THE MATATUA DISASTER

Otago Witness, Issue 3655, 1 April 1924, Page 21

THE MATATUA DISASTER

RAMMED BY AMERICAN VESSEL.

NINE Oh CREW KILLED. LONDON, March 24

The Shaw-Savill steamer Matatua, bound from London to Lyttelton, collided off Gravesend with the United States steamer American Merchant. The Matatua' was badly damaged on the port side, and she was headed for the shore, making water. Eight men were killed on board the Matatua.

MEN KILLED IN BUNKS. LONDON, March 24

The inaccessibility of the Thames-side district, where the Matatua and the American Merchant collided, greatly delayed the receipt of authentic iniorniat.on, but it is now clear that the disaster led to eight of the Matatua’s crew be'ing killed outright in their bunks. Three others were seriously crushed, and were sent to hospital at Gravesend. The difficulty is to penetrate to the bunks where trie men slept, and probably some days will elapse before the bodies can be extricated.

The Matatua has been brought on to Mucking Flat, though she is still partially submerged. „ The Matatua was proceeding to Holehaven, and was turning round, when at 4 o’clock in the morning the American Merchant, 7500 tons, of the United States Line, which was on her maiden voyage from New York, crashed into her broadside on, striking her amidships in the engine room. The survivors from the Matatua state that the scene in the forecastle was a terrible one. The American Merchant s very sharp bow cut clean through the Matatua’s plates like paper. The water rushed into the hold, and the ship began to sink, but the captain managed to beach her. The American Merchant proceeded to summon the assistance of tugs from Tilbury, with pieces of the Matatua’s plates hanging on her bow, and with her flag at half-mast. MEN CAUGHT IN DEATH TRAP. LONDON, March 25. Nine of the Matatua’s dead have been recovered. They were lying in their bunks under water where they were trapped. Their names are still unknown. STATEMENT BY CAPTAIN. LONDON, March 24. The captain explains that the current caused the Matatua, which was at anchor, to swerve as the American vessel approached. MOST OF THE MEN ASLEEP. LONDON, March 25. A seaman on the Matatua named Moore, a New Zealander, in an interview with the Daily Express, said that when the collision occurred 22 out of 32 of the men were asleep. “I was going to bed, ' he said, “when I heard a cry 'Come up quick !’ 1 ran up in my shirt just in time to see the American Merchant cut right through the cabins. The collision sounded like an explosion.’" Moore added that he was sleeping in the next berth to those who were killed. It wain lucky that the American ship struck the Matatua a glancing blow. The plates then buckled, and she cut half-way through the Matatua, tearing away the derricks and donkey engines. The American Merchant kept her nose in the hole, tlij.is giving the captain a chance to beach the Matatua. DISCIPLINE WELL MAINTAINED. LONDON, March 25. It is believed that the Matatua’s crew joined the vessel in London. Eight of the men who were killed have been identified. They were all greasers, with addresses in London. A tug brought to Gravesend five mutilated bodies. Three have yet to be recovered.

The Daily Mail reports that the hole in the vessel’s side is 36ft by -50 ft. The interior of the forecastle resembles a house that had been shelled. Iron bars are twisted into shapeless masses, and the bodies are unrecognisable, being crushed and intermingled with the smashed woodwork. The friction of the grinding plates during the collision set fire to the woodwork, and there .was an explosion resembling the bursting of boilers. The men rushed to the lifeboats, but discipline quickly reasserted itself. Wireless appeals for assistance were sent and hoses played on the flames.

The American ship kept her nose in the hole, and pushed the Matatua two miles.

OPENING OF THE INQUEST

LONDON, March 26. Mr Carpmael, representing the Shaw, Savill Line at the inquest on the Matatua victims, requested that the proceedings should be adjourned till after the Admiralty Court. The Coroner: “I cannot agree to such a course.’’

Mr Carpmael later applied that only evidence of identification should be taken. The Coroner: “Are you afraid that the evidence will prejudice either side of the case ?’’

Mr Carpmael: “I am not afraid, but evidence in these cases should be given with great particularity, and only considered by those accustomed to see colli-

sion cases. A Coroner’s Court is an unfit tribunal to apportion the blame.” The C oroner : “That is the very reason why I am appointed—to get at the points regarding people who are killed in this way.” The inquest was adjourned. EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. LONDON, March 27. At the inquest on the five victims of the Matatua collision Captain Green, of the Matatua, attributed the accident to the American vessel suddenly starboarding, when within 800 ft of the Matatua. When he saw an American ship approaching he sounded a short blast, meaning “Alter your course to starboard.” The American Merchant replied, and then he suddenly saw it coming swiftly. It was impossible to do anything. The Matatua’s pilot gave evidence that they were approaching in a perfectly safe way. Something must have gone wrong with the American’s ship’s steering gear.

The American captain expressed the opinion that the collision would have been avoided had the Matatua ported two minutes sooner.

CONFLICT OF EVIDENCE. LONDON, March 29

At the resumed inquest at Gravesend on the victims of the Matatua disaster the pilot of the American Merchant said he called the captain’s attention to the Matatua being cm their bow, showing a green light. The Matatua, when *she showed her rod light, was only 200 yards away. She gave a warning blast, whereupon he immediately ordered the engines to be stopped, and then put full speed astern.

The Coroner said the pilot’s evidence did not agree with the evidence of the American Merchant’s captain. The pilot replied that the Matatua had not opened her red light soon enough to avoid a collision. The American Merchant did everything possible to avoid a collision.

A verdict was returned that the men were accidentally killed in the collision.