TERRIBLE DROWNING FATALITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 316, 6 January 1909, Page 3

TERRIBLE DROWNING FATALITY.

%*? _ —4 '-' '- COLLISION IN SYDiW HARBOR. ■ li SAILORS D«|>\VXKO. . Sjdncy| Ouauary 5. Th* »U»mer collided with a y«WKse ooutaining 70 bW-jaekets off .«ard« Wand. Fifteen Bluejackets were ' drovttfd. A longboat with 80 Bluejackets, fully arwed for rille practice at the Kandwiek ranges, ' e ft tllc naval depot, Harden Island, a the morning boat in tow of a small launch. When they got within 200 yards of Lady Macqu'arie's chair, the Duimiore came along and struck the longboat on the starboard-side, cutting Iter severely and injuring a number of those aboard. All were thrown ia the water. The majority were able to keep •Boat, while a" launch picked-up a boat. The Dunniore also went to the assistance of those in the water. The collision was also noticed from the warships. Soon a flotilla of boats was on the scene rendering assistanft.Aiter rescuing all afloat it was discovered that fifteen were still missing. Laden as they were with rifles and heavy cartridge: belts they were evidently unable to recover when thrown into "the water and sank before help roched them. Others were injured by tht impact. The names of the missing are Gurling, Barcombe, Strelity, Hornsby, Hill, Marsh, Brfstowe, (Jutten, {seamen}; Bonn, Cunningham, Huuiberstone, Searle, Gregory (stokers).

A TERRIBLE SCENE. ' DIVERS RECOVER SEVERAL BODIES Received 5, 5.3 p.m. > Tuesday. The Dunffl«iV was moving from the north side ot—the harbor to load at Woolooiuooloo at ,the time of the collision. A-slight haze overhung jtha . water. •The disaster was witnessed by the bluejackets of the neighboring warships and Garden Island. They describe the -' scene as terrible, the men shouting and struggling for help. It is feared that several were injured by the steamer's • -propeller. - • Divers from Garden Island quickly got to work and located the sunken boat. They recovered, .the bodies of Evans, Hornsby, Bristowe, Outten, Donn, Cunningham, and Gregory. A great crowd gathered in the Domain, watch- ' . ing operations. ■ THE CAUSE OV THE DISASTER. ALL THE BODIES RECOVERED BUT ONE. 4 , NARRATIVE OF .AN EYE-WITNESS. - ■ Received 0, 9.25 p.m. : 1 Sydney, last Night. Just what caused the disaster has not been" revealed. The naval authorities are reticent until the enquiry is held. The Dunmore proceeded to sea shortly after the accident. The sea was smooth and the day clear, although it is said there Jjnd been a slight haze at the time. lit. From those aboard the Dunmore it is gathered that the captain gave one blast of the whistle when he saw the boats to indicate the course be was steering. He was satisfied the pinnace would pass under the Btern, but suddenly the tow- ' ing launch altered its (KHjrse and came across his bows. The pinnace complete-ly-turned over by the impact. Those crowded in the centre of her were apparently stunned and unable to help themselves. , All mere heavily clothe! ... and weighted with ammunition and accoutrements. The men belonged to -the Encounter, which was lying alongside Garden Island.

The victims were «U Englishmen. Al! Were unmarried, except Gregory, who ' ■ leaves a wife and daughter at Liverpool, i It is clear that many of those who /■ .. were lost became, entangled in.the gear the boat as it overturned. One was

. . found! in the boat 'held fast by a hand. •' Another had the calf of his leg torn ■: ae by the propeller. Many of the men drowned were good swimmers. They must hare been stunned by the impact. - -By 5 o'clock all the bodies were recovered with the exception of that of ' Marsh. As each body was found it iw.is w nipped in a Union Jack and conveyed aboard the Encounter. ■■V The appalling nature of the disaster caused a large assemblage of people on the, sloping ground of the Domain overlooking the scene. ■An eye-witness describes the scene a- 1 thrilling. The men struggling in th.' water were clutching wildly at floating • oars or anything likely to keep them - afloat. Fortunately plenty of assistance was. at hand and prevented an even ■greater loss of life. Fuuueen men were actually drowned outright, and the fifteenth was picked lip in a bad way, and subsequently dies.' 'j-a. The survivors state that when they eaw the situation was dangerous they 5 shouted: to "the towing launch to cut the "painter, but there was not time, 1 the Dunmore passing over the boat and through tiie floundering men. • The disaster was about the worst oa ' record in connection with the Sydney harbor. It created a profound sensa- . t»n.. ,

- .FORCE OK THE IMPACT. OTHER ACCOUNTS. - 4 Received o, 11.5 p.m. Sydney, January 5. - An officer of the Encounter sUtes that it appears as if the boat were sud- •' deiiy folded together by the force of 1 ■ the collision. Then the sides went back < again to their places. He thought it possible that the men of the centre boat ■ .were squeezed in such a way that they sank at race. There was a hole in the , boat'three feet in width and three feet : ' &i depth. All the drowned were between 20 and 21 years of age. , ~ ■ Another eye-witness states that the lioat seemed to be sacked under the steamer, -which, passed right over it. lie ga>v several throw up their hands aud sink before assistance could reach them. ifiie towing launch, though crowded • - with marines, did excellent rescue work. Many of the men reached the. upturned boat, clung to lier, and helped others on ,to the bottom, but the weight was too much anil she sank under them. The respite gained, however, was valuable, as it enabled the rescue boats to reach '/them. It is nov- stated that the men were ant oirryirg ammunition, which was stowed' in boxes at the bottom of the boat. The funerals take place to-morrow. 1 REMAINING BODY RECOVERED. Received 6, 1.15 a.m. Sydney. Last Night. ' Marsh's body has been recovered.