A Terrible Catastrophe.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1627, 5 February 1886, Page 2

A Terrible Catastrophe.

The following particulars of. ; a terrible catastrophe o i the River Derweht, Tasmania, by which five persons . were, drowned, appear m the Melbourne 'Age:' '— '• A deplorable accident' occurred on the river Derweut recently, close to -Bridgewater. The steamer Colleen Bawn < had been chartered to bring liine'frbm Heron s kiln, four miles beyond Bridgewater, the lime being ordered to be stacked m. the hold ; but to save time that order was countermanded, and nearly the whole of the bags were stacked on deck. On the way down the river, a number of lady passengers, expressed fears as to the safety of the steamer, and asked to be landed near the railwa} bridge. On re'iching Griffith's Point the steauier touched a rock and sank instantly. There was no boat on board, and the passengers had a poor chance of escape; Mr Brounley seized hold of his ltttle daughter and swam ashore, accompanied by his wife, who was a good swimmer, and the man m charge of the lime rescued Mr Johnson's youngest daughtor. Mr Taylor who had charge of the steamer, although almost blinded with the slaking lim.e, swam for a boat, but when he returned Mrs Johnston, her two eldest daughters, Miss Proctor, and Mr Bromiey's little ■boy were drowned. Mrs Johnson's body, which was floating almost upright m the water, was recovered after some time." .