Extraordinary

Run of Bad Luck "Southern Cross" on Queensland Coast

AN extraordinary chapter of accidents has kept the Melanesian Mission yacht “Southern Cross” in Aus tralian waters. She sailed from Sydney for the Solomon Islands on March 12, with a scratch crew of Solomon Islands planters and traders, after surmounting numerous dockside troubles in Sydney; but in April she was still on the Austra lian coast.

She finally got away from Rockhampton on April 9.

After leaving Sydney, the “Southern Cross” ran into a severe cyclonic storm off the coast of New South Wales. She took a bad dusting, and Captain Upwood took her into Coff’s Harbour for shelter.

The sea moderated, and the ship set off again. The weather was far from good, but they were well on their way when the second mate, Mr. A. Taylor, fell down the companion-way and received concussion and other injuries. The skipper had to turn back towards Bris bane, and radio for an ambulance. The mate was taken to hospital, and the “Southern Cross” lay in Brisbane for a few days, awaiting quieter weather.

The second mate apparently made a good recovery, and rejoined the ship, and she sailed again on March 22. Then they ran into a second cyclonic storm. They were battling along, well out towards the Solomons, when the lubricating system feeding the port engine broke down.

There was nothing else for it—the vessel was turned back, and, with a tri-sail forward assisting the starboard engine, the “Southern Cross” reached Rock hampton on April 2.

Repairs were put in hand quickly— but then the second mate collapsed. The doctor said his injuries were such that he could not possibly continue with the ship.

The mission’s Sydney secretary, Major H. S. Robinson, who had had the “Southern Cross” and her troubles on his hands in Sydney and Brisbane for nearly two months, now began a frantic search in Sydney for a second mate. An officer was found, but none of the airways could give him passage to Rockhampton, where the vessel was waiting—he had to go by train. He was due there on April 8.

Major Robinson said that the one bright spot in all this chain of unhappy events was the extraordinary patience and good temper shown by the “scratch” crew of returning planters and traders.

They had had a frightful dusting in the cyclonic storms—but they had carried on their unaccustomed jobs without a whimper.