the Jap boat broke
adrift, and went on to the reefs of the
island, after which she was not seen again,
evidently breaking up. Her dingey was
found on the mainland two days after, it
having been picked up by the natives.
About 11 p.m. his boat broke adrift
and went ashore in the mangroves. It was
not until Tuesday, after cutting a passage
through the trees, that she was floated again.
He had been about the vicinity since 16th
ultimo. He had plenty of rations, and was
supplying the other boats. On a boat being
sent to the steamer, however, provisions
were given to these.
THE ISABELLE.
The Warrego then proceeded on her way.
About noon a cutter was hailed, and three
men were seen to put off in a dingey from
Pipon Island. Warm were the greetings
when Mr. H. Vidgen came aboard. It
turned out that the lugger, which was the
Isabelle, was in charge of Mr. Vidgen. He
reported:- On Saturday, 4th, at about 6 p.m.,
the schooners Aladdin and Olive, with
twenty-six boats, and the Tarawa and Meg
Merrilees, with about the same number,
were anchored off No. 1 Claremont (Burkitt)
Island, and the Silvery Wave, Sagitta, and
Crest of the Wave, with thirty-slx boats, at
the north-west side of Bathurst Bay, off
Cape Melville. Each boat had a crew of
about six men, and each schooner fourteen,
making a total of about 620 men, including
the following whites:- Captain Steve
Clark, Mr. V. Clark (son of Captain
A. J. Clark, of the steamer Palmer, Townsville),
and Mr. Vidgen himself on the Olive.
The three Munros on Aladdin. Captain
Porter, wife, and child were on Crest of the
Wave. Captain R. Murray, Mr. A. J. Outridge, and Mr. H. Outridge were on the
Sagitta. Captain Jeffeson, Mr. J. Nicholas,
and Mr. E. Atthow were on Silvery Wave.
The blow, he stated, started from south-east,
and at 10 p.m. the Olive's glass was 29.60, and
fell rapidly to 29.10. The wind then changed
and blew with hurricane force from
south-west, and at daylight veered
round to west, still blowing stiffly,
and finally died away at 10 a.m.
Sunday, from north-west. The Tarawa
went ashore on Pelican Island, and lost four
boats and four men (coloured). There were
also four boats ashore on Burkitt island.
The Olive had both anchors down, and
dragged from the north to south-east side of
the Island, then holding. The Aladdin
dragged towards the reef, and slipped her
chain, but missed the island, and subsequently
dropped another anchor, still drifting,
however, towards D Reef, which she
escaped, and held on till daylight, when the
hurricane abated. She subsequently sailed to
the Flinders, to which place the Olive
had proceeded on Tuesday. Mr. Vidgen left
the Flinders on Wednesday in the Waterwitch,
and picked up Captain Porter off Crest
of the Wave, which was at anchor off Cape
Melville, totally dismasted. Here he learnt
that Mrs. Porter and child were on the
schooner during the gale, but had subsequently
left in the Duke of Portland for
Thursday Island. The Duke of Norfolk had
left a boat with Captain Porter.
THE WORK OF THE NATIVES.
Vidgen went ashore on the mainland, and
found twenty-seven live men. The natives
were burying the dead and fighting the bush
men, and keeping them back from the bodies.
Up till that time they had burled three dozen
in all. Porter told Vidgen that he had seen
young Douglas Pitt (son of D. Pitt, sen., master
of the Jamaica), and had ascertained that
his boat the Rattler had been wrecked on the
Howick Island, Pitt and two women swimming
ashore to Noble Island. Pitt then
walked along the coast to Cape Melville, and
on the way saw a number of dead bodies, including
two white, one of whom he recognised
for certain as Mr. A. Outrldge. He
believed the other to be Mr. H. Outridge. He
sent the natives for the bodies, but on the
blacks reaching the spot they had disappeared with the rising tide.
THE SILVERY WAVE.
The Meg Merrilees had drifted on to the
reef and become a total wreck; no lives
lost. One hand was saved from the Silvery
Wave, a Malay. He stayed in the cabin till
she went down, and then came ashore on a
plank. He says she went down about 6 a.m.
on Sunday. Captain Jefferson and Messrs.
Nicholas and Atthow had previously gone
off in a dingey, but were immediately
swamped, and were seen no more. Vidgen
returned to the Olive, and left again in the
Isabelle for Barrow Point. He found the
beach strewn with dead gulls, birds, snakes,
and fish — so much so that in parts the stench
was unbearable. Mr. Vidgen took his
brother aboard the Isabelle, returning to the
Flinders, and arrived there the morning the
Warrego left.
The Warrego then proceeded towards the
Flinders, sighting the steamer Victory, and
giving instructions to the pilot and captain,
and arrived at the fleet about 4 p.m. Here
Captains Clark, Porter, Thompson (Meg
Merrilees), and Jones, of the Tarawa, came
aboard, and Mr. Bennett, of Thursday Island,
inspector of fisheries, and Mr. Geo.
Smith, who had come South in the White
Star.
THE MEG MERRILEES.
