HERO OF FERRY DISASTER

Evening Star, Issue 19763, 13 January 1928, Page 9

HERO OF FERRY DISASTER

FRED CORBY'S STORY [Special io the ‘Stab.’] WANGANUI, January 12. Mr Fred Corby, the New Zealand hero of the Greycliffe disaster, is spending a holiday with his people in Wanganui. When approached by a reporter tor an interview, Mr Corby with characteristic modesty replied that ho preferred to say very little about the tragedy, and he, had already refused interviews in Australia. 'Frisco, and New Zealand. H -wished, however, to deny the. statement tjjat he was four hours in the water. At the outside it was not more than half an hour, and by that time the whole of the rescue work had been completed. Questioned in regard to what prompted him to dive over the side, Mr Corby replied that coming down the harbor bo was on deck in his shirt and a pair of shorts he had purchased in ’Frisco, and was wearing slippers. He heard a woman scream, and looking over the starboard side saw the bow of the Tahiti just about to hit the Greycliffe. Ho also noticed a little schoolgirl nt the very spot. She had her school bag on her arm, and be saw her put up her bands as if to fond off the Tahiti.

‘“My God’.’ I uttered,” said Mr Corby, “and then I ran plong to get as far from the propeller as possible, and dived over.” Proceeding, Mr Corby said he actually saved three lives, and in all assisted thirteen persons with lines and on to wreckage, etc., until such times as they could bo picked up by the other boats. The water w r as very cold, and going back to Sydney on the ferry boat, on which were a number of the injured persons, tho wind was■ bitte'rly cold, and there was little in tho way of cover for the unfortunate people, for whom ho felt very sorry. Some were also bleeding badly. There was an absence of stimulants and bandages, and Mr Corby thought that these and a few spare blankets should be provided in all ferry boats in case of a similar disaster. One old lady whom he assisted in. the water remarked that she only wanted to live to see her son. Ho had a great admiration for one young woman, who was a good swimmer, and who was keeping her mother np until such time as they could be lifted on to a ferry boat. At this juncture an amusing incident happened in the midst of the tragedy. One of the crew of the ferry boat, fully dressed, had assisted one person placed on board to a cabin, and came running back to the side of the vessel, where he forgot all about the opening, and ran straight over into the sea. When Mr Corby looked up his legs were still moving in the air as if he were running. “ 1 could not help laughing at tfie time,” said Mr Corby, who was supporting a woman in tho water. “At any rate he was a good swimmer, and it did not take him long to regain the ship. “ There was one individual on the ferry boat who did nothing,” said Mr Corby, “and for him I have the greatest contempt. He was a little man with a nanny-goat beard. Women were crying out in pain, and this individual was content, to look on without trying to do anything to stop the bleeding of their wounds.”

When Mr Corby rejoined the Tahiti on the same evening he took his shift ns usual. Later on the run over he had to bo relieved on shift, as he had contracted a chill, which kept him in bed for a few days. The presentation by passengers on the Tahiti took him by surprise. He understood that ho was going along to meet his captain, who was travelling on the steamer, when he suddenly found himself iu the midst of a largo number of passengers.. Ho never felt so embarrassed in his life before, and it was a much harder job returning thanks than it was going over the side and rendering what assistance he could.

The little girl Mr Corby first sighted on the Greycliffe he never set eyes on again, and lie could not say whether she was saved or not.