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COLLISION ON THE MERSEY

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COLLISION ON THE MERSEY CARNARVON ST K AXES "IBIS" SUNK. FIVE LIVES LOST. A eollision, attended with considerable loss of life, occurred ell the river on Friday night off New Brighton. The night was clear, but there was a strong gale blowing, and the sea was very rough, especially at high tide, when the extensive sand banks at the mouth of the river were submerged, and the wind had full play over the whole of the bay. The channel was filled with vessels, some outward bound And others inward. Among the latter was the steamer Ibis, from Carnarvon and other Wehh ports, with flour and general cargo, and one passenger, who was taken on board in the morning at Beaumaris, the last port touched at. A short distance ahead of her was the cargo steamer Volga," frcm Llanelly, Captaia Thomas Edmunds in command. These steamers were approaching the Rock Light about 7 o clock, when a steamer, believed to be the Alarm,' Liverpool, was noticed proceeding outwards. From the statements of those on the Volga," all the vessels were properly lighted. The "Alarm" passed ,he VoJga" on the starboard side. The Ibis" was at this time about mid-channel, and as socn as Captain Griffiths, who was in command, saw the Alarm" approaching, he ordered the helm hard-a-port, as he oonsidered the outward- bouud steamer was in dangerous proximity to himself. Unfortunately this action proved too late to avoid a terrible collision. The Alarm" struck the Ibis" amidships, the noise of the im- pact being heard a long distance. It was seen at once that an extensive damage had been done to the Ibis," and the captain and crew immediately made efforts to save themselves. Two men who were in the cabin and the engineers and firemen were called on deck, and told by the captain, who had taken off his clothes, to save themselves. The lifebelts belonging to the Ibis" were secured by the crew, but before they could man a boat the steamer gave a lurch and went down head first, less than five minutes having elapsed from the time of the collision. The Alarm" had apparently reversed her engines jus: before the collision, because she immediately backed out, and came to a standstill. The captain of the Volga" states that his at- tention and that of his crew was drawn to the catastrophe by the noise of the collision. He at once stopped his engines and ordered a boat to be lowered as he heard a number of men shouting in the water. Only two men, David and Joseph Emery, had got into the boat when the waves forced it away from the side (,f the steamer. With a terrible struggle these men palled about, and were fortunate enough to rescue the captain of the Ibis" and two of his crew. Captain Edmunds saw it was impossible for the boat to return to the "Volga" and signalled for a tug. The Brocklebank" was fortunately in the vicinity, and brought the rescued raen to the Prince's Landing-stage. Thence thf-y were at once con- veyed to the Northern Hospital in the ambulance by Police-constable 258A (Fawaett). They were attended by a house surgeon ani detained at the hospital. Meanwhile the captain of the; Volga was able to rescue another of the crew cf the Ibis." He heard shouts from various directions, and says he hardly knew what to do, but mancevured his steamer so as to get to the n earest. This proved to be Thomas Hughes, an able seaman. lie had provided himself with a lifeb aoy belonging to the "Ibis "before the vessel foundered, and he was lucky enough to secure a second thrown over- boaid by the crew of th3 Alarm." By this means he was able to kaep afloat for about twenty minutes, when he was got on board the Volga," a fireman of that vessel hanging over the bulwarks by his hands to enable Hughes to go on board. A collie dog belonging to the captain of the Ibis was also rescued. When the "Volga "was berthed in the Victoria Dock, about half-past nine, neither Hughes, who had been given a change of clothes by some of the sailors, nor the dog, seemed any th* worse for their prolonged immersion. Hughes was loud in his praise of the courageoas at. d kind conduct of the captain and ere of the "Volga." He, however, bitterly complained that, so far as he could observe, the "Alarm," which he declared was alone to blame, lowered no boats, and made no other attempt at rescue beyond throwing a few lifebuoys overboard. Captain Edmunds states that he stood by until everthing was quiet, and that he be- lieves that the Alarm did the same, and sub- sequently returned to the river. Tl e rescued are John Griffith, 42, master of the Ibis;" John Evans, 28, seaman; William Hope, 36, seaman; and Thomas Hughes, seaman. With the exception of the captain, who lives in Bar- mouth, these reside at Carnarvon. The missing HI? Edward Griffith, 54, mate Edward Jones, 33, seaman; John Jones, 35, engineer; John Williams, 28; and a passenger, whoe indentity is unknown. Ihe news about the disaster caused a painful sensation at Carnarvon, to which port it belonged. r The veasel was owned by a company of tradesmen in the town, which included Mr J. R. Pritchard (the ex-mayor), Messrs Evans and Lake, and others; and Mr Robert Owen, of the same town, acted as aged in Liverpool. It was a new vessel, and put c the station about three years ago. The first information received at Carnarvon was I The first information received at Carnarvon was contained in a telogram to the owners, but hardly any particulars were known until tho Liverpool I daily papers reached the town buorcly before ten I on Saturday morning, giving an exhaustive account of the painful occurrence. General sympathy was expressed with the parents of the missing members of the crew, who were well known and highly respected in the town. It was at first hoped that they had been picked up by the steamer which ran down the Ibis," and during the afternoon of the same day a rumour was cir- culated that thi mate had been rescued, but a