FRIGHTFUL COLLISION NEAR MOUTH OF THE THAMES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5324, 20 April 1878, Page 2 (Supplement)

FRIGHTFUL COLLISION NEAR MOUTH OF THE THAMES.

GREAT LOSS OE LIFE(From the Glasgow Herald .l A collision between' two steamers, with great loss of life, occurred near Harwich on Sunday morning about ten o'clock. The passenger steamer O. M. Palmer, Captain Cay, of Newcastle, bound from Newcastle to London, with about sixty persons on hoard, was proceeding up channel, when another steamer, the Ludwortb, Captain Meldrum, ran into and Sank her within ten minutes. The latter vessel was in ballast, bound from London to Hartlepool. Sergeant . Wilson, of the 43rd Regiment, furnishes the following statement; —-I was a passenger on board the 0. M. ! Palmer,, and was escorting a military prisoner from Durham to London.' About ten o’clock I was down in the fore-cabin when, hearing a great noise and shouting, I rushed ou deck and saw a largo steamer; coming at a great speed in an opposite direction to that'in'which, wo were sailing. In about a minute it ran into us, striking our vessel on the right side looking towards the stern. The collision caused a panic on board our vessel, everyone .myking for the boats, and every effort was made to get them launched. I only noticed two boats, and one of them soon got so crowded |that she shortly afterwards capsized. The boat that I got into became entangled with the wreckage, and as I saw my chance of being saved by it was gone, I looked round for something to get hold of, and seized a lifebelt which was on deck. Whilst this was happening I observed a Danish girl (one of the passengers) standing on the deck apparently dumfounded. She had hold of a child by the hand. ‘ I begged her to come , with me, but she seemed stupifled, and took no heed of what I said. I was forced to leave her in order to save my own life ; put the life-belt o on and waited my chance, and in about a minute I found myself in the water. f X was then- seized round the neck by two men, whose weight caused me to sink. I kept my presence of mind as well as I could, and when I came to the surface I had only one clutching me, the other having loosed his hold. This one straggled frantically, and ha pulled me under the water a second time. 1 went down three times altogether, and was ultimately forced to push him away, as I could not swim. I floated for some time, and whilst in the water, just as the vessel sunk, I observed the’Danish girl who had been standing on deck in amongst the wreckage, and that was the lost I saw of her. The life-belt had got round my ankles during the straggles; I had with the men, but I managed to keep my head up by using my hands till I got hold of a box. I floated about in this way ’ until' nearly exhausted. At last a boat came and picked me up. ’ I was the last but one rescued. The steamer which collided with us stood by, and her boats saved ns. Forty-three of ns altogether were rescued. My prisoner, Lake, is saved, but the private I had with me as escort is missing. The steamer Lud worth took those who were saved; on board, and we reached Harwich after half-past twelve. The following are'amongst those who have been saved .•—Passengers—Jamqs Green, Matthew Flauaghan, Charles Swallow, John ■W. Leithess, Jas. Forgey, W. Barker, Anthony Brice, W. Beil, John Dilk, ■ a recruit ;of the Royal Artillery ; Alexl Little, T. Topp, W. Wilson, W. TTnicarid, T. Hogg, K Keefe, Michael Cain; W. Pilcher, J. Laiug,T. Gilbert, 'W. Bradley, G. Penticost, F. Chase, (boy), Janet McKenzie, and infant. : Crew— Capt. Cay, M. Richmond, A.B. ; James Bath, fireman ; Easter, chief, engineer.,; James Pendiey, second engineer; Alex. .Williamson, Matthew Flatiagaa, A.W.; ‘George Searle, mate ; F. <H. ' Little, second mate ; John Nicholson, Anthony, Hunter, J. Isaacs, F. Fox, W. Hedley, seamen; Peter Allen and Thomas Watson, stokers; Robert Carr, trimmer ; and W. Randall, hoy. ; i; The names of the passengers missing are not known, but the following is a list rof those belonging to the craw who are supposed to be. lost;—George Potter, steward, of London.; Jane Hall, Newcastle ; James Seabrane, fireman, London ; James Bowden,, fireman, Newcastle ; John Newton, engineer (boy), Newcastle.

A passenger states that Le was on deck ofthe 0. M. Palmer previous to the collision, and the whistle was blown by that vessel two or three times before the collision occurred. When it was first blown, the Ludworth was about fifty yards off. From the collective statements of .Tames Fergey, William Barker, and Andrew Brice, it appears that the first boat lowered capsized by being overcrowded, and the second boat capsized through drifting on to it. Captain (Jay sloo'd at the wheel until the' vessel, in going down, first lay on her side, when be took to the rigging, and remained in it till his ship sank. He was in a: very exhausted condition when picked up." The collision took place • close to the N.E. Bawdsey Buoy, at 25 minutes after 9'o’clock, and is attributed to what is termed a local fog, that is, one I which affected one vessel but not the other. Thu C. M. Palmer, which had been steering through fog, sighted the Bawdsey Buoy directly ahead. , About the same time the Ludsworth appeared in view. Both vessels were, at the time nearly end on. ,The former vessel, in trying to keep clear of the buoy, starboarded her helm, arid swung abrfaadside..to the 'other. The engines of the jjudworth wereimThediately stopped, but she had so much way bn her that before anything else could be done •she struck the C. M, Palmer amidships., The captain of the Ludworth immediately ordered his boats to be lowered, which was done without any confusion, although, the/consternation ou board was great;' Thirty-one were picked up by them, had twelve who were struggling in the water alongside' the ship ' were/hauled on' board by means ,of wipes, thrown ■to them. Another screw-steamer—the Resolute, 0/ Qoole —came steaming _ within 100 yards of the 1 catastrophe ; but although every attempt was; made to call her attention, she passed on without rendering any assistance whatever. Another steamer—the Henry Martin—then hove in sight, about 800 yards off, and attracted by the shouts : raised on hoard the LUdwortb, she turned out of her course and bore down upon them. By the time she reached, however, the boats of the Ludworth had picked up those who were,floating, so that her services were not brought into requisition in saving life; but as it-was then doubtful whether the Ludworth was not so seriously injured as to cause her to sink, the Henry Martin accompanied her to the Cork Lightship In order to aid If necessary. Fortunately it was not'required although the Lud worth had four large holes in her stern.