COLLISION AT SEA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2984, 29 August 1891, Page 2

COLLISION AT SEA.

THE STEAMER GAMJJirUI SUXK. TWENTY LIVJ'LS LOST. (BY ELECTRIC TKL-EOKAPH—COPYKKiMT). MiiLiiOUKXK, August, 2S. Till', sieiinior Gnuihior, which loft Sydney cm Tuesday lust i'or this port, (jitnic into collision about four n'elock this morning with tho stea.ni eollier Eisby in Tfolison's ]3ay, as the latter was leaving for Newcastle , . The Gambler sank in ii few minutes, nr.fi about 'JO lives were lost. The Eiisby had her bows stove in. and put bii'jk to port. Latkil. The news of the collision between the steamers (lainbier a.nd Ensby created inttiiisu excitement in the city. The collision oocnnvJ at. th« heads. The Gainbier h:id just entered abreast, of Point Eyer fort, wlien ihe Easby sti'uck her amidships near the bri Ige. The (-{feet of tlm contact was terrific, and the wuf.or poured into tiie iia.aibier in immense bodies, and she disappeared iu seven minutes. Immediately after the collision heartrending scenes occurred. Naked passengers, who were iu their cabin's at the time, rushed on deck in their night dresses. The women huddlod together on the deck, while the men rushed hither and thither, seeking safety either in attempts to launch boats or by clambering aboard the Easby. Them was, however, little or no time to launch boats, and the Easby, iiftnr standing by the scene of tlie 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 lifter the collision everything on board tho ill-fated steamer was most orderly, and that Captain Bell was perfectly cool. The survivors, he asserts, felt that it was owing to the coolness and bravery of the captain that tho loss of life was not greater. The collision occurred at 1.00 a.m. exactly. Although the Easby sent up rockets no life-boat came, nor was any notice taken of the signals of distress. Mr McMillan adds that a terrible current was running at the time, and probably some of the passengers were lost owing to that. Tho following an; those missing : — Saloon : Mr and Mrs Trovenack (passengers for Adelaide), Mrs Thorpe, Mr Johnston, and another man, name unknown. In the steerage Io are missing; also two iiremeii aud one sailor.