The West Australian, 16 January, 1928.
GORGON DEPARTS.
Going to New Owners.
Commencing her 91st and final trip from
Fremantle to Singapore, steamer Gorgon
left port yesterday morning. In addition to
those who were on the quay to say goodbye
to passengers proceeding on the vessel to
Singapore and intermediate ports, were many
North-West residents to bid farewell to the
Gorgon's complement, and to see possibly for
the last time one of the vessels which has
played its part in the development of
the coastal districts.
Captain J. Ward Hughes, one of the best-liked
commanders in the Singapore and coastal service,
was in charge of the vessel. After delivering
the Gorgon at Singapore to her new
owners, Captain Ward-Hughes will return
to Western Australia. Most of the officers
and engineers will proceed from Singapore to
England, and among those who will return
to this State is Mr. J. Edward, the second officer,
whose home is in Perth. Associated with Captain
Ward-Hughes were the following:—
Messrs. B. Bowlt (chief officer), J. Edward (second),
A. Wright (third), A.J. Gourley (chief engineer),
Boss (second), Halliday (third), Marie (fourth),
and R.W. Lowry (purser).
After being launched, and fulfilling every
requirement of her owners on her trials,
the Gorgon entered the Fremantle Singapore
service towards the end of 1908, in
place of the Sultan. She was brought from
England by Captain P. Townley; her present
commander was then the chief officer, and the
purser was Mr. W. E. Collins, who is now
secretary of the Perth Club. Except for the period
between November, 1915, and February 1920,
when the Gorgon was carrying troops, the vessel
has remained in the service since 1908.
On the return of the Gorgon from war service,
Captain Ward-Hughes took over the command.
In 1921, while the Gorgon was between
Broome and Port Hedland, a fire broke out in
cargo in one of the holds. At the time the Gorgon
was on her southern run from Java, and she was
brought direct to Fremantle. Water having failed to
check the fire, steam was injected into the affected
hold, but the outbreak was not mastered until the
hold was opened, and the cargo removed at Fremantle.
No structural damage to the boat was sustained.
The Gorgon weathered two or three cyclones, one
of which was the worst experienced along the coast
for many years. An interesting incident of the Gorgon's
career was recalled yesterday by Mr. W. E. Collins,
the ex-purser. He said that shortly after the mysterious
disappearance of the steamer Koombana on the
North-West coast, the Gorgon joined in the search
for survivors or signs of wreckage. Several days were
spent in zigzagging across the Koombana's last known
position, and finally a door, which was afterwards
identified as having belonged to the ill-fated ship, was
recovered from the water. As far as was known, Mr.
Collins said, the door was the only sign of the Koombana
which was found.
Mr. Collins was purser of the Gorgon from the time she
arrived in West Australian waters until about four years ago,
with the exception of the war period, when he served in
Gallipoli, and acted as embarkation officer at Fremantle during
the closing stages of the war.
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| SS Gorgon - courtesy 'Men of the Merchant Navy'. |
Courtesy Flotilla Australia:
SS Gorgon, 3,533 gross tons; 336 ft. x 51 ft.; service speed 12 knots. Built by Caledon Ship Building & Engineering Co, Dundee; operated by Ocean Steamship Co and West Australian Steam Navigation Co.
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