DOCK GATE BURST. BOATS SWEPT OUT.

STRANGE MYSTERY ACCIDENT.

Exactly a week after the Louth disaster, when the flood caused the loss of many lives, a tidal accident of another kind occurred on the Mersey on Saturday. Some three hours before high water, whilst the water in the Albert Dock was about fifteen feet above the level of that of the river, an outer dock-gate was broken by a coaster, and this created a rushing cataract into the Mersey. The coaster was borne out on the wave, followed by a number of small craft that were loose from their moorings, and flats outside were also caught in the torrent as it poured at a rate of fifty or sixty miles an hour through the opening. Collisions were unavoidable and sixteen flats turned turtle or sank, but it has not yet been definitely established that any of their crews are missing. The Albert Dock, where the big Eastern liners berth, is situated on the Cheshire side between Birkenhead and Wallasey, and is directly opposite the landing-stage at Liverpool. The damage is put at anything from £10,000 to £100,000.

The accident occurred without a moment’s warning. The Countess, a coaster, was lying near the exit from the dock, when, owing to some reason not yet explained, her machinery was started, and she crashed into and burst open the outer dock gates. Water at once commenced to pour through the breach. The Countess herself was carried out at a terrific speed, but she escaped further mishap. At the same time there were about a dozen flats lying inside the dock, and at the rate of sixty miles an hour these, too, were swept into the Mersey. The force of the tide, with which they were suddenly brought into contact, had the effect of causing unavoidable collisions. The flats rammed each other, and eight of them sank. The majority of them had been waiting for the tide to permit them entering the river, and had cargoes of coal and flour. Exciting scenes were witnessed whilst the crews jumped from flat to flat. Eight men on one flat, including the crews of several others, were saved without much difficulty, but other men were rescued only after they had been thrown into the water.

In the Albert Basin and the Albert Dock respectively a large number of big liners belonging to the Bibby and the Hall Line were lying, but happily they were so securely moored so not to be affected by the rush of water. It is conceivable, however, that there might have been serious developments but for the fact that there was a strong incoming tide, and by 2.30 p.m. the tide was full, thus permitting the Dock Board engineers to deal with the situation. All the steamers in the outer basin were then safely taken out into the river, and those in the outer dock itself were considered to be in a position of safety. There are three gates leading into Albert Dock, and it was the middle and smaller of the three that was burst open.

“JUST LIKE NIAGARA FALLS.”

David Gaghett, a lighterman on the Great Western Railway Company’s barge No. 7, told a graphic story. He said that his barge was moored with four others in front, when he saw the Countess crashing through the gates. At the same time some man was shouting, “Put her astern.” “As soon as the steamer crashed through the gates,” he went on, “we heard the roar of the water, and had to skip for our lives. It took us all our time to get up the steps into safety.” He explained that there were about a dozen men in the five barges, and all of them got safely away by scrambling up the steps. “The Countess,” he continued, “came out with a terrific rush and went through our barges. Some of them turned turtle in the swirl of the waters. They were swinging round and round us as though they were in a whirlpool. Our barge went under in about three minutes as the coaster crashed into her. It was a very lucky escape for us. I do not know whether anybody was drowned, but I think all got clear away. The barge W. S. Paterson came out at a terrific pace and swung round stern on to the adjacent dock wall. The barges were knocking into the Countess from every side in the swirling waters, and as the result of these collisions she lost some of her way and escaped the oil tanker San Valerio, which was passing down the river in front of the dock gates. I saw one lad dropped between two barges, but he was picked up by a small boat.”

Mr. William E. Hall, dockmaster for Messrs, Reay Ltd., agents for the Great Western Railway Company, who was an eye-witness of the accident, described the scene as “just like Niagara Falls.” He went on to say that he felt sure no lives were lost, although several men had miraculous escapes. The Countess came out with a rush and went through four barges, being subsequently picked up by a tug and towed into the river.

Shortly after the accident a flood of grain and floating hatchways were seem streaming out towards the river mouth. It is reported that grain valued approximately at £200,000 was on board. Two boys who were fishing from a barge outside the dock were swept away. On another barge, also outside, a man cooking his dinner was caught by a flood of water that rushed 15ft high from the dock into the river, while the owner of another flat reports that one of his men is missing. Several others are still unaccounted for up to the present.