Foundering of the Austral.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4334, 21 November 1882, Page 2

Foundering of the Austral.

The following are the particulars of the j foundering of the s.s. Austral. It appears that she was taking io coal and cargo during the week, and the first sup> position as to the cause of the catastrophe was that the coal having been placed in bunkers on one side of the vessel, she bad listed, thus bringing her lower ports, which had been carelessly left open, below the level of the water, which then flooded in. This idea, however, has since, been rejected as absurd. At four o'clock on the morning of the 11th, the men were all asleep with the exception of the chief officer and a few coalers in the coal hulk, which was lying alongside. The Austral listed without recotpring herself, and came up on top of the collier. She remained in this position only long enough to give the men time to get blear. The chief officer raised the alarm, and the whole of the crew, numbering 175 hands, rushed on deck. They took to the launch, and the Austral immediately sank stern first. The men went to the Circular Quay where they landed, and thence they made for the Sailors' Home in a half clothed condition. Here they found that twenty men were missing, including Captain Murdoch, the chief officer (Richards), and the purser. It was subsequently found that the captain and the chief officer were safe on bo::rd the Wolverine, but the whereabouts of the purser could not be discovered. It has been surmised I that some of the crew went down in their berths when the alarm was given. Every effort was made to prevent the influx of water, but unavailingly, and all that could be done was to save the lives of those on board by getting them on to the coul lighter alongside. Assistance was also given bji the Wolverine, and afterwards by the police who went alongside in their boat. It has been stated that the men engaged in taking out one of the shafts knocked a bole in the stern, but the sailors deny this, a* they say the shaft was taken out the previous day. The cargo was, fortunately all out, and the ve3sel was simpty engaged with the colliers when the disaster occurred. The Circular Quay presented a very ani* mated appearancethis morning when the news was received, and the masts of the vessel could be plainly seen from the quay projecting from the water. The captain of the Calcross took off three stewardesses who had lost everything except the dresses they were in. LATEST PARTICULARS. There is great diversity of opinion as to bow the Austral was lo3t, the only certain thing being that there mist have been negligence somewhere. It is thought by same that the valves must have been left open. Crowds of visitors are thronging to the spot, and much excitement prevails. The "Austral is now lying on a soft smooth bottom in eight fathoms of water. She is valued at £200,000. Basidea iron she had 1200 tons coal aboard. At low water her hurricane di-ck will be about awash, and the main decks are six or seven feet under water, and her stern head is eighteen inches out of water. One of the engineers has just reported himself, but the other two.officers have not been heard of since. TlWmost probable idea as to the cause of th"c accident is thought to be that a !arge valve was.left open which would have allowed the waler to get in without making any noise or awakening the crew till she had sunk, Some time previous to sinking, cries of alarm and shrieks proceeded irom the vessel, attracting attention from the captains of various merchant vessels anchored near, who promptly despatched boats, but, owing to the con-*, fusion and the indiscriminate manner in which the rescues were made and the men quartered, it is difficult to ascertain accurately who are really missing. On the 12th inst.,a diver recovered five bodies from the wreck of the 'Austral, namely, the purser, refrigerating engineer,' and three coolies, and it is believed that no more liveg have been sacrificed. Considerable doubt has been expressed by practical men as to whether there are in the colonies appliances sufficient to raise so large a vtsael. The scene of the disas-

ter has been visited by thousands in steamers and boats of all kinds.

On the 13th inst. diving operations were resumed, when a careful examination was made and the search for the bodies continued. The whole of the crew are not yet accounted for, some of them being still missing. A rumor has been afloat that on the 6th instant an accident occurred while discharging cargo in Circular Quay, which should have suggested that the coaling of the vessel, under the circumstances, was difficult, if not dangerous, work. The evidence will,doubtless come out at the inquest, which will also prove or disprove an alleged incident which is spoken of in marine circles as having an important bearing upon the disaster. Those on board at the time of the catastrophe do not favor the idea that the water entered by the valves, as, if such were the case, the vesiel would not hare heeled over, but have gone down upright. They adhere to the opinion that it was the entrance of water at the portholes that sunk her. Arrangements are being made to raise her at once, as it is feared she may sink deeper, and in that event it might be impossible to float her.