SUPPOSED WRECK OF THE FEDERAL.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 27 March 1901, Page 4

SUPPOSED WRECK OF THE FEDERAL.

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGBAPII. —COPYRI GHT.]

(Per Press Association)

Sydney, March 96,

A quantity of wreckage, including a piece of wood with s.s. Federal of Melbourne written on in pencil on it, and the body of a man was picked up off Gabo Island. The Federal is one of MTlwraith and M’Barchern’s fleets. She left Port Kembla on the 20th with a cargo of coal for Albany direct. She passed Gabo the following afternoon. Melbourne, March 26.

The Federal’s owners have no information re the vessel. The manager says th it viewing all the circumstances he is almost driven to expect the worst. Had a man been washed overboard only in view of the gale raging he thinks the Captain would have signalled the safety of the vessel the first opportunity. The steamer Surrey signalled Gabo a few hours ahead that the Federal had struck the beginning, of what is described as a terrific cyclone when 90 miles beyond Gabo. Therefore the Federal might have the full force of the hurricane. She was due at Albany on Friday or Saturday. The steamer Peregrine has arrived' She reports that she passed the Federal a few miles north of Gabo. A heavy gale was blowing at the time, and possibly the man found had been washed overboard and the articles supposed to be wreckage were thrown to him. Melbourne, March 26.

A message from Gabo tc-night states that a life buoy marked “ Federal” and a quantity of wreckage has been washed ashore. One body recovered was that of a middle aged seaman. It is possible that the steamer was swept in the gale and the man and wreckage washed overboard, but the general opinion in shipping circles is that the Federal has foundered. She was under the command of Capt. Coull and carried a crew of twenty-nine all told. Deceived this day, at 9 47 a.m. Melbourne, This Day, The latest from Gabo states that the wreckage includes five life-buoys, portion of hatches, cabin fittings, boat chocks and oars.