FRIGHTFUL BOAT ACCIDENT AND LOSS OF LIFE AT DROMANA, NEAR MELBOURNE.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 33, 12 August 1867, Page 198

FRIGHTFUL BOAT ACCIDENT AND LOSS OF LIFE AT DROMANA, NEAR MELBOURNE.

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Tite intelligence which was made public of the shocking disaster which attended the pugilistic excursion of Tuesday, produced a very deep feeling in town jester

lay, and the places where it was thought likely further and more explicit news of tho occurrence might be obtained, were visited throughout the day by large numbers of eager questioners. A bout 12 o'clock the J)romar,a coach reached Melbourne, and as it was exoeeted tha' several of those who had been rescued would return to town by this conveyance, many people—relatives of those expected —went some distance along the St. Hilda road to wait its arrival. Four or five arrived by the coach, and in the evening -everal others came in by other convey mces. From their statements we are •nabled to give a detailed account of the ■ Kir.'iculu'S of this sad affair.

Arrangements wore completed on Tucs-

day for embarking the pugilists Alf. M'Lareu and Jack Carstairs, and also

those who wished to be spectators of the fight on board of the steamers Sophia and liesolute, for the purpose of conveyance to •=ome convenient spot on the shore of the Bay, whore they would be, probably, beyond the reach of interruption. On Tuesday, accordingly, a large number of the party went on board off the wharf, and the remainder were taken in at Sandridge, at about 9 o’clock. About fifty went by the Sophia, and something like 160 by the Resolute—the company being of the composition usual at such gatherings. To avoid tho danger >f having the two men arrested at tite Sandridge pier, they were not taken on board till the vessels had started, when Oarstairs was picked up from a boat off' Williamston, and M'Laren was similarly taken in oif St. Hilda. The weather at this time was very fine, a breeze was lightly blowing from the north-west, and the steamers ran with a fair wind down the bay. In accordanco with the “articles” the Sophia took the lead, the Resolute being bound to follow in the wake till a landing-place had been selected. The distance was fixed at not less than twenty and not more tnan fifty miles from Melbourne. The loading boat was piloted by Captain Rockett, to whose discretion the choice of a landing-place seems to have been in a great measure left. After steaming four hours they reached Mud Island, and the Sophia grounded twice on the shallows stretching from the island. This being observed by those on board the Resolute, her engines were reversed, and stern way was made, causing sad havoc amongst the little flotilla of boats which she was towing astern. Her passengers hailed tho Sophia, inquiring where she was going, on which she was put round, and run under Arthur’s Seat, where anchor was dropped by both vessels at about a quarter to 2 o’clock. They were theu lying about; a mile or a mile and a quarter from the beach, off a lee shore, with several sand banks to the land-side of them, covered by about haU-a-mile of white breakers, and with a "strong sea running in. Some of the Resolute’s men hailed the Sophia, arid said that it was too dangerous to attempt Janding, but the boats wtre

pulled alongside, and the boat-load of passengers started for the shore. The boat was under the charge of a boatman named Sawdy, of Sandridge, and it contained eight passengers. They left the vessel and got on all right for the first half-mile, when they reached the breakers. Not liking their appearance, they proposed to two back but finally resolved to chance

