THE BRISBANE DISASTER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2934, 18 February 1896, Page 1

THE BRISBANE DISASTER.

Brisbane, Feb. 14. The Monkland mines are all flooded. Tho river at Rockhampton is still rising. A man named King has been drowned. The names of those missing are increasing hourly, and the greatest difficulty is experienced in obtaining a correct list of the victims. Forty-six were rescued. The following, in addition to those already sent, are reported as missing, and it is almost certain that they are drowned ; —Harry Jarman, William Hall, William Lavers, Charles Kinder, Joseph Rose, Worthiugton, and O’Sullivan. Mesdames Messenger and Best, Misses Marshall, Gould, Yorston, and some members of a family named Cook. Peter Dowd, a survivor from the Pearl, stales that his attention was first directed to the danger by the fireman of the steamer calling out to the captain some words which sounded like, “ I thought you’d do it.” Then the crash came. Dowd caught the Lucinda’s bowsprit, a like feat being accomplished by six others. Another survivor states that he saw little owing to the great escape of steam. Ho thinks many were killed by the bowsprit of the Lucinda. Mr Moran’s daughter and Clibborn are safe. The police are doing their utmost to arrive at a correct list of the missing, but tho difficulty is enhanced by the fact that many people were scared by the accident aud did not venture to leave the city for their homes. Thus their friouds reported them as missiug to the police. The statement which was published that 21 bodies had been recovered was incorrect, as up to the present only two have been secured, those of Miss Barnes and Mrs Harper. It is feared that the bulk were washed down tho river. A young man named Jarman,-who is among the missing, had secured a lifebelt, but gave it to his aunt, saying, “ Save yourself, I will be all right.” McOorkuudale, while in tho water, saw a friend, who was rescued. He said, “ Good-bye, I cannot swim ; remember me to my wife.” The lattei was also on board, but was saved. A labourer close by succeeded in saving two others and getting ashore himself. A passenger by a previous trip alleges that tho Pearl struck tho anchor chain of the Lucinda, and narrowly escaped capsizing. The flood water is subsiding, and the debris has cleared from Victoria bridge, which is now believed to be safe. A movement is on foot for the relief of any persons rendered destitute by the accident. Feb. 13, The captain of the Pearl on being interviewed said that there were about 60

passengers on board. The vessel got caught by the flood, and the eddy slewed the steamer, and she refused to answer her helm. He ordered tho engineer to go astern, but could get no stern way on. When he saw that a collision was inevitable he shouted to warn tho passengers to look out for themselves. The accident was due to steamers being anchored right in tho track of the ferry boats. Although ho struck the Lucinda’s chains on the previous trip he did not consider that he was running any danger. To have gone round the stern would have caused a loss of too much time. The captain admitted telling someone, after the first trip, when she struck the Lucinda’s chain that he would not risk it again, but when she got near the steamer on the fatal trip ho thought he would do so, not realising that there was any danger. He did not think anyone was scalded, as the vessel was under water before the steam escaped. As the boat sank someone called out “Why don’t you grip hold of something I” He replied “ I don’t want anything; I am going down with her.” Almost immediately afterwards she sank, aud ho went down with her. Among the missing are Mesdames Wilson, Harper, Gyomai, aud two children, Misses Norton, Brand, Percy, Harris, Hugh, and Morreu. The total drowned is believed to bo twenty-five. It was a pitiful tale which Mr James Wilson had to tell. He was found iu a boarding-house, overcome with grief. On the afternoon of the accident Mrs Wilson met him on tho Queen’s wharf, aud the couple loft iu the Pearl. Seeing tho danger when the vessel fouled tho anchor chain, Wilson caught hold of his wife aud held her. When they found themselves iu the water another lady also clung to him, but they were all carried down stream. Wilson tried all ho could to save his wife but without success, and she sank before his eyes. Mr Justice Real intended crossing by tho Pearl but bo considered the vessel overloaded and did not start. A passenger described tho passengers as panic-stricken. '1 hey had no time to froo themselves from tho awning of tho sinking steamer. Tho agonised cries of perishing men aud women wore appalling, but only for a moment, for many wore carried down with tho boat and lost sight of, while some few wore clinging to seats of tho vessel and other wreckage, aud drifted rapidly down the stream. Public opinion is greatly exercised as to tho responsibility for the accident. Many think it was quite needless to close tho bridge against foot passengers, while others blame tho authorities for not arranging a better service. The bodies are now rising to tho surface, and ihoso of the following persons have been recovered iu different parts of the river: Yorston, Monor, Hall, Charlton, Ellis, Rose aud Harry Jarman; also those of a Kanaka woman and a Kanaka boy. The total recovered so far is tea. Special reference was made to the catastrophe in all tho churches to-day.