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SMOKE ON ISLAND.
LOST PARINGA RECALLED.
Steamer to Search.
MELBOURNE. Feb. 4.— Smoke has
been seen on an uninhabited island off
Wilson's Promontory and the opinion has
been expressed that there is a possibility
that it may be a signal made by sur
vivors of the steamer Paringa, which
founded in Bass Strait during a gale or
Boxing Day. The report that smoke had
been sighted was received in Melbourne
late this afternoon and the Common
wealth Navigation Department instructed
the master of the coastal steamer Koo
liga, which left Melbourne late tonight
to search the island. The Kooliga is ex
pected to reach the island tomorrow af
ternoon.
Although it is admitted that the signals
may possibly have been made by sur
vivors of the Paringa, it is generally be
lieved that it is more probable that they
were made by fishermen marooned on
the island.
The head keeper at the Wilson's Pro
montory lighthouse, Mr. Norman Jensen,
sighted a pillar of smoke this afternoon
on Anser Island, a small, desolate and
uninhabitated island about eight miles
south-west of Wilson's Promontory. Ear
lier in the day, a small fishing boat was
seen sailing in the direction of the island.
Mr. Jensen said tonight that the fire
seemed to be grass burning and that it
had obviously been deliberately lighted.
The island is on the track usually fol
lowed by the crayfish ketches which sail
from Welshpool and Mr. Jensen said that
he believed some of these fishermen had
been stranded and had lighted the fire
to attract attention.
Fishermen at Welshpool said tonight
that none of the crayfishing fleet was
missing
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