Fatal Collision in Sydney Harbor.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 148, 19 December 1894, Page 2

Fatal Collision in Sydney Harbor.

A NUMBER OF LIVES LOST. SEVERAL ACTS OF HEROISM. [PKB PHESB ASSOCIATION.! Sydney, December ly. A serious collision occurred in the harbor this evening. The tugboat Awahina ran into tbo guardboat Princess between Middlo Head aud Watson's Bay. The latter was making the usual round of tho forts, aud had about fifty persons aboard including officers with their wives aud children. Tho Awahina struck the Princess almost amidships, and she canted over so suddenly that twenty persons, including the captain, were thrown into the water. Tho captain succeeded in clambering on board again, and although the tires wero extinguished by the inrush of water, he managed, with tho steam already up, to beach the vessel iv Chowder Bay. Boats promptly reached the scene of the disaster, and picked up many ; but owing to tho distance from town, authentic details have not yet been received. It is beliovetl that the daughter of Major Bridges and tho daughter of Mr Bond, bauk manager, are missing. Two other of Major Bridges' children and a number of ladies were rescued in a vory exhausted condition. This Day. Tho peoplo on the steamer Princess bad been to a birthday picnic, given to celebrato the sevouth anniversary of the birth of Major Pondge's twiu daughters, one of whom, named Marjorie, was drowned. The only other fatality was a child named Buckland, aged 6 years. A child named Ward and a nursegirl are iv a critical condition The collision occurred iv daylight, otherwise there would have been a heavy loss of life. How tbo accident happened is inexplicable, as the harbour is quite cloar at the spot where it took place. After the impact there was a panic, and the awning on the deck of the Princess collapsed, injuring a number of passengers. A little child was seen in the water right under tho sponsou, and Miss Ja vis, who was struggling in the water, saw tbo upturned face, and, grabbing tho little one, succeeded in raising it up above her head at arm's length, but a nasty sea at tho moment overwhelmed both girl and child, and tho latter was seen no more. A soldier sprang in and I rescued Miss Javis. Volunteer Borland, holder of the Royal Alliert medal, for bravery displayed at tho sub- marine explosion which happened some time ago at Middlehead, bravely saved a lady. After the collision lifebelts were promptly served out on tho Princess. Both vessels wero going at nearly full speed at the time.