17 STILL MISSING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16491, 8 November 1927, Page 7

17 STILL MISSING

GREYCLIFFE DISASTER I NO BODIES ON FERRY FEDERAL INQUIRY PROMISED (Eloc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) SYDNEY, Nov. 7. The latest official list in connection with the flj'cycliffe disaster makes the number of those still missing 1(5, while eight others are. being inquired for by relatives or friends as possible passengers on the ferry boat at the i time of the accident, also Mrs. Milson, I whose case was mentioned yesterday. The sunken ferry has been raised, but contrary to expectations, no further bodies have been discovered. Mr. Bruce announced that the Commonwealth Government will hold an inquiry immediately into the cause of the disaster without any connection with the State inquiry. DEATH ROLL NOW 28 (Received Nov. 8, noon). SYDNEY, Nov. 8. Since the harbor disaster 26 bodies have been recovered and two people have died in hospital, making the total of the known deaths 28. Seventeen persons 'are known to be missing. ME. CORBY'S HEROISM RESCUING PASSENGERS REMARKABLE EXPEDITION (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. A graphic description of the heroism of Mr. Corby, one of the Tahiti's greasers, is given by a passenger. "Mr. Corby," he said, "appeared to be one of the first to dive overboard and start his heroic work! He was a powerful swimmer and within a quarter of an hour had assisted numerous passengers of the ill-fated ferry boat who were struggling in the water. He himself became exhausted by his effort, and was dragged aboard one of the mail steamer's boats, which .were by then helping, but after a short spell he returned to his task, and was seen to'dive repeatedly in the neighborhood of the sunken ferry boat. This man was a hero, but everything possible was done by the officers and crew of the Tahiti to rescue the unfortunate passengers. "It was some minutes of course before the boats could be lowered and got away, and the Tahiti was well past the'scene of the tragedy before she could be hove to. Remarkable expedition was shown. Lifebelts, which were thrown overboard by everyone who could see one, undoubtedly assisted many who were struggling in the water to keep afloat. "It was a tragedy, the like of which. I hope, I shall never again experience," he said. "Of course, it cast a gloom on the whole ship, ami was our sole topic of conversation. The Tahiti did not resume her voyage until long after she had done all she could." ,

"I heard two short blasts on the ship's whistle and felt a slight, short shock," said another passenger, "but I was inside, and by the time I got out on to the deck we were past the Greyclifl'e. There was very little noise that I noticed, and the ferry sank with the steam from her boilers escaping easily. There was no explosion as far as I could see. Of course, there was debris in all directions, but it was all over so soon that we could not realise what it was all about until we were well past the scene of the accident."