THE NAVAL DISASTER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 448, 9 January 1909, Page 3

THE NAVAL DISASTER.

Impressive Burial Ceremony.

Sydney, January 6,

The funeral of the 15 bluejackets this afternoon was a solemn and impressive spectacle. Between 400 and 500 naval men, dressed in white, first assembled at the temporary chapel at Garden Island, where the coffins of their comrades lay, and a brief service was held.

The wives of the captain-iu-charge of the naval depot and Captain Flyer, of the Encounter, deposited two beautiful wreaths in the chapel to the memory of the men.

After the prayer the assembled men sang in unison the hymn, “Brief Life Is Here our Portion.”

Strong men brushed aside tears as the thrilling service for the dead proceeded, and the service concluded with the hymn, “For Those in Peril on the Sea,” and the white-robed sailors stood as the Dead March in “Saul” was played. Then they filed past the row of coffins out into the sunlight to take part in the landing and burial of their dead. The bodies were landed at Man-o’-War Stairs, where the marines, with fixed bayonets, formed a guard. As the coffins, covered with the Union Jack, passed the marines they stood to attention.

A bugle call sounded. It was the last solemn salute to the dead.

The cortege started, and dense crowds thronged the route to Redfern Railway Station, where the bodies were taken to the Necropolis at Rookwood. Hushed stillness pervaded the great throng. The flags everywhere were at half-mast.

Colonel Wallace, A.D.C., reprepresented the Governor-General. Detachments of the military forces were present, and representatives of all the shipping lines attended the funeral.

London, January 6

To-day’s London newspapers have sympathetic comments on the collision in Sydney Harbour which resulted in the death of fifteen bluejackets.

Sydney, January 7

Among the numerous cablegrams of sympathy and condolence received by Captain Flyer of the Encounter are several from New Zealand, including messages from Sir Joseph Ward, Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Poore, and the officers and men of the warships in New Zealand waters.