THE TAMAR DISASTER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1832, 17 April 1907, Page 23

THE TAMAR DISASTER.

COLLISION BETWEEN PLEASURE LA UNOH AND STEAMER. TEN PEOPLE DROWNED. .Tlie appalling holiday disaster on the River Tamar, which was briefly reported in cablegrams at the time, involved the loss of ten lives. It ce•curred (says tlie “Age”) between 9 and 10 o’clock on the night of April Ist, off Barnard’s Creek, about six miles down the Tamar from Launceston. A picnic party, consisting of sixteen ladies, gentlemen and children, left the city in the morning for a day on the river in the steam launch Alice. The small vessel belonged to the Salisbury Foundry Company, and was in charge of Mr J. T. McDonald, one of the partners of the firm and a prominent and popular citizen. The party consisted almost entirely of Air McDonald’s relatives and friends. They went as far as Supply River, a small tributary of the Tamar, about twenty miles (from Launceston, and started back about 8 o’clock, intending to reach home by 11. THE COLLISION.

As the little vessel steamed up the river the night was beautifully fine and cool, the-moon almost full and the weather calm. Mr J. T. McDonald was, at the wheel, and several children andladies were dn -the cabin lying down. As the "Alice was rounding a bend near freshwater -Point the river steamer Togo approached from the * direction of "Launceston. The Togo was returning to Georgetown to take up her daily running, after landing a large party of excrusionists at Launceston. The people, con "tEe Togo observed tfche lights of the Uittle vessel, which,: greatly :to their consternation, appeared to be Steering into dangerous .proximity. The steamer, s whistle was sounded, and Captain tait had the engines reversed, but the Alice? came on, and the two vessels crashedtogether, the sharp bow oftheTogo ap-. nearing to .cut 'the .launch clean .in two. At once the Alice filled.and sank, and so rapidly did she disappear under the ■water that scarcely a sound was heard. There was not even Boats were dowered from' the Togo with’ .'the greatest; despatch, .and lifefbelts were; \throwu xintokhe water, <bix ; of khe pas•eeagers idf ithe / Alice ■ were>picked tup, /ana. «ia tally boingmade it, was learned

that ten others were missing, including five of the M'Donald family of eight. The Alice was struck j ust abaft the engine room, and only those in the fore part of the vessel were saved. After searching for an hour the Togo returned to the city before .midnight, bringing the survivors.

LIST OF THE DROWNED. The following were drowned: Mr J. T. M‘Dona Id, .aged 50. Mrs J. T. McDonald, agea 4(9. Willis and Anthony M'Donald (twins), ~«d 9. Nancy McDonald, 14. Mrs Frank M'Donald, 28. May Pilgrern (Mrs F. McDonald's sister),

14. Mrs Archibald Campbell (wife of another partner of Salisbury and Co.), aged Gladys Campbell, li. .1. Prismalf (engineer), 43 (who leaves a widow and large family). THE RESCUED. Those of the party who were saved Mrs Thomas Dougins. Vera and Nola M'Donald. Gilbert M'DouMd. A. E. Pepper. Peel Salisbury. Miss Nola. M'Donald was rescued just on the point of drowning. Tlie boat's crow from the Togo has cruising about, v-Vn one of tlie hands noticed a hat floating on the water. The boat was maciciy rowed to the spot, and one of the crow grasped the hat, and at the same time caught Miss M'Donald by the hair as she was sinking. She was quickly drawn into the boat, in an exhausted condition. The survivors were prostrated with shock, and with grief at the loss of their iu Lends and relatives. They -were attended to as well -as{possible on the Togo, hut it v ill be long before the horror of their to? rible calamity Js softened. A SURVIVOR'S STATEMENT. Mr Peel Salisbury, one of the survivors, stated to-day that among those on the Alice's deck prior to the collision v,ere Mr Pepper, Mr Gilbert M'Donald fad himself." The yacht was on the star-' board side of the Togo, and evidently Mr M/D on:: Id did not see'her coming until she was very close to the Alice. Mr Gilbert said To his father, “Don't you see the Togo?” He (Mr Salisbury) was approaching the wheel at the same time, and Mr M'Donald altered the course of tlie Alice to avoid the Togo, which, however, was going about twice as fast as the yacht, and struck her near the stern with great fdree. He and Mr Pepper immediately threw off their coats, and ioicl the'-ladies and, others to go forward and bang on to the railing. Pepper managed tg secure the dinghy of the Alice, while lie (Mr ‘-Salisbury) did his best to keep tlie party on deck together. Pepper got the dinghy alongside, and put Mrs Douglas into her. The Togo's boat was lowered, and the Misses M'Donald and their brother, Gilbert, were picked np. .By this time nothing could he seen of any" of the other occupants. The rescuing party made for every object they could see, but only got several caps, a lifebuoy and pieces of wreckage. They kept calling out, blit'saw no one. Mr Pepper rowed towards the shore, while the Togo's boat (cr uised round the scene of tlie mishap, but after a long search they gave up* hope and returned to the Togo.

STEERSMAN’S VIEW OBSTRUCTED. To-night Mr Peel Salisbury, who is considerably affected by the calamity, made an additional statement, from which it appears that Mr M'Donald, who was steering the Alice, did not see the Togo s lights owing to the wheel being behind the funnel. When his attention was called to the approaching steamer Mr M'Donald tried to steer off, but it was too late. The Togo's bows cut the launch in two. The afterpart sank, and the forward half rose in the air. The boiler did not explode, but a sudden inrush of water caused a vortex, and tlie occupants, unable to get clear, were drawn down with such appalling swntness thatno one had time to make efforts to save themselves, although there were plenty of life belts aboard. The engineer, Mr Prismall, was in the engine room, and had no chance to escape. EFFECT IN LAUNCESTON. The disaster has plunged the whole city into the deepest gloom. All the drowned were well known residents, Mr M'Donald being connected with numerous public institutions. The Alice was fitted with good engines, and her furnishings generally were on the most up-to-date lines. Some years ago she was owned by Mr G. T. Miller, and has been running pleasure trips up and down the river for a long time. About four years ago she collided with the steamer Koonookarra and sank. There was no loss of life on that occar sion, as all her passengers were secured by Captain Sing, of the 'Marine Board boat Tarrina, and some sailors from the war ships Torch and Sparrow. The launch was subsequently raised and purchased by her present owners, who refitted her and used her chiefly for picnic purposes. TWO BODIES RECOVERED.

•Early next morning the ; police commenced dragging operations, and at low tide about a yard of the most of the Alice with a . flag attached, was visible. A diver went down, b,ut was unable to eet into the vessel owing to the companion way being blocked, and up till 'tonight the only bodies recovered were those of Mrs McDonald and Mr Pnsmall.