AFTER THE TRAGEDY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 399, 7 January 1909, Page 5

AFTER THE TRAGEDY.

THE DUNMORE'S SPEED. A BTATEMENT BY THE CAPTAIN. INQUIRY OPENED." tDT TBtiCOKArU —I'tIESS ASSOCIATION—COPVUIOIIT.) Bydney, January 6. Further details of tho running down of the Encounter's pinnaoe by tho steamer Dunmoro, which resulted in the death of fifteen bluojaokets, do not throw much more light on the cause of the collision. Tho tow-lino between tho launch and the pinnace ivas 60ft. long. The steamer struck this first, and almost immediately afterwards foulod tho pinnaoe. The oaptain. of the Durimore states that the steamer' was going dead slow. /When ho Baw that an accident was inevitable the .engine was reversed, and the . vessel was almost at a standstill " when she struck the boat. . The survivors, after the first moments of consternation, during which a number of those in the water were pushed under in the struggle and had no chance to rise, displayed great coolness, and performed many acts of heroism, those ablo to swim helping the nort-swjmmers. One man managed to swim' ashore. Rescue boats from the warship wore on the scene within three minutes, An inquiry into the disaster was opened on board the Encounter, but was adjourned. ' • Tho Federal Premier, Mr. Fißhor, sent condolences to Vice-Admiral Sir R. Poore, Commander of the Australian Squadron. THE LAST RITES. • AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. . . (Rec. January 6, 9.2S p.m.) Bydriey, Januarys. The funeral of tho fifteen bluejackets this afternoon was a solemn and impressive spectacle. Between four and five hundred naval men, dressed in white, first assembled in tho temporary chapel on Garden Island, where tho coffins of'their comrades lay. - . ' . . A brief service was held, and the wives of tho captains in charge of tho naval depot and tho captain of the Encounter deposited two beautiful wreaths in the chapel to the memory of the men. After prayer, the assembled men sang in unison tho hymn, " Brief life is here our port-ion." Strong men brushed aside tears as the thrilling . service foY the. dead proceeded. ...... Tho service ooncluded with the hymn "For those in peril on the sea," and the whiterobed, sailors, stood as the Dead March in Saul',' was'played. Then they filed past the row of coffins out into tho shnlight to take part' in the landing and "burial of their, dead. At the Man-o'-War Staira tho'bodies were landed. Marine's with fixed bayonets formed a guard, and bb tho coffins, covered with tho Union Jack, passed, tho Marines stood to attention. - A bugle call sounded; it was the last, solemn salute to the dead. Tho. cortege then started. Denso crowds .thronged tho route to Redfern railway station, whence tlio' bodies .were-taken to the necropolis. A hushed stillness pervaded the great; throng. Flags everywhere were at half-mast. Colonel Wallace, A.D.C., represented tho Govoriior-General, Lord.. Dudley. Detachof. tho .military forces were.' present, and representatives ,of. all. shipping lines at-t-ended .tho funeral. . . . • : v - BRITISH APPEAL,FOR FUNDS.; ; •••••. (Rec., January 6, 10.35.p.m.) • ■ ■ London, January 6. The Mayor, of Portsmouth,' in an appeal for'contributions to .tho naval disaster fund, remarks that, the heroism, resourcefulness, and -sympathy; displayed - by British officers and men in connection with the earthquake haTo made the country prouder than ever of the' Navy,- but -the terriblo; boat accident at Sydney will necessitate fresh calls /for funds. -The-bulk of the'amount subscribed in IGOB has been allocated to the widows and of the men lost, in the destroyer Tiger, and the cruiser Gladiator. The public is asked to put into practical' shape tho admiration which the King has graciously: expressed, and which all must feel for the men of the Navy;