the attempt to reach shore. One of the passengers, J. E. Taylor, sat in the stern, and by spreading his coat against the rollers as they foUowed the boat, kept a good deal of water from coming in. The boat got into difficulties on one of the bars, but was righted, and ultimately got again into deep water, and brought near shore, when the passangers jumped out into the water up to their middle, and waded to land. Almost directly after this boat left the Sophia it was followed by the boat of James Edward, the well-known waterman of Prince’s Bridge. His boat conveyed some men known in pugilistic and sporting circles as Massey, Cain, Bill Smith, and Bid Chambers, who, with two or three others, making eight in all, were in charge of the ropes and stakes for forming the ring. Edwards managed his own boat, and succeeded in getting it safely through the tumbling surf in near shore, when the ropes, &c., were pitched out, and dragged ashore by the passengers. Edwards and Sawdy reached the shore and discharged their passengers nearly about the same time, and when they had done so thoy observed, on looking back towards the vessels, that another boat had followed and was upset in the surf, and that a lot of people were struggling in the water. While these two boats were getting ashore two others had become filled with passengers by the vessels and were following behind them. The one which left the Resolute was owned by a man named Bill Hayes, who requested William Montiploy, otherwise “ Filey,” a fisherman, well acquainted with every inch of that coast, to the boat. Montiploy consented to do so, but said that it would not do to attempt to convey many passengers through that surf, and when six or seven men were in the boat wished to put off, as that was quite enough for her to cany. Just then several more, amongst them J os. Cheshire and Charles Bramston (who are two of the drowned) jumped iuto the boat, which, then contained either thirteen or fourteen persons in all. A young fellow named Banner, of Sandridge, looked over the stern, and told them they wore too many for the boat to carry, a remark which was supgjs?rted by Montiploy ; but some ol them thought that they could get through, and one of the pa-sengers observed, — “ Well at any rate it will only bo to swim for it.” The steerer cautioned the rowers to be very careful in crossing the bars, and they started off' from the vessel. They reached the first bar, and were soon surrounded by the breakers —the sea, according to one of the survivors, “ falling over iu lumps.” Montiploy, at the stern of the boat, spread out his coat against the first roller which came up, but the water rose over his neck, and fell into toe stern part, half filling the boat. Some of the passengers .-tood up, but were prevailed upon by •he boatmen to keep their seats, and the oarsmen were told to pull away as hard as they could while the water was smooth. Almost immediately, however, another large sea rolled in, and the boat being now deep froth the water she had before taken in, shipped a great deal, and began to settle directiy afterwards. Montiploy, tin. steerer, found himself afloat, and was some time embarrassed by one of the passengers, who caught hold ol lum from behind. He saw Iliac the man had ou a poucho, which was by the water driven over his head, and was smothering him. Montiploy pulled it i’roui the man’s head so as to tree him, and them swam towards shore ; after swimming a distance of 300 or 490 yards he reacucd ground, and scrambled through the surf to the dry land, being the only one who succeeded by his own unassisted efforts in doing so. It was this state of tilings which. Sawdy and Edwards observed when they had brought their passengeis to land, and upon seeing what had happened they immediately pulled back to the spot and lent prompt assistance. It was most unfortunate for the occupants of the boats which had capsized that not only were many of them .unable to swim, but they were all very much impeded by the cloaks aud greatcoats in which they were wrapped. The boat on filling seems to have turned bottom uppermost by tiie next sea, and some of the passengers managed to reach it, and cling to its sides and keel. Among its occupants were —Newman, a boatman of Sandridge; G. Jones, butcher, of Sandridge; Wollicot, pawnbroker, of Elizabeth-strcet; Cheshire, keeper of an oyster saloon in Bourkestreet; C. Bramston, keeper of a similar establishment in Swanston-street; Moore, luruiture dealer in Little Eourke-street; Q.uinlan, landlord of the Kilkenny Hotel, Tiierry-street; aud Hayes, tho owner ol the boat. During the time he was clinging to the boat, Woliicott was driven away by the force of the sea, and was a time or two brought back again by Quinlan, who forsook nis hold for that- purpose. Finding himself getting exhausted, ’Woliicott calleu out to Moore, who was an acquaintance of his, “ Wliat will become of xny wife ana children and very soon afterwards sauk, and was seen no more. By the time that Sawdy reached them with his boat, Hayes was just on the point of sinking, and was only able to throw his arms across an oar which was extended to him, on which he was taken into the boat. Another, named Ashton, a butcher, of Prabran, was also rescued just in the nick of time by Sawdy, when too exhaused to keep afloat longer. Cheshire aud Bramston, who were close beside him, sank just then, and their bodies were soon drifted ashore. Five in all were lost from this boat. Edwards picked up three passengers I'vom the same boat and took them to the beach.

Almost at the same timejtime that this boat was leaving the Resolute, anotherput off’ from the (Sophia, conveying Captain Rockett, George Strike (landlord of the Butchers’ Arms), B. Woods, Alexander,

Wallace, TJrquhart, and one or two others. This boat was also swamped at the first bar, and capsized by the breakers, which rolled her over two or three times. One man, whoso name is not known, was, it is stated, seen to go down, The others clung to the keel of the boat, scrambing back again when they were driven away by the breakers, and were in a short time rescued by the boatman Edwards.

