disaster

24 February 1914 was a Tuesday ...

Related to this one: After the Fethard Lifeboat Disaster.

Oh dear! Disaster KLAXON ! ... www.independent.ie/regionals/goreyguardian/news/they-said...

Fethard Lifeboat Crew - Christopher Bird (Cox), John McNamra (2nd Cox), Thomas Handrick (Bowman), William Bird, James Morrissey, Michael Handrick, Patrick Butler, William Bandville, Patrick Roche, George Crompton. Richard Bird, Garrett Handrick, John Kelly, Patrick Cullen. From - www.mariner.ie/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Fethard-Lifeboa... p.16

The five surviving lifeboat crew were later given medals by the King of Norway, and the RNLI.

RMS Quetta HistoryOwner:British-India SN CoOperator:British-India SN CoLaunched:March 1881Fate:Wrecked 28 February 1890 after hitting rocks near the Torres Straits. 134 people lost their lives in (at the time) what was considered Queensland's worst maritime incident.General characteristicsDisplacement:3,300 tons (gross)Length:380 ft (120 m)Beam:40 ft (12 m)Propulsion:steam & sailSpeed:Over 13 knots (24 km/h)Capacity:Designed for:72 saloon (1st class) passengers32 steerage (2nd class) passengers. RMS Quetta was a Royal Mail Ship that was wrecked on the Far North Queensland coast on 28 February 1890. Quetta's sinking killed 134 of the 292 people on board, and so this resulted in one of Queensland's biggest maritime catastrophes Disaster On the night of 28 February 1890 the ship's master was Captain Sanders, with Captain Keatinge aboard piloting the ship through the Torres Strait. Destined for Thursday Island, the ship turned into the Adolphus Channel to round the Cape York Peninsula. The pilot was experienced, the weather fine and visibility good, but at 9:14pm the ship struck an uncharted rock in the middle of the channel near Albany Island. The rock ripped a hole through the plates from the bow to the engine room amidships, four to 12 feet wide, sinking Quetta in 5 minutes and sending 134 of her passengers to their deaths. At the time, the Quetta's loss was thought to be the worst maritime disaster of Queensland. At the time of the disaster Quetta had 292 people aboard: a crew of 121, comprising 15 European officers, 14 from other trades and 92 lascars from India; 70 Javanese in temporary deck houses, travelling to Batavia after working in the cane fields; and 101 other passengers. The ship's cutter floated clear of the wreck and capsized, surrounded by a large group of Javanese and lascar seamen. Quartermaster James Oates organised the baling of the cutter and it headed towards shore. Only one of the ship's lifeboats survived: Number 1 starboard lifeboat controlled by third officer Thomas Babb. It was damaged and largely awash. As it headed toward shore it picked up more survivors including Captain Sanders. Around midnight the two boats came together and those aboard were placed on the nearest island. Captain Sanders then ordered the cutter to search for more survivors. After spending a night and day without food and water on Little Adolphus Island the main group of ninety-eight survivors were rescued by the Albatross, that along with the Merrie England had been dispatched from Thursday Island's Port Kennedy. The Albatross took soundings and located the rock thought responsible for the disaster, about half a mile from where Quetta lay. Relics raised during salvage attempts months after the disaster, and later, can be found in the Quetta Memorial Church on Thursday Island, which was consecrated in 1893. She now lies on her port side in 18 metres (59 ft) of water and is a protected historic shipwreck under Australia's Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976.

FLOOD IN TOWNSVILLE GREATEST IN MEMORY: DAMAGE MANY THOUSANDS Water 15 Ft Deep In Parts TOWNSVILLE, March 5.-Residents of 60 years stated that the flood in Townsville was the greatest in memory, affecting areas previously regarded as above any possibility of flooding. The damage done by the flood in the city will run into many thousands. It is not possible to make a close estimate of the damage until the flood waters recede, as many houses in the Hermit Park area are still submerged. Some householders lost the greater part of their furniture, which was swept out of their houses. Officials, however, estimate the damage at £200,000 in the city area. In parts of South Townsville, the water was as high as 15 ft. above the road level. The Causeway Hotel, on the bank of the Ross River, had 30 inches of water over the bar counter. With inches of silt and other flood deposits in their homes, many residents of suburban areas of Townsville today were unable to obtain town water with which to clean their houses. The water shortage has been caused not by any damage to the weirs, but by the submersion of the pumps which line the bank of the Ross River and which have been in water, mud and silt. The wet motors of the pumps will have to be replaced with dry motors before pumping can be resumed. The city is still without gas, which is not expected to be avail- able until Wednesday. Source: Morning Bulletin,06 Mar 1946 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/56393192