The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956)(about) |
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Tuesday 26 July 1921
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LOSS OF S.S. FITZROY.
STORY TOLD IN MARINE COURT.
Seaman Swims 14 Miles.
SYDNEY, Monday, - The Court of Marine Inquiry to-day dealt with tile loss of the coastal steamer Fitzroy, which foun- dered off Cape Hawke. Out of 35 persons on board at the time 31 were drowned, in cludng the master and all the officers.
The Court was informed how the Fitzroy left Coffs Harbour for Sydney on the afternoon of Saturday, June 25. During the night the weather became bad and the vessel ran into a cyclonic storm. A large
quantity of water came aboard at about half-past 6 o'clock on Sunday morning. Thereupon the vessel took a list to port, which gradually increased. Later water as found to be pouring in apparently from an open ash-shoot and from a porthole which had been smashed in. Attempts were made to jettison the cargo, but there was no steam available for the winches. Next the engineer announced that the posi- tion was hopeless. Boats were got in readiness for launching, but as it seemed that they would be overturned or smashed
if launcned the captain thought it best to let them float off as the vessel sank. At about 8 o clock the vessel capsized. Two of the boats with people in them, floated off, but one immediately sank.
Among the witnesses called was a seaman, Olaf Johannsen who managed to swim
ashore-a distance of 14 miles through the raging seas. He was in the water all day.
The Court found that everything possible was done to preserve the vessel and the lives of the passengers and crew. It could not discover from the evidence that there had been any misconduct or error of judge- ment on the part of the captain or officers. In the opinion of the Court the water got into the stokehold, but by what means, ex- cepting by stress of weather, it was unable
to say.