The Stal Accident at the Syd any Embarkation.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 86, 14 March 1885, Page 2

The Stal Accident at the Syd any Embarkation.

• HORRIB LE AND HEARTRENDING SCENE. A frigl: tful accident (says the Sydney Tekrjrapl i of tho 4th instant) terminated yesterduy 's proceedings, and sent a thrill of horror through iliose on board the steamer Nemises (which accompanied the troopships to the Heads), who bur a moment ago were m thu highest ol : spirits. When the collision between the Iberia and Nemesis took place the '.Iberia's ladder gear was caught, by the anchor of the Nemesis, which hung over the side, and was torn up and thrown over the side of the; local steamer, ami as the troopship passed on, her port lifeboat was smashed to atoms, and the topgallant rail of the forecastle of the Nemesis was carried away. When it isstatedthat on the forecastle-head, and all along die port side of the Nemesis, the people were thickly crowded at this time, the terrible cfiiect of the collision may be imagined. No shock was felt aft, but the scene forward beggars description. The debris resulting fjom the smash fell on the deck of the smaller steamer, or rather was dashed with great violence on board, m the midst of a crowd^if men, women, and children. Two women were killed, a child seriously injured, two men were badly hurt, and several persons were more or less knocked about, while many snstainod a severe shock. The only wonder is that so many escaped. In all these accidents iii which loss of life occurs there are always strange and evon marvellous instances of escape from injury whi>re instant death seems the must probable result to have been expected m such circumstances. The accident yesterday was uo exception to the rule. Persona who were almost on the very spot of the collision got clear ot any mishap, while others near to them were killed. The details of the sad affair are heartrending. One of the victims, a Mrs Cecil, had come to wave farewell to her husband, who is one of the contingent on the Iberia. An instant before the collision she was standing on a spar m the forepart of the vessel, and was holding her infant child to have- a last look at " Father," who was waving his hand to j them. A second later the mother and child were dashed to tne ground, and the blood washed the scuppers of the ship. At the same time another woman Mrs Capell, was struck down by the Iberia's ladder, the broken ends of which striking sharply into her face, literally pinned her to the deck, while other timber, fell upon her body and crushed the life out of her. Death was instantane^ ous, and the corpse was a mangled mass of fleah and blood. Mr Capell, the husband, escaped with a broken and lacerated finger, and a shock to the system. He appeared to be quite dazed. Mrs Cecil, the soldier's wife, was placed on the fore- hatchway and everything done for her that circumstances would permit a medical man, Dr Kennedy, fortunately being on board, but it was evident, even to the unskilled oye, that tho poor woman could not recover, her iinjuries heing so serious. Tho ohild had sustained a broken thigh, and appeared to fare better. Mr Bates, a elork m the Audit Department- had his right leg badly bruised, and suffered great pain, but was not otherwise injured. A Miss Stauuard received a nasty blow on the head and a shock to tho system, and several others wero bruised either from falling or being struck by the flying timber. The shrieks of the women and cries of alarm generally pierced the air, and must have had a depressing effect upon the departing trqqps, wljq were quite close enough to see that the collision h.ad been attended with disastrous results. As. to those on the Nemesis, the experience is n.qt likely to be forgotten by any of them. Confusion for a time reigned supreme, to such an extent had consternation taken possession of the people. Not only the injured had to -be attended to, but women, and even men were fainting m all directions. One young fellow, for instance, fainted half an hour after the accident. Another powarfttl-lqqkjng; m,ai} appeared, tp be iu> teiiy prostrated by the "shook-. Add to all this that the wreckage on the starboard side was dyed a deep red, and that men who had assisted to extricate the wounded wore on their coats the same sanguinary evidence bf human- mutilation, and it may be imagined that the RCene was a horrible one indeed, and jshat jih.e qqm.p.o,ny on board the Nemesis returned m a ixjood different fuqrn jihatwhieheWfipterisgd their starting out; Following is a list of the persons injured: — Mr Bates, of 13 Bog-atreet, Paddington, olevk m the Audit Office, injured leg ; Francis Capell, of 53 Crown-street, Woolloomooloo, 48 years of age, broken finger ; Mrs Cecil, wife of one of the troops, crushed hand, lacerated wound of the left groin, bruise on the left leg and^ fracture of the right thigh; infant child gf Mrs Qeoil, fracture, qf the right thigh. Tho two laafc named weue ; admitted to the Hospital shortly after 0 o'clock last evening. The mother died at ten minutes past 9 o'clock, the child, who was attended by Dr Westrum, is doing >y§J!»