Complex sentence: By 16 January 1888 the SS "Koonya" had broken two propellers by striking sunken piles at Cascades and Impression Bay this was the first of many such accidents latter a craft was engaged in shifting the sunken piles away from the steamers track.
Split into simpler sentences: By 16 January 1888 the SS "Koonya" had broken two propellers by striking sunken piles at Cascades and Impression Bay. This was the first of many such accidents; later a craft was engaged in shifting the sunken piles away from the steamers track.