Image TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage Tile
Image size: 6144x7680 Scale: 35% - PanoJS3
Page overview thumbnail

Article text

SKIDWAY COLLAPSES
Women and Children
Thrown into River
Exciting Rescue Scenes
LAUNCESTON, October 30.
Unable to withstand the weight of
the numerous visitors yvaiting for freo
motor-boat trips at the opening day of
the North Esk Royving Club on Satur-
day afternoon, the main skid yvay lead-
ing into the water suddenly collapsed
in the middle yvith a sharp crack, and
about 30 men, women, and children
were thrown into about seven or eight
feet of water. There yvere, however,
no casualties, and everyone was rescued
by the oarsmen and onlookers, who
wero in the vicinity at the time, who
quickly took to the water to render as-
sistance. When the accident happened
there yvas considerable consternation
for some minutes. The crack of the
breaking structure immediately attract-
ed attention from all parts, and every-
body made a rush to the bank of the
river. It yvas most fortunate that there
were plenty of oarsmen stripped on the
bank yvaiting for their particular race.
These yvere not slow in taking to the
water, yvhile several men on shore
jumped in without even discarding
their coats to lend their aid. While
those in the water yvere being support-
ed by the roscuers, and being taken to
the shore, relatives of children present
yvere seen rushing about tho crowd,
searching for their charges, and pos-
sessed by a fear that they might he
among those unfortunate ones who
were spending a few minutes in the
North Esk. It yvas not very long, hoyv
ever,- before matters calmed doyvn a
little, for, although there were still a
good many in the water, it was seen
that no one yvas in a really desperate
plight, and all yvere being yvell looked
after by the hard-working rescuers. One
by one those in the water were got to
shore.
WOMAN IN A FIT.
One middle-aged woman, hoyvever,
had taken a fit in the water, and put
up a great struggle before she yvas lift-
ed on shore by a half-dozen oarsmen,
being one of the last to bo taken out.
Another middle-aged lady, who, to-
gether with the rest of her family, five
in all, had been thrown into the watoi
with the breaking of the skidway, faint
ed upon her safe return to the
shore. She discovered that her babj
in arms, yvhom she had been nursinj
prior to the acoidont, yvas missing. II
was discovered, however, that the chili
had been snatched from her by a mai
as soon as they touched yvater, and yva¡
quite safe.
When finally everybody had beer
taken from the water the North Es1
sheds presented a busy appearance witt
the croyvd of people in various places
endeavouring to dry themselves. Manj
of the young girls who had had an in
voluntary immersion were seen attirée
in all manner of dress, including men's
overcoats, yvith royving socks and jump
ers underneath. When everybody hni
been fixed up satisfactorily the unfor
túnate ones were sent to their varioui
homes in taxis and motor-cars, whicl
were procured.
The accident completely marred ai
otherwise brilliant function. It migh
have been avoided liad a little super
vision been exercised by officials of thi
club. It may be necessary for the clul
to replace tlie old skidway with a nev
one, yvhich, it is estimated, yvill entail i
cost approximately of £C0 or £70.
There wero eight creyvs from the clul
on the river during the afternoon, bu
in the intra-club race, which was ti
have been held, only twto heats wer
got off before the accident to the skit
way, yvhich brought the function to :
close.
Alderman G. Shields performed th
opening ceremony, and referred to th
long list of neyv members for the clul
numbering over 50, which, he though
was indicative of success in the futun
Ho hoped such yvould be the case, an
he congratulated the crews on thel
past efforts.
During the afternoon the ladies' con
mittee served afternoon tea, and th
City Band rendered selections. Til
motor-boat trips yvere carried out b
several large launches.
$