SYDNEY HARBOR DISASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 7 November 1927, Page 1

SYDNEY HARBOR DISASTER

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association. FURTHER PARTICULARS. SYDNEY, Nov. 5. The latest additions to the deatl art -Miss Frost, of Melbourne, and Henry Styles, of Watson’s Lay. li. Koikes should he L. Forbes, whoso son also is among the dead. Add missing: Eliza Asher, F. Rarker, Man, Dahlia, A. Larry, F. Forbes, Hetty Sharp, C. Murrty. C. Hedges, Edna Gray, C. Stevens, H. Brown, C. Crocker, J. Kine. Navigation authorities state that the departure of the Tahiti after the smash was quite in order, as she is a mail boat on a regular run, and will fie back here in seven weeks, in addition, the pilot is here to give evidence at the preliminary inquiry. The report received by the Union Company from the Tahiti before she sailed states that the Greveliile after calling nt Garden Island was ahead of the Tahiti, and stood away from Xeilsen Lark on the Tahiti’s starhoard bow. When Bradley’s Head was approached, the Tahiti steered in Husual way. allowing the Grevelilfe plenty of room to proceed on her course. The ferry, however, appeared to hear in towards the point. All went well Lill the Tahiti’s how was almost level with the ferry amidships, then the ferry, it is alleged, suddenly swerved across under the liner’s how, and in a few seconds was overturned. The Tahiti’s whistle was blown and every effort made to stop the vessel, hut it was too late.

MORE BODIES FOUND. PROGRESS OK RECOVERY. (Received this day at 8 a.nt.) SYDNEY, Nov. 7. Divers continued the search of the sunken Greyelifle to-day and discovered three more bodies, a boy, L. Lanksheer, a girl, Betty - Laurence, both of Vancluse; E. A. Stevens, storekeeper, of the Naval Supply Shi]) Kurrabu. They also located what is believed to he the Indies’ cabin portion of the Greyelifle, which is badly smashed and had drifted a hundred feet awa.v, and other parts of the wreckage. Contrary to expectations no bodies were found in it. Divers came across a handbag containing money, other belongings and the address of Airs Milson, of Elwood, Victoria. She is not known to be aboard. Inquiries are being made to find if she is to he added to the list of victims. It is proposed to lift parts of the wreck to-morrow, ft Is expected that this will reveal other bodies amid the wreckage or pinned in tlie mud. As there was a strong undertow where the Greyelifle lays it is thought some of tile bodies may have drifted away.

A big representative memorial service, including the Governor, was held at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. Mr Hughes represented the Union Coy. References were made to the disaster in till the churches. The funerals of some of the victims to-day were largely attended by the public. SYDNEY. Nov. 5. Among many messages of sympathy received in connection with the Grey(Tiffe disaster, is one from the Duke and Duchess of York. The master of the Greyelifle, Captain Barnes, was carried down imprisoned in the wlieelhouse, when the vessel sank, hut escaped through a Windowu, and was rescued in an exhausted condition. He soon recovered, and insisted on taking part in the rescue work, and assisted, having the number of passengers, according to the standing rule. All the Lorry Company’s available steamers abandoned timetables and went to the assistance of the Greycliffe victims. The bodies of fifteen were buried yesterday, the funerals being largely attended by the public. The divers, yesterday continued the

search of the sunken ferry boat, and were watched by many people in rowboats and launches. They are meeting with increased difficulty in their work owing to the heavy mud at the harbour bottom obscuring vision, and the wreckage ik shifting its position. The perils of their work is also increased by the greater depth of water—eighty feet—in the new position. They concentrated their efforts on breaking into the ladies’ cabin, which was found broken away from tbe other part of the (Ireyclid'e, and in which it is believed a number of bodies will be found. Their efforts, however, so far, have been futile, and no further bodies have been recovered. Mrs R. Smith, mentioned in the list of missing, has returned home safely. She was not on board tbe Greycliffe.

STATEMENTS BY PILOT AND CAPTAIN. SYDNEY, Nov. (5. The police headquarters supplied the press with an authorized publication ot the statements made to them by Pilot Carson, who took the Tahiti out and by Barnes, captain of the Greycliffe. Carson says he was steering tbe usual course and saw the Greycliffe on the starboard bow, about the Tahiti’s length away from him, steering a parallel course, and in no danger whatever. At Clark Island, the Greycliffe suddenly altered her course right across the Tahiti’s teeth. He immediately ordered the Tahiti’s helm hard to starboard, and the steamer commenced moving to port. He also ordered the port engine full astern and stopped the starboard engine. There had been two blasts of the whistle, but the collision was then unavoidable and occurred in a few seconds.

On the bridge with Carson at the time were the Tahiti’s captain, second officer, helmsman, and junior officer. The light was good. Barnes, in his statement, estimated that between seventy and a hundred passengers were aboard the Greycliffe. He says he had called at Garden Island wharf and was heading for Neilsen Park wharf when he heard two blasts from a vessel. He looked out on starboard side, but saw nothing. Then lie stepped across to the port side and looked astern. He saw the Tahiti within a few feet of his port quarter. He had not seen or heard the Taliii previously. Immediately after this the Tahiti hit the Greycliffe and the latter seemed to go down at once. He escaped through the window of the wheelnouse.

Barnes added that he does not know whether the blasts he heard came from the Tahiti as there was another steamer in the vicinity. He was travelling at a speed of nine or ten knots. When struck his engines were going at fullsteam ahead.