SYDNEY HARBOUR TRAGEDY

Evening Star, Issue 22882, 14 February 1938, Page 14

SYDNEY HARBOUR TRAGEDY

TOURIST LAUNCH OVERTURNS FIVE BODIES RECOVERED TEN PEOPLE STILL MISSING Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, February 13. A largo tourist launch containing about 100 passengers overturned in the harbour this afternoon. It is anticipated that the death roll will be heavy. Five bodies so far have been recovered. A launch had been chartered to farewell the United States cruiser Louisville. As the cruiser was approaching Bradley’s Head the passengers on the launch, which was frequently used by excursionists, apparently rushed to the rails and the vessel heeled over. The Louisville immediately anchored and lowered several boats, which picked up many survivors and conveyed them to the cruiser. The more serious cases were then taken to Fort Macquarie by boat and taken to hospital in waiting ambulances. FIFTY TAKEN TO HOSPITAL. Over 50 of the passengers were taken to Sydney Hospital. The estimates of the number aboard the launch vary from 100 to 150. Most of the survivors are suffering from immersion and shock. As the injured were brought ashore they were placed wherever space could be found till they were removed in ambulances. The police had to form a cordon round the area to keep inquirers for friends and relatives away. The injured were taken to Sydney Hospital, only a short distance away, ambulances dashing backwards and forwards as quickly as they could load and unload. During the trip from the scene of the accident attempts were made to revive the unconscious. Ambulance men used respirators and administered oxygen to the worst cases while waiting. Some responded and some did not. Of those admitted to the hospital a number are in a critical condition, and are not expected to recover. Two additional bodies have been recovered. CONFLICTING REPORTS. The stories of the disaster are at present conflicting, but there is little doubt that it will prove to be the most tragic event in the Sydney Harbour since the Tahiti-Greydiffe collision early in November, 1927, and may even eclipse it. The fact that the launch did not carry an organised party but picked up offering passengers confuses the matter. The launch was crossing from one side of the Louisville to the other when the passengers rushed to the rails. Apparently she was caught in the wash of the cruiser and completely turned turtle.

Several American sailors jumped overboard to assist those in the water, and a great many more would have done the same, but officers aboard had to restrain them with difficulty.

The Sydney Police Band was following the cruiser in a launch on the opposite side to that on which the illfated vessel was travelling, and did not see the accident. The police band launch was immediately notified by other launches and dashed to the scene. A dozen members jumped into the water, A great many launches which were in the vicinity rushed up, and it is said that at least 60 rescuers were in the water doing everything possible to help.' Twenty-six people were taken aboard the Louisville, and two of these could not be revived; Most of the remainder were admitted to hospital.

.PEOPLE TRAPPED IN CABIN. It is believed at least 15 were in the cabin of the launch when she went down. One man received terrible injuries to his stomach when he broke a window and dragged himself over the jagged glass. A girl in the water is said to have an arm amputated by the launch’s revolving propeller, but an armless body has not yet been recovered. A half-caste girl was in a respirator on the Louisville for three hours but died. All those taken aboard the cruiser were unconscious, and every available medical attendant aboard was called into service. PATHETIC SCENES. The scene at Man-o’-War Steps at Fort Macquarie when the injured and the uninjured passengers were landed was pathetic. Relatives did not know what had happened, and rushed about frantically trying to find those for whom they sought. The District Ambulance did great work. Twenty-one ambulances, all fitted with wireless, were in different parts of the metropolitan area when they received a call to proceed to Fort Macquarie. Twelve were actually on the scene when the first boatload of injured arrived. A DOUBLE-DECKER LAUNCH WATER FORTY FEET DEEP SYDNEY, February 13. The launch concerned was named the Rodney, and was owned by Mr O. Rosman, of Mosman Bay. It was a doubledecker, 60 feet long, and capable of holding 220 passengers. Mr Rosman was in charge of the boat and tbe passengers on board ranged from old men to boys and girls, who clung like flies to every vantage point where they could grasp a handrail. Naval men on Garden Island had noticed the launch had a dangerous list produced by the passengers clinging to one side and had, shouted a jyarning,

