NEARLY DISASTER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16201, 26 November 1926, Page 11

NEARLY DISASTER

SENSATION ON FERRY NO ONE AT WHEEL SYDNEY, November 15. The bravery and presence of mind of two youths prevented a disaster of) the harbor on Saturday, when the Sydney Ferries' steamer Kosciusko, with nobody at the wheel, was heading for the Manly ferry Baragoola. The boys, Russell (Sillies, of Billong sheet. Neutral Bay, and A. Gun-ant, of High street, Neutral Bay, who wore sitting in front of the wheelhouse, 'wondering why the Kosciusko did not change her course, and why the siren did not sound.

Looking! into the wheelhouse, they were amazed! to find it was empty. Rushing to the wheel, they telegraphed the engine for " full speed' astern," and swerved the, ferry from her course.,They accomplished the task not a second too soon, for passengers say that the Baragoola missed the Kosciusko by no more than a foot, running parallel alone; her side. A MYSTERY, ITow the Kosciusko set out on her trip without her captain, who, it- is reported, • was suddenly taken ill, and left the boat at Circular quay, is a mystery that will he inquired into by officials of the company. A collision between the two ferries would, no doubt, have had terrible consequences, for the Kosciusko, which left the quay for KirribilU and other wharves at 12.42 p.m., was crowded.

When the ferry left the wharf it went straight ahead,'for the• safety pin was in the wheel, and the rudder was locked. It had not gone far when the Baragoola, heading for her berth, appeared. Tho captain of the Baragoola sounded the siren, but there was no reply from tho Kosciusko. When Gillies and Gurrant rushed into the wheelhouse. after seeing it was empty, they ivied to turn the wheel, but found it would not move.

Fortunately, Gillies knew something of the steering mechanism, and ha released the pin. swerving the Kosciusko just clear of the Baragoola, the master of which slowed; down when the Kosciusko did not stop, as lie expected she would.

Colonel Spain, a director of the Sydney Ferries Co., and Mr. Burt, traffic superintendent of the company, chanced to he passengers on the Kosciusko, and they took charge of the ferry, which Mr. Burt took to Kirribilli.