Manly–Agnes collision

The Manly–Agnes collision was a 1904 shipwreck in Sydney Harbour, Australia.[1] It involved the 30' launch Agnes and the steamer SS Manly which was a much larger passenger ferry.[2] The Agnes was carrying a family between Snails Bay and Middle Harbour.[3][4]

Agnes

The Agnes was a launch owned by Frederick Thomas Heming. She had been completed in 1904 by W Holmes of North Sydney, New South Wales and was powered by a 5 hp (3.7 kW) Hercules engine.^[citation needed]

The collision

The collision occurred in the Sydney Harbour on a Sunday. The Manly ran into the Agnes hitting it near the stern. The Hemings family of six people on board the Agnes were thrown into the water.[1] Mr. Heming and his wife Agnes drowned[5] - their four children were rescued and survived.

Aftermath

Captain Ward of the Manly was charged with manslaughter.[4] The jury deliberated a short time before returning with a verdict of not guilty.[6] Blame for the accident was placed on Hemings for turning into the path of the ferry. Captain Ward was admonished for not sounding the ferry's whistle.[5]

The four Hemings children were orphaned by the loss of their parents. A fund was created to help the oldest son buy out the parents' laundry business.[5]

References

1. "Harbour Collision: Steamer Manly and the Launch Agnes". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. New South Wales, Australia. 31 January 1906. p. 299. Retrieved 22 March 2020 – via Trove.
2. "MARINE". The Daily Telegraph. New South Wales, Australia. 24 April 1906. p. 8. Retrieved 22 March 2020 – via Trove.
3. "The Manly-Agnes Collision". The Clarence River Advocate. New South Wales, Australia. 13 February 1906. p. 3. Retrieved 22 March 2020 – via Trove.
4. "The Manly-Agnes Collision". The West Australian. Western Australia. 12 February 1906. p. 4. Retrieved 22 March 2020 – via Trove.
5. Morcombe, John (27 December 2017). "Last weekend's ferry collision was just the most recent of many". Manly Daily. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
6. "Captain Ward Acquitted". Goulburn Evening Penny Post. Retrieved 28 March 2020.

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