HARBOUR TRAGEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24715, 18 September 1941, Page 11

HARBOUR TRAGEDY

LAUNCH SUNK BY FERRY OVERTURNED IN RAIN (Air Mail.) SYDNEY. Sept. 10. Overturned by a Manly ferry last night at the entrance to Circular quay the city ferry terminus of Sydney harbour, a 30ft launch and its sole occu-. pant, Sidney Rose, disappeared. The ferry Bellubera was nearing the end of its seven-miles', run from Manly to the city when, rounding a point in driving rain, the port light of the launch appeared directly ahead. .The ferrv master. Captain William Harris sounded three Wasts for full astern but the ferry was still making •headway, when it struck the launch. .',-.•}. ."I did not see : the launch until it was right beneath me starboard, side." : Captain Harris.'said. "It was raining steadily and visibility was. poor. The sea was calm. I only had a, fleeting glimpse of the / launch before it disappeared. It was showing a dim light, but I could not make out whether anvone was on board. It happened so ouickly that I could not distinguish the colour, type, or size of the launch I'm sure the Bellubera did not run it down but struck it side-on. This may have been sufficient to turn the boat over. I immediately stopped the ferry had lifebelts thrown overboard, and searched the vicinity for 15 minutes." Mr R. T. Brown a passeneer on the ferry, said he saw one man on the launch before the ferrv struck it " The launch seemed to roll completely over he said, "and then it was gone'" Deck hands on the Bellubera threw lifebelt.' into the water, but no one was found clinsinc to them when thev were p'rked un later The :hief mate of a ehin nearby threw, a Dowerful search Iteht on the spot, but there was not the slightest trace of wreckage or of. the occupant.