No One At Wheel When Crowded Ferry Boat Began Journey.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18012, 24 November 1926, Page 8

No One At Wheel When Crowded Ferry Boat Began Journey.

CAPTAIN ILL—COLLISION AVERTED BY PASSENGERS WHO STEERED VESSEL THROUGH MAZE. (Spcoi*! to the “ Star.’’) SYDNEY, November 14. Yesterday a ferry boat, crowded with passengers, launched out on its ticklish journey through the maze of waterway* in Circular Quay at the busiest time of the day— And there was nobody at the wheel— An incoming ferry across the path; a clanging of belie; impromptu but willing helmsmen at the wheel, until a member of the board of Sydney Ferries took charge— This is the extraordinary story—one of the mo*t amazing in the history of Sydney Ferries.

It was 12.42 p.m., the time when North Shore passengers were crowding the Quay, that the Sydney Ferries steamer Kosciusko was due to leave for Kirrihilli, High Street. Neutral Bay, and Kurraba. All was normal. There was the usual last-minute run of sportsmen anxious to get home to lunch. The gates closed. The deck-hand cast off. And then—according to the story told by Colonel Spain, a director of Sydney Ferries, Ltd.—the strange journey started. The captain of the Kosciusko had suddenly become ill, and was forced to leave the helm. The engines were .set going, and the ferry left the wharf. Suddenly two youths noticed that the wheel house was empty. It was merely as a matter of course that they should take temporary charge of the vessel. One lad was about 19 years old. and the other a little older. It was the proximity of the Manly ferry Rarragoola which first attracted their attention. The Barragoola was coming into her berth in the Quay, and the youths thought that the vessels would collide. They jumped into the wheel-houso and took the wheel between them. Much about the same time. Colonel Spain, who was a passenger, also saw the danger. He took command of the vessel. Fortunately the Kosciusko had thus far, kept on a straight line from No. 4 wharf by reason of a locking pin in the wheel which kept the ferry straight on her course, and Colonel Spain was able to direct the ferry without any change of course. The temporary skipper was able to keep clear of traffic. Mr Burt, the traffic superintendent of the company, was also a passenger on the Kosciusko, and Colonel Spain later handed the helm over to Mr Burt remained in charge during the “This is the time in the history of Sydney Ferries that such a thing has happened,”, said Colonel Spain, as

he detailed the incidents to a Press represen ta ti ve. Passengers on the Kosciusko said yesterday afternoon that it was the greatest good luck that a collision did not occur between the Kosciusko and the Barragoola. “Nobody had the slightest suspicion that all was not well." said one*man. “When we had gone about 200 yards we noticed a Manly steamer turning in towards the Quay. It seemed that a collision was inevitable Men rushed to the wheel-house, aud a youth Seized the wheel. A crash was narrowly averted. “The Kosciusko was headed for the rocks on the Kirribilli shore, but she was brought to a standstill.” The master of the Barragoola. when seen yesterday, said that at the time he did not regard the situation as dangerous. “I saw the boat coming across my track,” he declared, “and T blew my siren a couple of times. It did not stop as I expected, so T slowed down instead. I did not notice anything suspicious, so I continued to the Quay.” As the Kosciusko passed his boat, he added, lie noticed that several passengers were in the wheel-houae. Whether or not the captain was there he was unable to say. A Sydney business -man. a passenger on the Kosciusko, told a Pressman last night that the escape from collision with the Manly steamer was a narrow one—one of those escapes which set ferry travellers agog. “The Barragoola was within two feet of us," he said. “Nobody caused any disturbance, but we were all very excited.” Members of the crew of the Kosciusko last night said they could offer no explanation of the affair. How the captain came to be absent from the whefl and why the ferry left the wharf in the circustaneCs, were mysteries to them, they said. One man said he thought he heard a bell ring, the signal to go, but he was not sure.