telegram received by Mr J. R. Pritchard late at night confirmed the reports which appeared in the morning newspapers. Edward Griffiths, who lived in Arvon terra.ce,North penrallt, leaves a widow and seven children. Edward Jones was the son of Mr Morris Jones, Edward street, TwthiU, and lived in Cla.rke terrace. He was married, but Vad no children. John Jones, the engineer, lived with his widowed mother in Wil- liams street, and John Williams, who was un- married, resided with his parents in the neighbour- hood of Beaumaris. ;Åti The Ibis" left Carnarvon on her last voyage about five o'clock on Friday morning. The last port touched at was Beaumaris, w'lere a passenger was taken on board. Severe westlier was encountered all the way. At the time of the disaster the mate was at the wheel, and the captain was also sitting i in the whaelhouse. The mf.te drew the attention of the latter to a steamer bearing upon them from the opposite direction, and the whistle was sounded, hut this proved of no avail, and as a last resort orders weie given to reverse the engines of the Ibis," but it was ther. too,late to avert a collis- ion. Orders were at once givin to the crew to save themselves. Hope, who is a fireman, was at the time im the ergine room, and he was hurled headlong into a heap of coals by the force of the collision. With some difficulty he managed to ex- tricate himselx, and rushing on deck he possessed himself of lifebuoy aad jumped into the water. Evans and Edward Jones were at the time making the necessary preparations for the unloading of the steamer. The latter was an expert swimmer, and it is a matter of surprise that he was drowned. Jones, the engineer, had also possessed himself of a lifebuoy, and his cries for help were heartrending. No doubt, the poor fellow, owing to excitement, was unable to avail himself of the services of the lifebuoy, and he was subsequently seen by one of his companions floating apparently lifeless. It Is believed that the mate had no lifebuoy, and he must have been drowned almost immediately. The rescued men were conveyed to the Northern Hospital with all haste, the captain appearing to suffer the most. The latter was detained in the institution until Monday morning, the others arriving in Carnarvon in the course of that day. On Sunday Lieutenant Simpson, of the Marine Surveyor's Department, went on the river for the purpose of searching for the position of the sunken vessel, and discovered its situation after a lengthy search. Divers descended cn Monday, and re- ported that extensive damage had been done to the ill-fated steamer. None of the bodies were discovered. It is reported that an effort will be made ro raise the vessel, which was Lot insured. Proceedings have been instituted to recover damages from the Mersey Dock and Harbour Board, the owners of the steamer Alarm." The tender Alarm is the vessel which is in attendance on the Mersey Dock and Harbour dredgers, and is fitted up with eroding apparatus for work at the bar. She is now lying in the Brunswick Dock, having apparently sustained little or no damage. Naturally much indignation has been expressed by the crew and by the Dock Board officials who know the facts of the cate, that a statement should have been uttered which reflected upon the gallantry ef the captain and the crew of the Alarm." It was pointed out that, according to the evidence furnished by the sur- vivors of the" Ibis," lifebuoys were thrown to them from the "Alarm." But this was only part of the work of rescue which was attempted by Captain Moore, of the Alarm," and his crew. A boat from the "Alarm" was launched as speedily as the operation could be performed, and every effort was made to save human life. Is fact, in this respect the crew of the Dock Board vessel deserve every credit for their humanitarian efforts, though no doubt the consternation on board caused by the collision, the high tide rising to 18ft. 3in., the choppy state of the river, and the intense darkness, made it an exceedingly difficult task to render assistance. So far from there being shown any cowardice on the part of the Alarm and its crew, it seems quite beyond doubt that they made most praiseworthy efforts to render assistance. It is only fair that these facts should be stated in justice to a body of men who are as brave and efficient as any men who are in service at, or who visit, this port. Captain Griffith,of the Ibis," sends the follow- ing letter to the press :—SIR,—Allow me to pub- licly acknowledge the service rendered to myself and fellow survivors by the crew of the ss. Volga on the night of the 15th inst. The sea- aianlike manner Captain Edmonds manoeuvred his vessel in circumstances so difficult and the prompti- tude and bravery of his crew in risking their lives are worthy of the highest praise. To their human efforts our safety is due, and by your kind- ness we are enabled to thus publicly offer our gratetul thanks.—Yours, &c., J. J. GRIFFITH, late waster ss. Ibis." CAPTAIN GRIFFITHS' ACCOUNT.1 Captain Griffiths on Friday night made a state- ment to the effect that about ten minates to seven when off the Rock Light a steamer, the name of which he did not know, struck the Ibis amid- ships on the starboard side. The colliding steamer backed off. and the Ibis went down bow first. He and the two men rescued with him jumped over the stern into the water. They were picked up by a small boat and placed on board the tug Brocklebank." There were at the time he spoke five of the crew missing and one passenger. The names of the missing men were—Edward Jones, Edward Griffiths, John Jones, Thomas Hughes (subsequently rescued), and John Williams. He did not know the name of the passenger, who was a youth about eighteen years of age, and who had stated that he had been engaged as butler at the Bulkeley Arms, Beaumaris. He was described as being about 5ft. 2in. in height, with fair hair and complexion, and was dressed in dark clothes.

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