THE FOUNDERING OF THE S.S. AUSTRAL.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2690, 21 November 1882, Page 3

THE FOUNDERING OF THE S.S. AUSTRAL.

By Telegraph

[Per s.s. Arawata, at the Bluff.] SYDNEY, November 14. Great consternation was caused in this city on Saturday by the repox-t that the Austral, the latest addition to the Orient Steam Navigation Company’s hne Hoot, sank in Neutral Bay at four in the morning. It soon became evident that the report was too true. The Austral had discharged her measurement cargo, and was taken to the moorings at the north side of the harbor to take in coal and discharge the dead weight cargo simultaneously, the coal being received on the starboard side and the cargo discharged on the port side. The colliers were lying on one side, and lighters for the cargo on the other side. At present it is not definitely known whether the vessel careened till t! • port holes were level with the sea on the starboard side, but it seems improbable that such a list could occur without attracting serious attention. One theory is that the valves near the bilge wore left open, and that the water ran in quietly and noiselessly, and that the ship settled down until the port holes on both sides wore 1 vel with the water, when a short time sufficed to flood the vessel However, it seems to be agreed that the ports were open, although the vessel had a list. Be this as it may, the vessel filled with water and sank in eight fathoms of water. The crow were nearly all asleep, and hearing cries of alarm and shouts that the ship was sinking, ran on deck without waiting to be clothed, and gained the lightex-s before the vessel sank. It was a fortunate circumstance that the lighters were alongside, otlxerwise the loss of life would certainly he very great, as a dense fog prevailed at the time. The cries were heard by the watch of the Wolverine, whose boats went to the Austral’s assistance, and also the police boat, and the men were landed on Circular quay, and then taken to the Sailors’ Home, and provided as far as possible with clothes. At first it was thought that no lives had been lost, and people congratulated themselves on the remarkable escape; but when the roll was called several were found to be missing, including Captain Murdoch, the first officer, purser, and many others. The captain and first officer turned Up on hoard the Wolverine, and several others in various places; hut the purser, Mr Perkins, and Mr Alexander, refrigerating engineer, were still missing. Eventually when the divers went down in the evening they discovered the bodies ©f the purser, engineer, and three Lascar seamen, Thohqdy of the purser was found floating in a sitting position, with his legs crossed. He had evidently been sitting on a chair in the cabin when the flood came in, and was, perhaps, asleep. The vessel lies with the masts and funnels out of the water. The bottom is sandy, and as the Austral is a new boat it is not thought that any damage has been done to the hull except straining. The only doubt is, if the sand is too soft, and if the vessel he sunk so deeply as to become embedded. The divers have been at work since, ascertaining the amount of damage and searching for the bodies. Owing to the intricate arrangements of the interior the divers had great trouble in finding their way about, until a plan was procured from the agents. On Sunday many thousand persons visited the scene. A steam launch was employed to keep boats off. Some experienced men have expressed doubts whethex- the appliances can be obtained in the colony suitable to raise her. In any case the fittings of the interior are irretx’ievably ruined, to say nothing of the damage to the costly and intricate machinery. The inquest on the bodies opened on Monday, and after the formal evidence of Captain Murdoch was adjourned till Tuesday. The cost of raising her will necessarily he enormous. Competexxt jxxdges say £50,000. The first operation will be to close up all apertures, and then with powerful pumps to reduce tlie water. Mort and Co., of Sydney, arranged to supply iron plates covering the pox-tholes, hatches, Ac., then a powerful centrifugal will he applied to pump out the water. The captain of the steam collier Wononga, which was lying alongside the Austral at the time of the accident, states he was awakened by a loud noise, and found everything in a terrible confusion. The Austral was rapidly heeling over, the ports being jxxst under water, and the vessel filling rapidly from the large rush through the portholes. A panic ensued, and there were gx-eat fears that the AxxstKil would roll over and crush the collier, and that everybody on both vessels would bo drowned, hxxt by dint of great efforts he managed to keep clear. The whole time occupied in sinking was nottwonty xxxinutes. The operations for raising the ship Ixave commenced. No further bodies have been found. The inquest resumed to-day, and Captain Murdoch said there ought to have been a hxxndred and ninety hands aboard on Friday night. All the offic-ox-s slept aboard. At two in the morning ho looked over tlie starboard side of the vessel, and she was then perfectly upright. About a quarter to four the chief officer called him, and told him the ship was sinking, and he then immediately gave the necessary orders to guard against the loss of life. When lying at Circular Quay the vessel had a list to the starboard, and was taken to the stream to be loaded to restore the even keel. The captain said he never heard of a similar accident. There were no other openings by which water could enter except the hatches and bunkers. He was unable to account for the disaster.