A MARINE DISASTER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3899, 29 August 1891, Page 2

A MARINE DISASTER.

Collision at Melbourne Heads.

Loos of Over Twenty Lives.

Heartrending Scenes.

Agonising Cries of Women.

[By Telegbaph.]

(United Press Association),

Melbourne, August 28,

The steamer Gambier, which left Sydney on Tuesday for this port, came into collision abo'it 1 o'clock this morning with the steam collier Easby in Hobson's Bay as the latter was leaving for Newcastle.

The Gambier sank in a few minutes, and about 20 lives were lost.

The Easby had her bows stove in, and put back to pert. The names of those drowned and full details are not yet available. Later.

The news of the collision between the steamers Gambier and Easby created intense excitement in the city. The collision occurred at the Heads and the Gambier had just entered and was abreast of Pope's Eye Fort when the Easby struck her amidships, near the bridge.

The effect of the contact was terrible ; the water poured into the* Gambier in immense bodies, and Bhe disappeared in ten minntes. Immediately after the collision heartrending scenes were enacted. The passengers who were in their cabins at the time, rushed on deck in their night dresses. The women huddled together on deck, while the men rushed hither and thither seeking safety either in attempts to launch the boats or by clambering aboard the i Easby. There was, however, little or I no time to launch the boats.

The Easby, after standing by the scene of the accident, steamed back to Melbourne where she arrived early this morning. Mr McMillan, one of the saloon passengers saved from the Gambier has been interviewed. He states that after the collision everything on board the ill-fated steamer was most orderly, and that Captain _ Bell was perfectly cool. The survivors, he asserts, feel that it was owing to ithe coolness and bravery of the Captain that the loss of life was not greater. The collision occurred at 1.80 a.m, exactly, and Mr McMillan states that both he and the captain had to swim about until they found a piece of wreckage, and subsequently they were picked up by a boat from the Easby. Although the Easby sent up a rocket, no lifeboat came, nor was any notice taken of the signals of distress. Mr McMillan adds that a ctrrible current was running at the lime, and probably some of the passengers were lost owing to that. Mr Hy. Hughes, another passenger states that there was a great rush when the passengers were first called, but the ladies were placed in the boats first, and everything was done quickly and orderly, considering the circumstances.

The following are the missing:— Saloon passengers: Mr and Mrs Trevenack (passengers for Adelaide,) Mrs Thorpe, Mr Johnston and another man, name unknown. In the steerage 15 ar missing, also two firemen and one sailor.

Latest.

The following is a statement by Captain Prideaux, of the Easby: —"Just after passing No. 2 buoy, West Channel, saw a bright light close on the Queensoliffe shore, on the starboard bow, a point and. a half from theEasby, In half a minutes saw a red light, then a gieen light, then all lights simultaneously. We appeared to be 200 yards off the othe vessel. Showed a red light acros our bows and then made out the hul of a vessel. Bang the telegraph to "stand by." The movements of the Gambier were erratic, and when she ported bar helm I blew the -vhistle and went full speed astern, seeing that a collision was inevitable. |The Easby, however, struck the Gambier on the port side aft of the funnel. Had the latter kept her course she had plenty of room to p«BB on tho starboard side, because I was well to the south, and she was close in to the Queenscliffa shore when I first saw her. Had the captain of the Gambier steered a midchannel course towards Swanspit light be would have come near me. and there would have been no disaster. After the vessel struck, and 1 had ascertained we were not likely to sink, 1 immediately got the boats out, and succeeded in taking up a number of people, but could not say how many. I waited two hours more keepingja sharp lookout, and then hearing no more cries, came on to Melbourne."

Captain Bell, of-the Gambier, has made the following statement:—'«We got through the rip at I*ls this morninq; and when between Queensoliffe and Swan Spit lightship saw the lights of a steamer on the port side. We were just priming, and proceeding at a very slow rate, scarcely half our maximum speed. Saw that the other steamer was heading towards us, and wore myself away as much as possible, until I perceived that we were getting too much inshore. The Easby loomed up right alongside us, and, fearing a collision, I ordered the engines to be immediately reversed, but apparently we had too much way on. In a moment the approaching vessel was upon us, and struck us with terrible force on the port side. Her bows cut half through the Gambier. There was a terrific rush of water, and we began to founder. I called to the crew to arouse the passengers. When the latter realised the awful nature of the catastrophe there were some heartrending scenes. It was a moment when one required to be cool and collected, but I must confess that the anguishing cries of passengers, and especially the women disbturbed me not a little. All faces seemed turned to me with a pleading I can never forget. I ordered the crew to lower the boats, and they responded like men. All four boats were in the water in a minute or two.