GREYCLIFFE DISASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1928, Page 1

GREYCLIFFE DISASTER

STORY OF EYEWITNESSES

WANG ANTI, Jan, 12

Fred Corby, tho Now Zealand hero of the Grovel iff o disaster, is .spending a holiday with his people in Wanganui. AA hen approached by a reporter for an interview, Mr Corby, with

characteristic modesty, replied that he preferred to say very little about the tragedy, and he had already refused interviews in Australia, San Francisco and New Zealand.

He wished, however, to deny the statement that lie was four houin in the water. At the outside, he was not more than half an hour, and by that time the whole of tin 1 rescue work had been completed. Questioned in regard to what prompted him to dive over the side. Corby replied that, coming down the harbour, he was on deck in a shirt and a pair of shorts he had purchased in San Francisco, and was wearing slippers. He heard a woman scream, and looking over the starboard side, ho saw the how of the Tahiti just about to hit the Clreyeliffe. He also noticed a little schoolgirl at the very spot. She had her schoolbag on her arm, and he saw her put up her hands as if to fend off the Tahiti. “My God,’ uttered,” said Mr Corby, “and then I ran along to get as far from the propeller as possible and dived over. Proceeding, Air Corby said that he actually saved three lives, and in all assisted Iff persons with lines and on to wreckage, etc. until such times as they could be picked up by the other boats.

Pile water was very cold, and going hack to Sydney on the lorry boat, on which were a number of injured persons, the wind was bitterly cold and there was little in (lie way of cover for the unfortunate people, for whom he felt very sorry. Some were also bleeding badly.

There was an absence of stimulants and bandages, and AH- Corbv thought that these and a few .spare blankets •should he provided in all ferry boats in ease of a similar disaster. One old lady lie assisted in the water remarked she only wanted to live to sei' her son. He had great admiration for one young woman who was a good swimmer, and who was keeping her mother up until such time as they could he lifted on to a ferry boat. At this juncture an. amusing incident happened in the midst,of the tragedy. One of the crew of the ferry boat, fully dressed, had assisted one person placed on hoard to the cabin, and came running hack to the side of the vessel, whore lie forgot all about the opening and ran straight over into the sea. When Air Corby looked up his legs were still moving in the air. as if lie were running.

“[ could not help laughing at the time,” said Air Corby, who was supporting a -woman jn the water. “At any rate, lie was a good swimmer and it did not lake him long to regain the

M lien Air Corby rejoined the Tahiti on the same evening, he took his shift as usual. Later, on the run over, he had to he relieved on the shift, as he had contracted a chill, which kept him in bed for a lew davs.

Ihe presenla(ion by passengers on tile I nhiti took him by surprise. He understood that he was going along to meet a captain who was travelling on Hie steamer, when he suddenly found himself in the midst of a large number of passengers. He never felt .so eniharassed in his life before, and it was a much harder job returning thanks than it was going over the side and rendering what assistance lie could.

'llie little girl Mr Corby first sighted on the (i rcyclijfe lie never set eves on again and could not say whether she was saved or not. PROTEST BY MERCHANT SERVICE AUCKLAND, Jan. 1«. The Captains and Officers from all the ships in port, met in Auckland this morning, and alter discussing the Australian Court finding in the Grey-i ciiffe-Tahiti collision inquiry confirmed the opinion of the meeting of captains in Sydney, that the finding involved an impossibility. Captain Hill, of the Niagara, presided at tn-dav's meeting, which was an official one ol the -Merchant Service Guild. The motion passed was as follows: “That this meeting confirm the opinion of the Alcrehnnt Service Guild in Sydney, protesting against the Court’s finding in the Greyeliffe-Tahiti collision.” *