GREYCLIFFE TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1927, Page 3

GREYCLIFFE TRAGEDY

TAHITI OFFICER’S EVIDENCE-

(.Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.]

SYDNEY, Nov. 15. At the Grey cl iff e inquest, Cecil Sharpe, chief officer of the Tahiti, gave evidence that he was on duty on the forecastle of the Tahiti when the collision occurred. Both vessels were holding parallel courses end the Tal t. W as going about seven knots an ho r. Witness was half-way up the forecastle when he heard the first crash. He looked over the side and sav the Gieyclifi'e across the Tahiti’s hows Witness had gone to give some orders to the boatswain when he heard shout" g and rushed back along the deck. Then came a crash. There was nothing to indicate that the Tahiti had changed her course. When lie reached the bows tho Tahiti was crashing through the upper works of the Greycliffe. Later she listed heavily and appeared to sink right under the Tahiti’s stern. He then gave intruc-tions for accident boats to be launched, which was clone and lifebelts thrown overboard. Tn replv to a question, Sharpe said t the vessels, before the collision did not appear to be converging. From the time he first saw the Greycliffe m collision it was only thirty seconds until the ferry disappeared. He could not remember hearing any blast of the whistle before the - The inquiry was adjourned tlTl 28th. December,