steamship operated british later australian new_zealand coastlines february left darwin australia route adelaide encountered cyclone strength storm north queensland coast ship wrecked great barrier reef north west february survivors rescued days later occupants managed reach rescued days later men survived died including number high profile civil servants dignitaries description history commissioned following construction building yards london ton foot long vessel horsepower coal burning engine rigged funnel set aft main masts fitted port starboard owner operated near tower london sweden acquired renamed june melbourne purchased australian trade year protracted voyage england australia sail modern vessels working australian coastline 1860s popular ship considered reliable years australia new_zealand run owners transferred australian coastal service lengthened refitted adelaide enable longer distances steam greater passenger cargo capacity following modifications reverted november contracted years south australian government provide round trips colonial capital adelaide outpost feeling effects gold rush pine creek growing quickly trade post dutch_east_indies local banks sent money government east coast adelaide successful completion voyage south australian government pay owners sterling left wednesday february captain orders best possible speed captain adelaide darwin run time built solid reputation man sea man kindness respected fellow sea captains approximately passengers crew surviving records vary government officials circuit court judges darwin residents taking miners aboard french vice consul medical officer expedition found colony port darwin prisoners aboard bound adelaide jail locked captain cabin approximately kilograms gold valued million reportedly carried tin box containing gold coins worth excess days fine weather travelled kilometres darwin somerset weather began ship stopped ballast somerset anchored conditions deteriorated point anchor chains parted loss anchors forced prematurely steam kilometres nmi strong currents point brought night days later tuesday february passed wind rain severely increased cloud cover thick blocked sun despite continued journey south weather deep water passage coastline great barrier reef known inner route taking route provided protection open sea captains navigate thread way number reefs passengers crew expected newcastle sunday evening scheduled evening february ship heading south cyclonic conditions fore set steam engines running speed flooding rains entire queensland coast captain reportedly land sun approximately reasons altered course shortly speed knots hit section great barrier reef low tide miles north west struck force left high reef immediately order came lower sails panic passengers returned cabin expecting come reef high tide attempt captain ordered forward water ballast passengers positioned aft tide rose success finally fatal attempt reversing engine hard vessel came half reef badly broadside waves worse position tide rising cargo dumped overboard aboard expected float free strong winds changing direction seas increasing boiler fires extinguished water rising damaged stern midnight chief engineer came deck report engine room flooded engine use heavy seas rushing doomed captain forced admit situation desperate storm launching impossible captain ordered port lowered crew board passed astern boats broke painter crew tried hard pull ship impossible heavy accidentally let boats heavy seas unable retrieved thursday february continued heel deck steep passengers crew climb rails remaining starboard lowered rushed passengers starboard women children capsized tried board half dozen men water damaged food water quickly drifted away found second starboard capsized sea crashed washing occupants sea passenger recalled sea ship covered human heads like men woman climbed hull boat connected painter unable recovered heavy sea wind swept woman drowned passenger swam connected secured rope tied minutes nearly people drowned washed away trapped water filled time sharks wreck board tried rigging early morning february people drowned swept overboard large broadside waves passengers associated gold unwilling let gold money belts probably life savings insisted keeping tied overboard reportedly drowned quickly survivors morning february masts visible protruding water people rigging remained hours cyclonic weather low tide ground twisted broke fore main masts remaining starboard capsized held painter rope attached light february weather eased survivors managed right boat bail prepared makeshift sail mainland seven hours later realised mainland altered course island seen distance arrived met crew port severely damaged rocks opposite island attempt land day port crew board picked steamer island entrance passage days disaster steamer immediately reversed course wreck reached approximately friday february complete wreck funnel gone sunk eyes lower rigging chief officer hands went alongside masts seen water body naked man floating nearby assumed victims taken sharks searched survivors light way alarm raised survivors living raw bird eggs rain water island rocks rescue uncertain engraved ship details names concave large turtle shell hope found future sunday february set starboard island miles away south appeared closer main shipping lane rescue ship sent looking survivors picked group took safely rescue ship called subsequently returned rescued remaining survivors aftermath reports vary records people drowned records state death toll people survived crew passengers women children aboard officers died magistrate commissioner remained darwin lost wife children devastated news given months leave pay government retired fifth premier south_australia wife anne drowned french vice consul notable passengers died family justice judge acting south australian editor senior public servant commander royal_navy justice wearing senior assistant secretary mining companies employees australian history high profile public servants dignitaries diplomats died single tragedy passengers died darwin residents news tragedy severely affected small community reportedly taking years recover crew melbourne result children left victoria survivors left captain lake ship victoria headed sydney got free passage owners survivors second port picked steamer remained ship subsequently way brisbane weeks later hard hat sent recover gold found bodies women foot saloon staircase arm tried reach lock hair personal item identified loved ones restriction air line impossible gold captain cabin recovered difficulty recovering gold sharks caught near wreck found contain human bones remains jewellery heroes identified tragic night attested survivors attempts save passengers recognition bravery july governor south australia sir presented passengers gold medals gold watch presented gold chain report report determined speculation time adelaide melbourne press launched earlier survivor pointed filled capacity survived severe weather conditions experienced commented passenger vessels required carry concluding insufficient places passengers crew sank years later compulsory british registered ships carry sufficient board present day today parts deteriorated iron hull coal fired square boilers remain wreck lies approximately metres water western kilometres southeast registered place heritage site protected section commonwealth requires divers permit enter protected zone declared wreck official location old reef great barrier reef kilometres north east reef wreck provides good diving extensive coral garden strict non disturbance policy applies marine flora fauna fabric wreck fish reef sharks common legacy northern darwin suburb named family lost lives streets northern darwin suburb adjacent suburb named local darwin residents interstate visitors crew lost lives inner darwin suburb stuart park named ship large turtle shell engraved survivors displayed adelaide survivors detailed list passengers crew published albeit errors spelling mistakes document main source following survivors table survivors reconciled rescue ships log books records photo engraved turtle shell known clarified possible comments section known passenger list known crew list
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