SYDNEY HARBOUR TRAGEDY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19166, 24 November 1927, Page 9

SYDNEY HARBOUR TRAGEDY.

—• EVIDENCE OF GREY CLIFFE'S CAPTAIN. WRECK TO BE EXAMINED (BT CABLS—PBSBS ASSOCIATION—COPTRtOnT.) (AUSTRALIAN A.ND U.S. CABU ASSOCIATION.) (Received November 23rd, 10.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, November 23. At the Groycliffo enquiry, Frank Gibson, second officer of the Tahiti, gave ovidence as to the movements of tho Tahiti similar to that of previous witnesses. lie said he saw the Greycliffc bearing in on the Tahiti, sho having changed her course three points to port. Ho heard tho pilot give tho orders, "Step, Port," "Stop, Starboard," mid "Full speed astern." Only a few seconds elapsed between the first and last orders. Tho Tahiti then swung towards Bradley's Head. The impact occurred a few seconds after tho Tahiti was put nstem. Witness said ho thought tho Tahiti was doing about eight or nino knots at tho time of the collision, not more. This closed the ovidence for the Union Company. William Barnes, captain of tho Grey cliffe, was tho first witness for tho Sydney Ferries Company. Ho doposed that when ho left tho wharf he gavo the order "Full speed ahead," as he had a clear run ahoad. Ho found a Blight difficulty in keeping the ferry boat on her course, as she had a slight inclination to swing, and he had to steady her. He was standing on tho starboard side when ho heard two blasts of a whistle. He looked over his shoulder, but did not soo anything. Then ho stepped across to the port side and saw the bows of the Tahiti right on his port quarter, a fow foot away. As he stepped across to that sido he felt a wave hit his storn and swing him to port. Ho immediately stepped back to tho wheelhouse and pulled about two spokes of the port helm on her. Then the crash caruo. Porting Mb holm Bhould have altered his direction to Btarboard, but it did not tako that effect. After that the Groycliffo swung rapidly round on to tho bow of tho Tahiti and wont down. Tho Greycliffo was doing between nino and ten knots, and there was no alteration at all in her speed. In reply to a question which sido did ho docido it bettor to go before the impact, Captain Barnes said "To starboard," and ho gave her a port helm. She pulled the wheel to starboard and she did not rospond. Had sho done so the ship would havo gono to starboard. Askod what was the sourco of tho wave that caused him to alter his course, Captain Barnes said, "JJrom the Tahiti, I suppose." He absolutely denied a suggestion that tho port window through which he lookod was too dirty to see through. Ho also gave a negative reply to a question whether he had loft tho steering house after he departed from the Garden Island wharf. Witness admitted that he knew nothing about charts. Ho steered by v the compnss, and at night by the harbour lights. Ho said all forry boats were erratic In Bteering, but the Greycliffe was not more erratic than others. He suggostod that the wave from the Tahiti threw him farther across the bows of the Bteamer. Ho would havo been hit anyhow, but tho wnve put him across at a greater angle. He could not havo got away, but he might havo got a more glancing blow if thore had been no wave. Mr Justice Campbell directed that a divor examine the locking gear attftpia of the rudder in the Greycllffe wreck. Barnes added that he was on kit usual course, which entailed a move to the north. After passing Bradley'■ Head he had to contend with the ebb tide, a south wind, and a right-handed propeller, which tended to pnll the Greycliffe to port. Frederick Jones, deck hand on the Greycliffe, gave evidence that he law the Tahiti coming at tho Greyoliffe at a tremendous speed. Then came the smash. He estimated the steamer's speed at fifteen knots. Though the Greycliffe wreck has been brought close inshore, it still lies in thirty feet of water. Divers are continuing the sesMh for the bodies'of the missing.