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 tore a hole through the plates from the bow to the engine room amidships, four to 12 feet wide. The ship sank in less than five minutes. At the time, the worst maritime disaster in Queensland's history.
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.
| People aboard at time of the disaster | ||
|---|---|---|
| Group | No. aboard | Survival rate |
| Javanese passengers | 70 | 79% |
| Lascar crew | 92 | 78% |
| Saloon passengers | 26 | 19% |
| Steerage passengers | 75 | 86% |
| European officers | 15 | |
| Crew (other trades) | 14 | |
| Total | 292 | 54% |
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.
Read more about this topic: RMS Quetta
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