COLLISION AND LOSS OF LIFE IN THE MERSEY.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3095, 18 January 1879, Page 1

COLLISION AND LOSS OF LIFE IN THE MERSEY.

A fog of unusual density' hung over - Liverpool on Tuesday from an early hour in the morning, and on the 'Mersey traffic was brought to almost a standstill, only i the Woodaide and Seacombe boats running. Shortly after $.30 ia th^ morning the Seacombe ferry.boaV Gem, while crossing to the Liter pool side, came into j collision With the B;wfell,; which? was lying at anchor, having just arrived "from Calcutta. The ferry-boab was -crowded with passengers, and the greatest consternation ensued, which was increased by the' damage sustained by the steamer, tWifunnel being knocked over the side, and a large portion of the bulwarks stove in. believing that the steamer was .sinking, jumped overboard, and aevercfcsen climbed up to the deck of fclia BawMl "While; the two vessels • were in contact some of those who jumped overboard were taken back on board the Kteamer; others ; floated away, and were soon lost in the fog, and for the greater part of the, day: the most anxious uncertainty prevailed as to the /ate of many. After the collision the flfferu was turned for shore, and landed her pussengers at the. cattle stage, near Woodsitfe. La toinquiries show that the number of persons drowned cannot be accuuvitely ascertained for some days. Jno. /icf^kms, of Marine terrace, New ißrigteon, a young man, whose "thigh, was broken by ihe falling of the Goto'B funnel, died in the BirkenUead Hospital in the afternoon. The dead>body,; ofift; man, afterwards identified as John Cannell, No. 4, ; Prince's road, Little* ?Br,igliton, was fouud under the Gem's sponsou, with : the arm clinging to the stay rod. The body, when discovered, had; been immersed some hours,' but deceased's watch- was gbing^ Otto Hilden, 'Claremont terrace, Seacombe, who; was kuoek(pjd overboard in the crush oh the 'Gem; gvasped; a chain of tli6 fallen fun; nel, and was pulled on board. Another passenger, name uakaown, floated away with a life buoy, arid was picked'up almost exhausted by a boat of the White iStiir steamer Baltic An elderly gentler :oian passens;«r was picked' up by the

launch of Her Majesty's ship Resistance, and received prompt medical attention. A coasiderable number of persons are yet missing, amongst them Mr Sword, cashier to the Inman Co., and Mr Scott, deputy comptroller of the Liverpool Post Office. The fog increased in density during the day, and at nightfall was thicker than has been known for years. Great complaints are made that vessels should be allowed to anchor in the ferry track. Several minor collisions occurred during the day, but no loss of life. A later despatch states: —" Of the passengers on board the Seacombe ferryboat Gem, several are ■till missing. The names'? of those dead are-—John M'Gregor, of Lissard, insurance agent, picked up by a boat from the Reformatory ship Clarence; John Connell, clerk, New Brighton, found fast to the sponson four hours after; and Mr Hodgkinson, who was crushed by the chimney falling. His leg was amputated inßirkenhead Hospital, but he died at three o'clock."