FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT AT THE GREY.

West Coast Times, Issue 179, 16 April 1866, Page 3

FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT AT THE GREY.

I.OSS OP FOUR LIVES. (From the Argus'. J It is oui' painful duty to Have to" report the most melancholy accident that has occurred on the River Grey, by which not less than four persons lost their lives. The circumstances of this tragical affair arc as follow: — On Thursday afternoon, about one o'clock, a boat loaded with about a ton and a half of cargo, and six persons, including the drew of five, consisting of Peter Blair (ownerof the boat), A. G. Steelo, George Williams, Frederick Jackson, and a man known as " Bill ;" and one passenger, Mr J. H. Gregory, storekeeper, Noble's Gully, started up tne river for the Twelve-mile. Owing to the strong fresh in tho river, the boatmen were unwilling to start, but Mr Gregory boing anxious to get back to his business persuaded them to mako the attempt. The boat proceeded all right until it had reached the rapids known as Snag Falls, about a mile up the river, •when, as the men were pulling her across the stream to get into still water, the boat, when about two-thirds of tho way across, sheered towards tho Canterbury side again, and in doing so struck a snag with her stern, causing her to fill immediately and capsize. Two of the crew, Pteelo and Williams, being expert swimmers, immediately struck out from tho boat and directed their course down the stream with the intention of reaching tl c Cobden Wharf, and they were heard conversing confidently to each other as to the best place to laud. Seeing that there were three clinging to the boat besides himself, Frederick Jackson plunged into the water and swam for the Canterbury side, which he succeeded in reaching. He was the more impelled to do this by one of the men on the boat clutching him by his loose shirt. Just as Jackson touched the bottom when nearly at the Point, he turned round and saw Steelo and Williams, who appeared to be swim ming all right, aud this was the last seen of these unfortunate men. It is assumed that when they rounded the point they were caught in some of the dangerous eddies aud so sucked down. Peter Blair left the boat shortly after Jackson ; but what became of him further than that he is amongst the missing, is not known. Meantime Mr Gregory and Bill kept a hold of the boat, and by means of an oar placed across the bottom they managed to maintain their hold until, when nearly opposite the rocks above the Cobden wharf, Bill saw a chance of reaching the shore, and relinquished his hold, swimming frantically for tho rocks, which he luckily reached. Ho called out to Mr Gregory to keep hold of the oar and do the best he could ; and it was afterwards noticed that he had left the oar and clutched a gin case, with which he was partially supported ac he approached the wharf. His critical position had been observed from the shore, and a boat containing MrWilkie, Mr Dutton, and others, pulled out rapidly to his rescue, he being shouted to, urging him to hold on and they would save him. But when within a few yards of the exhausted man, and when another minute would have saved him, his head suddenly disappeared, and no further trace of him could be seen. His hat was picked up by Mr Wilkie. Yesterday morning a body, supposed to be that of Mr Gregory, was picked up on the North Beach, almost opposite the AUNations' Hotel, by the police, whohad been promptly despatched by the officer in charge at Cobden. Tho body was denuded of all clothing except the trousers, and nothing was found in the pockets but two keys. Late last evening the body of Williams was picked up near Point Elizabeth. We believe it is the intention of the authorities to have this and any other bodies that may be recovered, taken to the police camp at Cobden, where tho inquest will be held. Of the victims, we believe none were married, although it is said Mr Gregory is a widower and has a son living. George Williams is one of three bro-' thers, well known on the Grey, and whose parents are old Nelson co'onists, residing at Collingwood. He played a conspicuous part at the last Grey mouth regatta^ having been the " duck," for wl.ich his sliill as a swimmer eminently qualified him. Stcele was an Irishman, and of good family ; he was formerly attached to the survey staff on the Nelson side. Peter Blair was a well known boatman, and his relatives resided at Williamstown, Melbourne. Mr Gregory was a highly respected storekeeper on the diggings, having establishments at both Noble's and Duffer's Gullies. He had been very successful in business, and had only the day previous to his death, mentioned to some friends his intention shortly to retire, and go home to Dublin, of which city he was a native. His brother, we believe, is the Lighthouse keeper at Taiaroa heads, Otago. All the boats crew were steady, sober men, and much respected by all that knew them, and there is not the slightest truth in a report which we have heard, to the eilect that any of the men were worse for drink when they started. Commenting on this melancholy occurrence the " Argus" says :—": — " The terrible disaster which it is our painful duty to chronicle in to-day's paper supplies a fearful commentary on the negligence of the authorities. Ever since the discovery of gold in the interior created a considerable boat traffic on the rapid and dangerous rivers, the Govern 1 ment has been urged time after time to take steps for the removal of the snags which obstruct the navigation and endanger human life. Happily but

few accidents of a fatal choxactpv have occurred previously to this sad catastrophe, find the authorities probably imagined that the same immunity Would continue, and they turned a deaf ear to all the remonstrances which have been addr seed to them. But at last tho penalty of this neglect has bce"n imposed, and four human lives are the price that has been paid. Surely if ever moral responsibility attached to any one not directly the cause of a sacrifice of life it does in this instance to those through, whose uogligenco this last fearful accident has occurred. Nothing less than a prompt performance of'tho duty that ought to have been discharged long ago, can possibly be any atonement — if attonement, indeed, it can be called. No plea of expeuso ought to .weigh for a moment ; what are a fito' -hundred pounds compared with the risk of life which is being incurred during every day of delay ? We sincerely trust that a strong pub' He memorial will be addressed to tho Canterbury Government on tho subject, and forwarded direct to tho Superinten* dent. We believe the Nelson Govern* nient has alone been desirous to havo tho snags removed, and has mado more than one offer to the Canterbury Govern' ment to contribute its share of tho cost; but, as we havo beforo said, the Canter* bury Government has taken no notice, and henco tho snags remain. We aro informed that there is no serious practi 1 cal difficulty in the way of their removal; it is siniply a question of expense. Very much more formidable obstacles to navigation have been removed in the American and colonial rivers, and wo havo no doubt that plenty of persons would be willing to tender for the re* inoval of the snags in the Grey at no very considerable amount. It is posi* tively shocking to i effect how many human lives arc daily placed in peril by the neglect of the Government, and we fervently hope the melancholy occur* rencc we report to-day will awaken tho authorities to some sense of their re* sponsibility and duty.