Captain W. N. Thompson, of Meg Merrilees,
belonging to the Queensland Pearl
shelling Company, reports:- I was anchored
off Pelican Island, being south-east, distance
lmin.(sic), on Saturday, 4th instant, at 4
p.m. A moderate breeze commenced from
the east at 7 p.m., changed to south-east,
and increased in force, working to southwest
at midnight, and from then till daylight
worked from west to north, blowing
with hurricane force all the time. About 3
a.m. several large waves struck the whaleboat
and washed her away. One of my luggers
which was anchored alongside of me
for provisions before the gale came on was
driven on the reef and smashed to pieces;
there were six of a crew (four Manila men
and two Cingalese), two of whom were saved
two days afterwards on a reef, after being in
the water one day. Another of my luggers
which was lying close to her had her masts
blown out, and after dragging about six
miles her anchors held and she weathered
the gale. I had five more luggers alongside;
these were blown miles away, but came off
with slight damage. At No. 1 Claremont
Island had three other boats; one dragged
quarter-mile and broke to pieces, five men
drowned (coloured). The other two boats
dragged on to the same reef, being only
slightly damaged, but three days after a
strong north-west breeze sprang up and
broke them to pieces. I had also fourteen
diving luggers, four of which were lost, and
nine coloured lives; no whites. During the
gale the Meg Merrilees dragged her anchors
ten miles, and brought up on a reef northeast
from the position she left. When in
four fathoms of water I cut away the mast
to try and save the vessel, but she still
dragged as if she had no anchors down, until
6 a.m. Sunday, when she grounded on a high
reef, and filled with water. He estimates
the total loss at about £50,000, and the loss
of life between the Howlcks and Claremont
at over 400.
THE TARAWA'S REPORT.
Captain Jones, of the schooner Tarawa
(Queensland Pearlshelling Company), reports
that he was anchored about one and a half
mile on east side Pelican Island, when about
3 a.m. Sunday both his cables parted, and
he was driven ashore on the only sand patch
on the island. With great labour she was
floated on Thursday, and sailed for the Flinders
for repairs, her bottom being considerably
damaged. She had a fleet of fifteen
working boats, out of which four are total
wrecks, and the rest more or less damaged.
Captain Jones speaks in the highest terms of
the services rendered by Captain Thompson
of the Meg Merrilees, and Mr. Blackman,
super-cargo of the Tarawa.
THE ROLL CALL.
Total boats lost: Silvery Wave and fifteen
boats, Sagitta and nine boats, Crest of Wave
and thirteen boats, Meg Merrilees and four
boats, Tarawa and four boats, Olive and one
boat, Aladdin and one boat; total, three
schooners, forty-seven boats, also the small
schooner, Admiral, and about twenty-one
diving boats and twenty swimming boats not
belonging to the fleet.
Whites lost: Sagitta: Mr. A. H. Outridge
(Brisbane), Mr. H. Outridge (son of
Mr. Outridge, of Nundah), Mr. R. B. Murray.
Silvery Wave: Captain Jeffeson (of Hull),
Mr. E. Atthow (of Brisbane), Mr. J. Nicholas
(son of Captain Nicholas, Thursday Island).
Channel Rock lightship: Captain Fuhrmann,
Mr. D. Lee, Mr. H. Karr, and another.
The Olive came alongside the Warrego,
and she shipped 166 cases of shell. The
Warrego then left for Cooktown, and arrived
a little after midnight on Sunday.
STEAMER WHITE STAR RETURNED.
The Portmaster (Captain T. M. Almond)
received the following wire yesterday from
Mr. Bennett, shipping inspector, Thursday
Island:- White Star arrived 4 p.m. to-day.
Searched along reef north and east from
Cape Melville, but no result. One other
white man drowned from Sagitta, making
a total of seven; do not know his name.
Schooner Waiweer has been floated. All
cargo and stores of Meg Merrilees saved.
Brisbane Courier 15 May 1899THE LATE HURRICANE.
LETTER FROM MR. JAMES CLARK.
In a letter received from Mr. James Clark, dated Thursday Island, 1st instant, that
gentleman says:
You will have observed that Constable Kenny and his troopers buried thirty-seven
bodies in the Cape Melville timber district,and the blacks must have passed those bodies
going to and coming from the Flinders. On the other side of their camp at Cape Mel-
ville my men and myself found and buried seven bodies, one of whom we had every
reason to believe was the master of the lightship. Although they did not bury all
the bodies they knew were cast ashore, they behaved very well indeed, and no doubt it
is unreasonable altogether to expect that they should bury any body that may be
wrecked.
Wreckage, principally cabin and deck fittings of the lightship, can be found from
Cape Melville to the bottom of Bathurst Bay, and on Boulder Rocks, and if any one
had looked ashore they would have found it. Seeing that the range of hurricanes ex-
tends at least 2deg. more to the northward than was generally supposed, it would be
well, in my opinion, if the authorities altered the lightships so that they could be thor-
oughly well battened down to exclude any water from getting below, and thus prevent a
repetition of the disaster to the Channel Rock Lightship on the 6th March last. I
hope this will be done this year.
With reference to the disaster to the fleets at Bathurst Bay, their position was a most
unfortunate one. It afforded perfect shelter from south-east winds to vessels of light
draught, but when the hurricane came in from the north-west they were all on a dead
lee shore In shallow water, with the larger vessels probably thumping on the bottom in
the hollow of the sea, which was a raging mass of breakers two miles outside of the
place the boats anchored in. Many of the boats' clocks stopped between 3 and 4, show-
ing that they lived through most of the worst part, but the change of wind putting them on
a lee shore brought about their destruction. The only vessel saved of the forty anchored
in that place dragged into deep water, and this proves that a lightship or other vessel
with good ground tackle properly battened down could safely ride out a hurricane such
as that experienced.
We recovered ten of the forty vessels lost by us. These were minus sails, masts, part
of the pumping gear, and all more or less damaged. We found many others in three
fathoms water, broken up and past repairing. Others were on the rocks, or on the
beach, broken up into little pieces. The schooners Silvery Wave and Sagitta were
broken up, and their wreckage strewn along the beach for miles.
The Government, by their action in sending the steamers Victory, Warrego, and
White Star, and in doing all they could in other ways to succour and assist those in
distress, deserve the thanks of us all, and we are very grateful to them for doing all
that could be done under the circumstances.
|