The Recent Appalling Disaster.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 191, 15 February 1896, Page 2

The Recent Appalling Disaster.

liATHiST FAKTICUL^AKS. STATEMENTS BY SURVIVORS. HARROWIN > DETAILS. Per Press Association.) Brisbane, Fcbrusry 14. The names of those missing is increasing hourly and tbe greatest difficulty is experienced in obtaining a correct list of tbe victims. Forty-six were rescued. Tbe following in addition to those already sent are reported as missing and almost certain are drowned :— Harry Jarman, William Hall, William Ravers, Charles Kinder, Joseph Rose, Worthington and O'Sulllvan ; Mesdames Best and Messenger ; Misses Marshall, Gould, Yorston and some members of a family named Cook. Peter Dowd, a survivor of the Pearl, states that bis attention was first directed to the danger by the fireman of the steamer calling out to the captain some words -which sounded like " I thought you'd do it!" Then the crash came. Dowd caught the Lucinda's bowspit, a like teat being accomplished by six others. The police are doing thfiir utmost to arrive at the correct list of the missing, bnt the difficulty is enhanced by the fact ihat many people scared by the accident did not venture to leave the City for their homes. Thus their friends report them inissins? to the police. The statement published that 21 bodies had been recovered was incorrect, aa up to the present only two have been secured — those of Miss Barnes and Mrs Harper. It is feared that the bulk of the bodies have been washed down the river. A young man named Jarman, who is among the missing, had secured a lifebelt, but gave it to his aunt, saying, 44 Savo yourself. I'll be allright." McCorcindale, while in the water, saw a friend who was rescued. He said — " Good-bye ! I cannot swim ! Remember me to my wife ! " The latter was also on board, but was saved. A laborer close by succeeded in savinw two others and getting ashore himself. The flood water is subsiding, and the debris is cleared from Victoria Bridge, which is now believed to be safe. A movement is on foot for the relief of any persons rendered destitute by the accident. This Day. The Captain of the Pearl interviewed said there were about sixty passengers. He got by the flood and an eddy slewed the steamer which refused to answer her helm. He ordered "the engineer to " go astern " but he could get no stern way on. When he saw the collision was inevitable he shouted to warn the passengers to " lookout for themselves." The accident was due to the steamers ! being anchored right in the track of the ferry boat. Although he struck the j Lucinda's chains on the previous trip Le did not consider it was running any danger. To have gone round her stern would have caused the loss of too much time. Added to the missing are Mesdames Nelson, Harper, Gyoinai and two children. Misses Norton, Brand, Percy, Harris, Hugh, Morreu, and a boy named Jarman. The total drowned is believed to be twenty-five. It was a pitiful tale which James Wilsou had to tell. He was found in a boarding house overcome with grief. On the afternoon of the accident Mrs Wilsou met him on the Queen's wharf and tbe couple left in the Pearl. Seeing the danger when the vessel founded the anchor chain Wilson caught hold of his wife and held her. When they found themselves in the water another lady also clung to him but they were all carried down the stream. Wilson tried all he could to save his wife but without success as she sank before bis eyes. Mr Justice Real intended crossing by the Pearl but he considered the vessel overboarded and did not start. The Captain admitted telling someone after the first trip when struck by the Lucinda's chain he would not risk it again, but when he got near the steamer on the fatal trip he thought be would do so, not realising there was any danger. Did not think anyone was scalded, as the vessel was under water before the steam escaped. As the boat sank someone called out " Why don't you grip hold of something ?" and replied " Don't want anything, am going down with her." Almost immediately afterwards she sank and he went down. A passenger describes the passengers as panic stricken. They had no time to free themselves from the awning of the sinking steamer. The agonising cries of perishing meu and women were appalling, but only for a moment, for many were carried down with the and lost sight of, while some few who were clinging to the seats of the vessel, and other wreokage, drifted rapidly down stream. Public opinion is exercised greatly as to responsibility for the accident. Many think it was quite needless to close the bridge against foot passengers, while others blame the authorities for not arranging better service.