SINKING OF THE STEAMSHIP AUSTRAL.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1203, 4 December 1882, Page 2

SINKING OF THE STEAMSHIP AUSTRAL.

Since the historical of the Royal George no record exists of so extraordinaiy a maritime disaster as that which occurred in Sydney Harbor early on the morning of Saturday last, when the magnificent new steamship Austral, which had only just completed her second voyage to the Austral ports, sank at her anchorage in Neutral Bay, Port Jackson, and is now lyiug in 80 feet of water. Full details of the cataatrobhe, which will no doubt be read with interest, are given -below, and there is *S ue>l therefore to recapitulate them here. After landing her Sydney passengers, the work of discharging cargo was completed and the work of coaling commenced. As the loading of coal progressed the ship is said to have listed gradually to one side. The port holes, owing probably to the heat of the weather, were left open, and'about four o'clock in the morning the water suddenly poured in through them at such a rate that there was scarcely sufficient time to enable the offices and crew and those on board to make their escape to the lighter* before the vessel settled down and her deck disappeared from view.. Bhe is valued in round members at L22o,ooo;and as the interior appointments and fittings comprise the latest conveniences and dosigis, there are very important factors to be considered in any estimate of the damage. The Austral with regard to construction, materials, furnishing, mechanism, fittings and decorations, can well be described at superb. The Machinery, all steel, is of the very latest and best description, the saloon was lavishly furnished. Bwan's incandescent lamps, one of the best of the various electric lights, illaminated the vessel from stem to stern, and the refrigerating apparatus was on a new plan, and of such dimensions that 17, 000 sheep could be carried each voyage. When it is considered what effect salt water is likely to have on the interior appointments of the vessel, her machinery and engines, and to this is added the cost of raising her — a most uncertain item — some idea may be obtained as to to the total loss which will be involved. The Orient Company have been exceedingly nnlucky when they might well have fortune, having done everything to deserve it. Without any subsidy or other encouragement than what, a passenger trade could afford, they have despatched to these waters a fleet of steamers, comprising some of the best vessels afloat In every possible way they have tried to serve the public ; and to their enterprise is due the beneficial change that has. occured in the description of boats that bow visit the Australian ports from all parts of Europe and Great Britian. The serious loss occasion through the stranding of the Serato at Adelaide will be remembered as one of the first misfortunes that overtook the company, and since then they have suffered in. other ways, such, for instance, as through the prolonged detenti6n on.

one occasion in quarantine of the ] Garonne. Even on her recent voyage , out the Austral had two accidents to her machinery, and, indeed, the present misfortune seems to be the culmination of a run of ill-luck. he practicability of raising the vessel is, of course, "a question of considerable speculation. The work will no doubt, be attempted without loss of time, but experts in such matters have expressed a doubt as to whether there exists in the colcmi^;tnV' > vproper appliances for carrying out the undertaking. The tissoe}^.wilk'.anv-ftny • -case, be looked forward to with the greatest anxiety. Singularly- enough, it was only on the 29th August last that the hundredth anniversary was attained of one of the greatest disasters in the annals of the British Navy, the loss of the Royal George, to which reference was made at the heakJof this column.. 29th August, 1782, the ship was careeningatSpithead, and many of her guns being on one side and some of her upper ports being open, a sudden gust of wind caught the vessel, and the catastrophe is only too well known — the ship went down " with all her crew complete." Nearly 600 men perished, including Admiral Kempenfeldt Captain- Waghorn, who escaped, was subsequently tried by court-martial for negligence in thecareeniug operation, but was acquitted. The Royal George was a fine vessel of 108 guns, and was the principal vessel of Lord Howe's fleet. Many schemes were su bsequently proposed for raising the. vessel, but none were.adopted t _,ln .1839 some portions of the vessel and its cargo were detached by gunpowzler.and brought to the surface, but except for that disturbance it still remains embedded where it sank.