TERRIBLE COLLISION.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 654, 1 September 1891, Page 3

TERRIBLE COLLISION.

TWENTY-TWO LIVES LOST. The steamer Gambier, which left Sydney on Tuesday last for Melbourne, came into collision about one o’clock on Friday morning with the steam collier Easby in Hobson’s Bay, as the latter was leaving for Newcastle. The Gambier sank in a few minutes. The Gambier had her bows stove in, and she put back to port. The following is a list of those drowned in the collision :—Saloon passengers—Mr and Mrs Trevenach, Mrs Thorpe, Miss Woodling, and Mr Johnston. Steerage—Messrs M’Carthy and child, Franklin, Turner, Kellj and child, Gainor and daughter, Miller, and Quinn; Mesdames Leslie and child, Davidson and child, Orewshaw, Brown, and Macdonald. Nothing but the spars and the top of the Gambier’s funnel is viable above water. The Easby's bows are greatly damaged. The night was dark, but fortunately the weather was fine. The following is the statement made gby Captain Predeaux, of the Easby : — ** Jost after passing No. 2’buoy, west channel, * Baw a bright light close on the Queensdiffe v • on th® starboard bow, a point and a half from the Easby. In half a minute I saw a / e ?. J ig kt, then a green light, and then all !~ e Jj g ktB simultaneously. We appeared to be 200 yards off the other vessel. We showed

a red light across our bows, and I then made out the hull of the vessel. I rang the telegraph to • stand by.’ The movements of the Crambier were erratic, and when she ported her helm I blew the whistle and went full speed astern, seeing that a collision was inevitable. The Easby, however, struck the Gambier on the port side aft of the funnel. Had the latter kept her course she had plenty of room to pass on the starboard side, because she was well to the south, and she was close to Qneenecliffe shore whsn I first saw her. Had the Captain of the Gambier steered the new channel course towards Swanspit light he would not have come near me, and there would have been no disaster. After the vessels struck, and I had ascertained that we were not likely to sink, I immediately got the boats out and succeeded in taking up a number of people, but could not say bow many. I waited two hours more, keeping a sharp look out, and then hearing no more ones I came on to Melbourne ” Captain Bell, of the Gambier, has made the following statement •—■< We got through the Rip at 1.15 this morning, and when between Queenscliffe and the Swans;it lightspip we saw the light of a steamer on the port side. We were just priming and pro, seeding st a slow rate, scarcely half maximum. I saw that the other steamer was heading towards up, and wore myself away as much as possible, until I perceived that we were getting too much in-shore. The Easby loomed up right alongside us, and fearing a collision I ordered the engines to be immediately reversed, but apparently we had too much way on. In a moment the approaching vessel was upon us and struck the Gamlper with terrible force on the port Side, Her bows out half through the Gambisr. There was a terrific rush of water, and we began to founder. I called to the crew to arouse the passengers. When the latter realised the awful nature of the catastrophe there were some heartrending scenes. It was a moment when one required to be cool and Collected, but I must confess that the Anguishing cries of the passengers, especially ">* disturbed me not a little, AU their faces seemed turned on me with a bleeding I can never forget. I ordered the orew to lower the boats, and they responded like men, AU tbe four boats were in the water in a minute or two."