While this was Occurring in the surf, some of the first arrivals on shore, Taylor and others kindled a fire, and as the rescued were brought to land by Edwards and Sawdy, the men ashore ran into the surf to receive them, and carry them to dry ground. This was quite necessary, as f-’om the exhausted condition in which most of them were it would have been impossible for them to have scrambled ashore without such assistance. Two mounted constables, who had by this time arrived, named Stevens and O’Shanassy, rendered most valuablo service by applying tne the police instructions relative to “ treatment of the drowned.” These means contributed to the restoration of several. From the appearanee of Cheshire when his body was recovered it was thought that it might yet be possible to restore animation, and diligent exertions were made for an hour and a half in this attempt, but unsucessfuHy. A case, which was picked up from one of the boats, contained four bottles of gin, and the contents were found very useful to those who were utterly exhausted. The bodies of Cheshire and Bramston were those first dvifted ashore, and they were followed by those of Woliicott, Newman, and Jones. A number of Maori fishermen resident near ran down to the place and lent assistance, but on the whole could have been very well dispensed with. It was found, after the body of Wollicott was brought in, that a valuable watch and a largo sum of money, which it was known that he had brought with him, had been taken from his pockets, which were turned inside out. The Maoris who had been carrying the body were accused of the robbery by the passengers, and were followed by the constables, who searched them, but were unable to discover the stolen property. These.boats, after leaving their respective vessels, were watched by those who remained on board, many of whom were desirous of following at once. The disaster which had attended the two boats at the bar, however, was observed, |but its consequences could not be known, and it was thought that probably the boats were righted and all got safe to land. But when the people were seen running and gathering on the shore, and the troopers galloping, and especially when it was found that none of the boats returned to the vessels, it was feared that something very serious had occurred. A subscription was started on board the Resolute to raise a reward to, offer with a view of inducing some of the boatmeu to make their way to the shore and learn what had taken place. Alfred Holland, boatman, volunteered, as did also Richard Banner, of the Victoria Hotel, Sandridge, and the two •with a third man put off from the vessel A boat, manned by Dempsay and another man, left the Sophia at the same time for the same object, and the two pulled away for the shore. The boatman, on reaching the shore, heard what had happened, and as plenty of assistance happened to be at hand, they decided to return to the steamers, the two keeping close together on their way back that they might aideac-h other if au accident occurred in crossing the banks. The return of the boats was looked for with great anxiety from the vessels. A signal was arranged with Banner, who was, in the event of anything having gone wrong, to hoist a red “ comforter” on an oar on their getting out of the surf. This being observed from the Resolute, where the time was being speut in dancing and reckless fun of various kinds, it was at once concluded that something serious had ensued, and the passengers were told when the boats came within hailing distance that eight or nine lives had been lost, and that two bodies were already brought ashore. This news gave a great shock to aH who heard it, and as it was seen that no assis tance was needed or could be given, it was determined to weigh anchor and return to towm. At about 5 o’clock the vessels were headed northward, and ran up the bay in the teeth of a strong head wind, against which only slow progress could be made. On their arriving in town, about 10 o’clock, the news was quickly circulated that a shocking disaster had occurred, aud the relatives of those who had gone were thrown into a state of extreme anxiety until their fate had been learned. Those who went ashore stayed for the night at the two neighbouring public-houses, and some twelve or fourteen of them returned to town yesterday, the remainder being detained either by want of means of conveyance, or for tbe purpose of being called as witnesses at the inquest to be held today.

We have little to add to the foregoing. With respect to the uctual number of tiiose lost some uncertainty even yet exists. A telegram sent by the police to the Chief Commissioner states the number at seven, those whose bodies have been recovered being Cheshire, Bramston, Newman, Jones, aud Woollicott.

Tiiose who returned denounce in very strong terms the conduct of Capt. Rockett, who acted as pilot of the expedition. They say that the duties of pilot were discharged in the most neglect! ul manner —that he was below at the time when the vessel (the Sophia) grounded off Mud Island, that the spot chosen for a lauding place was one where a landing eould not he effected with safety even with an off-shore wind, and that to select it when a lee

shore, and with such a heavy sea rolling in, showed a degree of culpable recklessness quite inexplicable. It is possible that Captain Rockett may be able to fully justify his behaviour, hut in the meantime it is useless to ignore the strongly expressed opinions of large numbers of the excursion party.