FIFTEEN BLUEJACKETS DROWNED.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 6 January 1909, Page 5

FIFTEEN BLUEJACKETS DROWNED.

Received January 5, 9.25 p.ni,

SYDNEY, 'January 5

Just what caused the disaster has not Ijren r-evealed, as tha naval authorities •rre remaining reticent untl the in--quiry is held. The Dunmore proceeded to so:i shortly after the accident. The son was smooth and tile day clear, al- | though it is said that there had /been, a slight haze at the time. From those \\ aboard the Duumore it is gathered that j tho captain-gave one blast of the whig-' tlo when he saw the-boats/ t> indicate j The course ho was steering. He was;] .■satisfied, that the pinnaes would pass ! under the Dunmore's stern, but sud-fj clenly the towing launch altered its|i course and canio across-his ;bows. They pinnace was complet?ly turned ever by^ the impact and those who were crowded j in the centre cf her'were apparently.] stunned'and unable to help fchemielves., All were heavily clothed and weighted with ammunition and accoutrements, j Tho men belonged to thj Encounter, which Is at present alongside Garden Island. The victims were all Englishmen ami all unmarried except ono one named Gregory, who leaves a wife and daughter in Liverpool. Jt is clear that many pf those lost became entangled in the gear whici» was in the boat as sho overturned. One was found in the tout held fast by the hand and an- • ether had the calf of his leg torn by the propeller. Many of the men who were drowned were good swimmers and they must have been stunned by the impact. By 5 o'clock /ill the bodies had been recovered with/the exception of that of a man namefl Marsh. As each body was foiind, it was wrapped in a Union Jack and conveyed on board the Encounter: The appalling nature of the disaster was the cause of a large assembly of people on the sloping ground, of the Domain overlooking the jrcene. An eye witness described the; scene as thrilling. The men: were, struggling in. the water in a maps, clutching wildly at floating oars or anything likely to keep them aflcat. Fortunately plenty of assistance was^at hand, which prevented an even greater loss of life. Fourteen .men were <rac£ually drowned outright, and the fifteenth., Gregory- when picked up, was in such a bad. way that he subsequently died. The survivors state that wheil thej.saw that the situation was dangerous they shouted to the towing launch to cut tho painter, but there was ■ not time to do so, the Dunmore passing over "the boat and through, the floundering men. The disaster is aboutthe ivorst on-,reeord for Sydney harbour and has created a profound sensation. ';■■;".■