RIVER TRAGEDY

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 15, 18 January 1921, Page 8

RIVER TRAGEDY

WARKNAMBOOL DISASTER

LAUNCH'S PLUNGE UNDER WATER,

One of the most appalling river tragedies that have taken piace in-Australia occurred at Warrnamboo] yesterday afternoon (says tiie Sydney Sun of 10th January), when a motor-launch carrying iibout ; 80 picnickers became uncontrollable, and sank in about 15 feet of water in the' Hopkins River. The occupants were thrown into the water, ami, although the majority reached the bank safely, a number were drowned. The bodies of ten were recovered. The motor launch was a new pleasure craft, and had been .built locally by her owner, Mr. Edward Geary. .She 'made her maiden trip at Christmas time. About 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon she left the r'.ver jetty to go to Jubilee Park. After she had. gone about a- mile, it is stated, she sprang a leak. An effort was made to run her ashore by taking a y.ig-zag course, but a sudden inrush of water rendered her engines useless. The passengers by 'ibis time were becoming anxious, but there was no panic. Three boys who were paesing in a small boat were asked to take a lh\e ashore. A rope was thrown to them, but they either became confused or did not realise what was required of them, and they did not succeed in getting the rope ashore. The launch drifted back into deep water, hi mid-stream. Suddenly she lifted to one side, ajid in a few seconds the passengers were struggling in 15 feet of water. The ob-, vious distress of the vessel had by this time attracted the attention of a number of small boats, and about, twenty of these craft took part in the work of rescue. Some of the passengers v/ere unconscious when taken ashore, and although there were several who could not be brought round, t!j> rescuers succeeded in reviving a girl and a child. Hot tea and restoratives were given those who wore in an exhausted condition, and thrae doctors attended to the rescued. Seeing that the launch was in difficulties, a- number of men who were standing on the jetty at the township hurried into the lyat sheds and manned as . many boats as .possible. About thirty skiffs and other small craft were afloat in a few minutes, and were vowed wfith feverish haste to the disabled launch. The rowers had to (•over a mile against a strong current, but they, spared; no effort to reach the scene. That so many were rescued was largely due Ho their, efforts. Members of the Warmambool Life-Saying' Club who were swimming ir. the river helped to man the rescue fleet, and did good work. Constable Sharrock, who was a widower with five children, and Mr. Middleton 'sacrificed their lives in a gallant attempt to- save those who could not swim. Eye-wi,tncsses stateithat they helped a number of people to the fleet of small boats before they themselves, sank. In the general excitement they must "have gone under without having been noticed.