THE BRISBANE DISASTER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10596, 17 February 1896, Page 2

THE BRISBANE DISASTER.

RECOVERY OF BODIES,

Prcs3 Association—By Telegraph —Copyright. Brisbane, February 15.

The captain of tha Pearl on being interviewed said that thsrs ware about'6o passengers. The river boat got caught by the flood, and the eddy slewed ber. The steamer refused to answer liar heto. Ha ordered the engineer to go astern, but he coald get no stern way on. When he saw that a collision was iueritabla hs Blunted to warn the pasBsngera to look out for themselves, Tne accident was due fco the gte&mars being moored right in tba track of tha ferry boat. Although she had struck the Luclnda's anchor ou the provioQ3 trip, be did not consider that he was running any danger. To have gone round tha steamer wonld haya csuiKed the loss of too much time. To the list of'the missing have to be added Mesctamfla Wilson, Harper (of Gyoinai, aud two children), Misses North, Brand, Percy, Harris, Hngti, Morron (and boy), and Jarman. The total of the drowned is now believed to ta 25. It was a pitiable tals which James Wilson had to tell. Ha was found in c. boarding house overcome wich gtics. Oti jths afternoon of the accident Wilson met his wife on the Queen's wharf, and this couple went a trip cm tha steamer., togethur. Perceiving the daogar when tho vesssl fooled (be anchor chain, Wilson exvnght hold o£ his wife, and hold her. They found themselves in the water. Another lady also clung to . him, but f.hay wore all carriod down the Btresm. Wilson tried all he conld to save his wife, but without success, and sho sank bafora Mo eyes.

Mr Justice Real intended crossing by the Pearl, but he considered the V6sssl overloaded and did cot start.

The captain has admitted telling someone after the first trip, wben ho struck the Lucinda's chain, that, he would not risk it again, but when he got near the steamer on the fatal trip ha thought he would do so, not realising there was any danger. Ho did not, think anyone was scalded, as the vessel was nnder. tbe water bsfore the steam escaped. A passengor describes tha passeogsrs as panic-stricken. They had no time to free tUemsalvas from the awning of the sinking steamer, and the agonised cries of perishing men and women were appalling, but only for b moment, for many were carried down with the boat and lost sight of, while some few, clinging to the seats of the vessel and other wrecksgo, drifted rapidly down stream. Public opinion ie exercised greatly as to tbe responsibility for the accident. Many think it wss quite needless to close the bridge against foot passengers, while others blaraa the authoritiC3 for not arranging a better service. February 16. It bss been ascertained that Miss Goald and tha boy Jarman were not on board the Pearl. The bodieu are now rising to the anr- | face, and those of the following have been recovered in different; parts of the river:— Yorston, Moner, HaU, Obariton, Ellis, Rose and Harry Jarman ; also those of » kanaka woruuo, and a kanaka boy. The total number recovered so-far is 10. Special reference was made to the catastrophe in all the churches to-day.