Shipwrecks on the Australian Coast.

Manawatu Herald, 15 March 1904, Page 2

Shipwrecks on the Australian Coast.

THE ARAMAO A TOTAL WRECK. FIVE BOATS MISSING. A report from Burnett Heads stated that the. steamer Aramac struck the break-sea spit, Queensland, at 5.30 on Saturday morning. She made for the Burnett Heads and steamed to within twenty miles of them,- and then settled down. The engine-room filled with water and the fires became extinguished. The steamer anchored and tho passengers and crew, numbering about a hundred and sixty, took to the boats. One of the boats in charge of the second officer, with 28 passengers and crew, arrived at the Burnett Heads in the afternoon. Five of the boats are still missing. A whaleboat has been sent to search for them. The Aramac was bound from Sydney to Cooktown, via way ports. She had a general cargo and a large number of Sydney passengers. The second boat from the wreck Aramac has arrived at Bundaberg with 18 occupants all men. There was no sign of the other four boats at 8 o’clock on Monday morning. The opinion is that the missing boats will turn up safely. THE LASS-o’-GOWRIB RUN ASHORE. The Maranoa has arrived at Townsville With the Laas-o’-Gowrie’s passengers, and reports the gale was the worst ever experienced on the coast. The Maranoa took refuge in Weary Bay, and though two anchors were down she dragged for five miles and lost one. After riding out the storm and steaming south she discovered the Lasa-o’-Gowrie ashore near Cape Tribulation. She lowered a boat and brought the Lass-o-Gowrie’s passengers aboard. The Lass-o’-Gowrie met the full force of the gale, and tried to run before it. The engine-room was flooded, but the engineer managed to keep tip steam sufficiently long to save striking the rocks and ran ashore on a sandy beach.

Prior to the Maranoa coming to their assistance the Lass-o’-Gowrie’s boat, with three seamen, in attempting to intercept a passing steamer, was swamped. One seaman, named Sinclair. was£. drowned. A steerage passenger is also reported missing, but it is doubtful if he was actually on board. A case of jewellery, valued at £7OO, belonging to a passenger, wai washed overboard.