but the passengers replied that they ■would he all right. Ten minutes later the Rodney had capsized. Few in the vicinity realised what had happened till piercing screams rent the air. The Manly ferry sounded four blasts on its whistle, drawing the attention of a police band to the occurrence. The band had just played “ Auld Lang Syne,” but the police launch dashed to the scene, the bandsmen throwing aside their instruments and preparing to enter the water. The Rodney had turned on its side and men, women, and children were struggling in a confused mass in the water'which at the spot is 40 feet deep. In addition to lowering boats, the Louisville threw overboard lifebuoys with Verey lights and other rescue gear. A gangway was lowered and officers ordered that as many as possible should be brought on board. The survivors pay tribute to a rating off the Louisville who repeatedly dived to see if there were still people in the launch. One American sailor broke a window in the launch,. and hauled a woman out and a young baby, cutting his arm badly in doing so. There are still a number of missing people, possibly 15, but they may be picked up by other boats. One woman, who is in hospital in a serious condition, is unable to trace her three children, one of whom is 18 months of age., WRECK LOCATED TEN PEOPLE STILL HISSING SYDNEY, February 13, One hundred and thirty-five persons received treatment, and of this number 60 were taken to hospital, but only 14 were admitted. The owner of the launch says that he is certain that nobody was trapped in the cabin. The wrecked launch was located at 10 o’clock to-night, lying in about 12 fathoms of water in the main steamer channel. A buoy was moored at the spot, and divers will go down first thing in the morning. The known dead number five, not six as previously reported. Tea are reported to be missing. NAMES OF VICTIMS • PASSENGERS MOSTLY GIRLS SYDNEY, February 14. (Received February 14, at 12.30 p.m.) Four women and one man are known to have been drowned when the Rodney capsized. About 24 other persons are missing. The names of the dead are:—■ Gwendoline Frances Hope Johnston (20). Phoebe Josephine Thomas (24)'. Mrs Alma Starr (32). Doris Smith (27). Alfred Stepto (45),

Miss Johnston was a direct descendant of Lieutenant Johnston, who was aide-de-camp to Captain Phillip. How many were taken from the water nobody knows, but police who participated in the rescue estimate that about 150 were rescued.

Captain R. W. Mathewson, of the Louisville, said the list of the Rodney as she circled the cruiser some time before the accident occurred so alarmed him that he ordered the speed of his vessel to be reduced almost to a crawl so that there would be no wash to endanger the craft.

Captain Mathewson described the treatment in ship’s oxygen respirators of 26 persons taken aboard the Louisville, which put to sea four hours after her scheduled time.

Despite the list which the Rodney had before the capsize, few of those who were rescued had any inkling of impending disaster until they suddenly found themselves being hurled into the water. They were full of praise for the promptitude of the rescuers. The owner of the launch, Mr Rosman, said the tragedy occurred because almost every person on the top deck ran to the side of the Rodney when the ratings of the Louisville were dismissed from parade. I had warned the passengers not to crowd to one side. Most of the passengers were girls. They seemed to lose their heads, and ran to the starboard side of the Rodney, which seemed to roll over almost immediately. Divers went down to inspect the wreck at 6 o’clock this morning. The Court of Marine Inquiry will investigate the disaster, in addition to the inquests., EIGHTEEN MISSING DIVERS HAMPERED BY HIGH TIDE SYDNEY, February 14. (Received February 14, at 1.30 p.m.) Six of the Rodney passengers have been located. The official list now places the missing at 18. Divers, hampered by a full high tide, have not yet succeeded in entering the Rodney’s cabin. Some of the Rodney’s passengers fainted when she capsized. Others received injuries through being hung off their feet or being hit by floating seats. SEARCHERS' MISTAKE OLD SHIP'S BOILER FOUND SYDNEY, February 14. (Received February 14, at 2 p.m.) When the divers descended this morning it was found that the searchers for the Rodney had located not the Rodney but an old ship’s boiler. The search for the Rodney was resumed. The missing are now estimated at .17*

WERE PEOPLE TRAPPED IN CABIN ? DIFFERENT VERSIONS GIVEN SYDNEY, February 14. (Received February 14, at 2 p.m.) Mr Rosman and a deckhand named Callaghan, interviewed this morning, said that soon after the launch capsized they both dived inside the cabin and are positive that no one was there. They looked for trapped passengers in vain. Callaghan says there were only four or five in the cabin a few seconds before the launch turned over. A survivor says he saw eight in the cabin besides himself when the launch capsized. Another survivor says several people wererin the cabin and had. to fight their way out. Mr Rosman said the launch was thoroughly tested by the Maritime Services Board when he took it over,