6 September 1934

WRECK OF THE YOU YANGS ON KANGAROO ISLAND 

How A Sailor Recovered His Sea Chest

On June 15,1890, the barque-rigged steamer You Yangs, which had been engaged in carrying troops during the Crimean War, left Port Pirie for Sydney with a cargo of railway iron and flour. 

The weather was very stormy, and when the vessel cleared Cape Willoughby she ran into a heavy sea. The iron, being badly stowed, shifted, and the captain feared that it would go through the ship's side. 

During the night, the ship was kept head to the wind, as a nor'-west gale was blowing.  Just before daylight a loud scraping sound was heard, and on an examination being made the ship was found to be making water rapidly. 

The ship's three boats were quickly launched, and as the roar of the surf could be heard on the shore, the men pulled out to sea. The ship drifted on to a small beach just west of Cape Gatheaume.

When dawn broke, the three boats found themselves between high land and a large rock about 40 feet in height, over which the waves were breaking and throwing the spray high into the air. 

The second officer's boat, having no sail, pulled close along the shore and managed to make a landing under very high cliffs. It struck the only place at which the cliffs could be climbed for miles on either side. 

After climbing to the top the men found a hole in the rocks full of rain water. The country was covered with dense scrub, so they started to follow the coast to the eastward. 

Just before dusk they came to Point Tinline, and, following the Osmanlie Beach a little way, they struck a cave, which had steps cut in the rocks leading down into it. 

They entered and found a fireplace and chimney in it. This cave had been inhabited in the early whaling days, and was occupied at the time by an old opossum trapper. In it they found some flour and opossums. A fire was quickly made, the opossums roasted, and the flour made into doughboys. Next day the trapper, who had been absent when they arrived, returned and took them overland to Queenscliff. 

The other two boats continued on an eastward course, and just before sun set Cape Willoughby lighthouse was sighted. The captain decided to land on the south side. During the attempt the lifeboat capsized in the surf, the crew being thrown on to the granite boulders. Although several of them were badly knocked about they all managed to get ashore except the captain. He had been imprisoned underneath the boat. When this was discovered a young sailor pluckily dived into the surf and pulled him out, for which he was subsequently awarded the Royal Humane Society's medal. 

The men made their way to the lighthouse, where they were looked after. Next morning the steamer Governor Musgrave arrived and took them to Port Adelaide. The crew of the chief officer's boat were too exhausted to pull round the east end of the island, and the boat was blown out to sea, the wind being from the nor'-west. The boat was kept running before the gale, a ship's bucket being used for a sea anchor during the night. The men suffered severely from the cold, and from having constantly to bale water out of the boat. They repeatedly begged the chief officer to haul down the sail, but he refused. 

Shortly after sunrise low land was sighted, and a successful landing was made near Kingston, the boat having sailed about 130 miles in 12 hours. Among the wreckage found on the shore was a letter addressed to the young sailor who had saved the captain's life. It contained a lock of his sweetheart's hair. The finder sent the letter on to its owner, then the hero of the hour, with the result that he received it four weeks later, it being the only article, and possibly the most treasured of his sea chest's contents he recovered. 

A few years ago a lighthouse keeper was transferred to the western end of Kangaroo Island. As he had to travel overland to his destination he hired a horse and dray to take his wife and family. The roads were very rough and narrow, and the dray overturned, breaking the shafts. As they were not far from a farm cottage they sought help and shelter for the night. 

The owners of the cottage made them welcome, and after supper, as they sat around the fire, the keeper suddenly sprang to his feet crying excitedly. "My sea chest!" 

Explanations followed of the finding of the chest among the wreckage, and the forwarding of the letter containing the lock of hair. To the surprise of the farmer and his family, the keeper pointed to his wife, who was sitting on the chest and said, "She was my sweetheart." The chest was subsequently exchanged for a new one.— 'Sou' -Wester.'

Disputed Ownership 

In the early days when the Millicent district was young two bachelors selected adjoining sections, and, as they had not much money, they fenced the properties with a ring fence. When they cultivated, a division fence divided the cultivation land from the grazing area. Both owners' stock therefore ran in the one paddock. 

Each had a light mare which they used week about, and both went in the one conveyance to the township for the week's supplies. The two owners eventually decided to breed from the mares, and in due course on the same night two foals were born, but one of them was dead. 

When this was discovered both mares laid claim to the living progeny, and each of the men said that he was sure that it was his property. The difference of opinion caused a coolness between them and they went to town no more together. No decision was reached about the maternity of the offspring either. 

Eventually they decided to go to law about it. A friend of them both, however, thought it a pity that two men who had been friends for such a long time should quarrel over such a case. Therefore before the case came off he went out one night and killed the foal. Each then blamed the other for what he considered a dirty trick. 

The enmity continuing, the friend owned up to being the destroyer. Each of them determined to sue him for damages, but in the end common sense prevailed, and they often laughed together over their foolishness.— 'Tanta Tyga.'