LATER PARTICULARS.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 190, 14 February 1896, Page 2

LATER PARTICULARS.

HEART-RENDING SCENES. Per Press Association.) Brisbane, This Day. The scenes on the river banks, streets, asd ferry wharves were of a most painful aud affecting nature. The men looked anxiously as the rescue boats returned practically empty, while the women wrung their hands frantically, and moaned with grief, and the children looked for parents, brothers, or sisters. When the news reached the south side of the river the scene was terrible, women and men running about sobbing and crying. There can be ao possible doubts many of the victims met a horrible death by scalds from the escaping steam, while many were killed by coal falling on them from furnaces. Two bodies recovered near the dock were almost black, and bore traces of severe burns. The body of one woman was perfectly black from steam and coal dust. The steamers in the vicinity of the accident threw overboard life belts and all description of articles likely to be of service in keeping anyone afloat, but the awful suddenness of the disaster placed the unfortunate passengers beyond human aid. Up to nine o'clock last night twenty-one bodies were recovered, but it is impossible to ascertain the names until identification is complete. The Pearl was seen drifting past Buelimba ferry a couple of hours after the disaster apparently broken in half ; but no human remains were seen near the wreck. Captain Chard, the fireman and deck hand who formed the crew of the Pearl were rescued. The following are reported drowned : — Misses Louisa Barnes, Ida Newman, and Harcourt, Messrs A. Williams, C. Chibborn, Moran and daughter. Reported missing — Mrs Renton, Messrs McCorkindale, Charlton (engineer), and Ellis (clerk). The condition of the temporary portion of the Victoria bridge is causing much uneasiness. Passengers are now allowed to cross at their own risk. The structure has yielded considerably to the strain, and is now fully feet out of alignment. A pathetic incident was that of Mr Moran, who was returning with his son and daughter from his wife's funeral. In one or two cases life was restored to persons recovered unconscious from the river. A majority of those rescued were picked up by boats. |