The following is a complete description of the S.S.Alert:—
Owners, Messrs Huddart, Parker and Co., Melbourne. She was an iron screw Steamer of 243 tons gross measurement, built at Port Glasgow, Scotland, in 1877. Her length was 169 feet. Breadth of beam, 19 feet 6 in., and depth of hold, 9 feet 8 inches, In other words, her length was nearly eighteen times her depth, and nearly nine times her width. She came out to Melbourne under sail, and rigged as a three masted Schooner.
From the time of her arrival here until the month prior to her loss, she had been trading inside Port Phillip Heads, from Melbourne to Geelong andvice versa. All the time she was engaged in the Geelong trade, and up till the period of her loss, she was riggedwith a foremast only, and hence she was not capable of carrying sail aft.
The cargo she had on board when she left Metung, (Gippsland Lakes) her last port of call, consisted of 25 tons wattle bark, 20 bags maize, 14 empty casks, 40 bales wool, 55 sheepskins, one box tools and 20 packages furniture. In all estimated about 44 tons.
With regard to her draught of water when on the fatal voyage, it is alleged that she was drawing 9 feet 6 inches aft, and 5 feet 9 inches forward.
Complete list of the persons on board theAlertat the time of the disaster.
Drowned—
Albert Mathieson, captain, age 35, married, no children; residence. St. Vincent-street, South MelbourneJ. G. Hodges, chief officer, 32, married, no children; Yarraville.J. Mattison, second officer, 43, single; South Melbourne.J. Thompson, chief engineer, 48, single: South Melbourne.J. Kilpatrick, second engineer, 33, married; one child; Williamstown.J. Dodd, steward, 32, married, one child; Carlton.T. Thompson, A.B., 45, married, two children; South Melbourne.J. Williamson, A.B., 27, single; South Melbourne.J. Arthurson, A.B., 25, single; South Melbourne.J. Coutts, A.B., 42, married, three children; South Melbourne.W. Thompson, fireman, 30, single, Williamstown.D. McIvor, fireman, 28, single, Balaclava.J. Newton, saloon passenger, 29, single; Beechworth.W. Stewart, steerage passenger, 60, married, seven children; Collingwood.— Page, steerage passenger, Steiglitz.
Albert Mathieson, captain, age 35, married, no children; residence. St. Vincent-street, South Melbourne
J. G. Hodges, chief officer, 32, married, no children; Yarraville.
J. Mattison, second officer, 43, single; South Melbourne.
J. Thompson, chief engineer, 48, single: South Melbourne.
J. Kilpatrick, second engineer, 33, married; one child; Williamstown.
J. Dodd, steward, 32, married, one child; Carlton.
T. Thompson, A.B., 45, married, two children; South Melbourne.
J. Williamson, A.B., 27, single; South Melbourne.
J. Arthurson, A.B., 25, single; South Melbourne.
J. Coutts, A.B., 42, married, three children; South Melbourne.
W. Thompson, fireman, 30, single, Williamstown.
D. McIvor, fireman, 28, single, Balaclava.
J. Newton, saloon passenger, 29, single; Beechworth.
W. Stewart, steerage passenger, 60, married, seven children; Collingwood.
— Page, steerage passenger, Steiglitz.
Saved—
R. Ponting, cook, 30, married, no children; South Melbourne.
R. Ponting, cook, 30, married, no children; South Melbourne.