THE YONGALA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1090, 31 March 1911, Page 5

THE YONGALA.

SEARCH STEAMERS AT WORK, FATE OF SURVIVORS. HOPE PRACTICALLY ABANDONED 1 By Telegraph-Press Association-OopyriEht (Km. March 31, 0.50 a.m.) . Brisbane, March 30. The whole coast lias been patrolled lor traces of the Yongala, unci steamers are searching the .coast from Townsvillc to the south of Cape Bowling Green. The only other wreckage which has been found consists of a couple of life-buoys, a hatch, a grnling, and a few other small relics brought by the steamer Alert to Townsville, discovered on the "Wheeler ltecf, thirty miles north-east of Cape Howling Green. Other steamers are still out, but the chances of finding any survivors is considered remote. The Yongala passed Dent Island at six o'clock at night, and the cyclone occurred a couple of hours afterwards, giving her time to get through "Whit-Sunday Passage. The theory is that the captain was running for shelter in a dark, tempestuous sea, when the vessel struck a reef, which ripped her bottom out. The local manager of the .Adelaide Company scouts the idea that the Yongala turned turtle. The lists, which have, been revised as far as possible, make the number of the crow seventy-two and the passengers about fifty. Possibly there were one or two other passengers whose names have not appeared on the list. A DISCREDITED REPORT, STRONG EVDEINCE OF FOUNDERING. Brisbane, March 30. • Consequent on the small quantity of 1 wrcckago that has como ashore, there is a growing opinion that the Adelaide Steam Ship Company's steamer Yongala foundered immediately after striking and sank in deep water with all hands. Two men havo reported that they heard the blowing of whistles and the noise of explosion off Bowling Green Bay on Friday 'afternoon. The steamer Grantala, which was sheltering there at the time, heard and saw nothing. Little importance is attached to the report. The Government is taking tin activepart in tho search. The Premier (Mr. Denman) has ordered that no expense shall bo spared. Tho finding of a mail-bag is accepted as strong evidence of the vessel's foundering, as the mail-room was below the deck. Tho finding of tho bag so soon is taken to indicate either that the vessel opened out or has broken up. There is the usual crop of warnings and coincidental escapes associated with wrecks, and tho number who should have travelled by tho Yongala and failed to do so. An authentic list of those who were on board tho Yongala is not yet available. Inquiries are proceeding. The cargo included *EI2OO worth of sugar, and machinery valued * at .£BOO, both tho property of tho Colonial Sugar Company: "l !■■:•■ .' / .. : ' The Adelaide Steam Ship Company's steamer "Woollawra will take up the run- ; ning of tho Yongala.