There's another song with the same title.

THE SOUTHERN CROSS (#2)
(From: Carrie Brennan, Ship Cove, 1978)

1.
Gaily flags were proudly waving at the hour she set for braving,
All the obstacles advancing on that frozen field of ice;
And her crew no danger fearing, proudly caught the strength of cheering;
On the morning of her sailing, many hearts they did rejoice.

2.
Our feelings we expressed them, when we knew that God had left them,
When we heard that they were sighted deeply laden on the foam;
And our hearts were glad and cheery when told near old Cape St Mary's --
By the Portia she was sighted and she proudly sailing home.

3.
Sadly now our hearts are mourning, dreaming yet of her returning,
Many more with sorrow laden say the ocean is her doom;
O ye waters merrily prancing, with the sunshine on you dancing,
O swift us back a message, just to lift this veil of gloom.

4.
Where is she you breezes, won't you whisper grief or cheer us --
Come if you please and let us know what has become of them,
Who left sisters and fond brothers, tender-hearted wives and mothers;
O swift us back a message, tell us what has become of them.

5.
Tell us she is sank or stranded, was she swallowed or abandoned --
Are the waves that rolled upon them a forlorn and helpless wreck;
O ye breezez won't ye tell us where are the noble fellows,
We cheered the day they left us, crowding joyously on her deck.

6.
Many hearts are sorrow laden, there's the matron and the maiden,
And the darling orphan children may God hear their helpless cry --
O look down on them each morrow, give them strength to bear their sorrow,
It is you dear Lord can do it from your mansion in the sky.

"The Southern Cross was lost in the spring of 1914 when returning to St John's from the ice. She was full laden with seal pelts and was last sighted by the Portia. Between 170 and 173 men lost their lives were lost, and there was never a trace found of the ship or crew. This was a particularly sad and tragic time for Newfouldland since the crew of the sealing ship Newfoundland were lost on the ice in the same storm, leaving a total of about 252 dead in one month. There is another more well-known song written about the same event but I believe this is the first time this song has appeared in print." (Genevieve Lehr, Come and I Will Sing You: A Newfoundland Songbook, University of Toronto Press, 1985, pp. 175-176)

The lyrics and music are quoted HERE, where verses 3-4 are amalgamated into one.

~Masato