A Terrible Catastrophe

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 102, 6 February 1886, Page 3

A Terrible Catastrophe

The following particulars of a terrible catastrophe on the river Derwent, Tasmania, by which five persons were drowned, appear in the ; Melbourne Age : — "A deplorable accident occurred on the river Derweut i last night, close to Bridgewater. The steamer Colleen Bawn had been • chartered to bring lime from Heron's kiln, four miles beyond Bridgewater, the lime being ordered to be stacked in the hold; but to save time that order was countermanded, and nearly the whole of the bags were stacked on deck. On the way down the river, a number of lady passengers expressed fears as to the safety of *the steamer and asked to be landed near the railway bridge. On reaching Griffith's Point the steamer touched a rock and sank instantly. There was no boat on board, and the passengers had a ;pobr chance of escape. Mr Bromley seized hold of bis little daughter -and swam ashdie, accompanied by his wife who was a good Swimmer, and the man in charge of the lime rescued Mr Johnson's y.mngest daughter. W. Taylor, who had charge of. the steamer, although almost . blinded with the slaking lime, swam for a boat, but when he returned Mrs Johnson, her two eldest' daughters, Miss Proctor, and Mr Bromley's little boy were drowned. Mrs Johnson's body which was floating almost upright in the water, was recovered after some time." . ___________