TERRIBLE DISASTER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3085, 6 January 1909, Page 5

TERRIBLE DISASTER.

COLLISION IS SYDNEY

HARBOUR,

A NAVAL PINNACE RUNDOWN.

FIFTEEN SAILORS DROWNED

A NUMuER INJURED

Received January 5, 3.45 p.m. SYDNEY, January 5.

A terrible disaster occurred in the harbour to-day. The steamer Dunmore collided with a pinnace containing 70 bluejackets, off Garden Island. Fifteen bluejackets were drowned.

Particulars in connection with the fatality show that a - longboat containing 80 bluejackets fully armed for rifle practice at the Randwick ranges left the naval depot at Garden Island in the morning with a boat (a small launch) in tow.

When the bluejackets got within 200 yards of Lady Macquarie's Chair thoJjDunmore came along and struck the longboat on the starboard side, cutting her severely, and injuring a number of the inmates.

All the occupants of the longboat were thrown into the water. The majority were able to keep afloat while the launch picked them up. A boat from the Dunmora als-j went to the assistance of the men in the water. The collision was also noticed from the warships, and soon a flotilla of boats were on the scene rendering assistance. After the work of rescuing all the sailors afloat had been completed it was discovered that fifteen were still missing. Laden with rifles and heavy cartridge belts they had evidently been unable to recover when thrown into the water and sank before help reached them. Others were injured by the impact. The 11 unes of the men missing are as follow: — SEAMEN. Curling Balcombe Barrett ' Evans Strelitz Hornsby Hill Marsh Bristowe Outten STOKERS. Donn Cunningham Humblers'one Searls Gregory. ADDITIONAL PARTICULAR^. TERRIBLE SCENE. BODIES RECOVERED. Received January 5, 5.3 p.m. SYDNEY, January 5. The Dunmore was moving from the north side of the harbour to the load at Wcolomooloo. At the time of the collision a slight haze overhung the water. The disaster was witnessed by the bluejackets on the neighbouring warships and on Garden Island, and they describe the scene as terrible. The men were shouting and struggling for help. It is feared that a number were injured by the steamer's propeller. Divers from Garden island quickly got to work, and located the sunken boat and recovered the bodies of Evans, Hornsby, Bristowe, Outten, Donn, Cunningham and Gregory.

HOW THE DISASTER OCCURRED. Received January 5, 9.25 p.m. SYDNEY, January 5. Just what caused the disaster has not been revealed by the naval authorities, who are reticient in the matter, an will not make no statement until the enquiry is held. 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 courae he was steering. He was statisfied the pinnace would pass under the stern, . but suddenly the towing launch altered her course and carre across his bows. The pinnace was completely turned over by the impact. Those crowded in the centre of her were apparently stunned and unable to help themselves. All were heavily clothed. It is now stated that they did not carry ammunition. The men belonged to 11.M.5. Encounter, which is lying alongside Garden Island. The victims are all Englishmen, and all unmarried, except Gregory, who leaves a wife and daughter in Liverpool. It is clear that many of those lost became entangled in the gear of the boat as it overturned. One of the men found in the boat was held fast by the hand, and another had the calf of his leg torn as if by the propeller of the steamer. Many of the men drowned were good swimmers, and must have been stunned by the impact. By 5 o'clock all the bodies' had been recovered with the exception of that of Marsh. As each body was found it was wrapped in the Union Jack and conveyed aboard the Encounter. Fourteen men were actually drowned. The fifteenth (Gregory) was picked up in a bad way and subsequently died.