Stuart Smith
20th October 2005, 20:16
While I was on Makrana in 1964 and inbound for Calcutta during late September we were anchored up in the Hooghley as the bore tide was due, or had just occurred, I can't remember which.
That evening there was to be a big party with lots of shore-side badha-sahibs due on board. Dennis Henshaw and I were, of course, not invited to the party and we had to stand gangway watch and show the guests to the saloon. There was a constant stream of people coming aboard, far more than I ever saw at any other Brocklebank party/race night, and it was quite obvious that the bum-boat crews, who were ferrying the guests from shore to ship, were becoming jittery with the state of the river flow and height of the river.
Everything had gone well at the party and at around midnight it began to break up and the guests were wanting boats ashore.
Brocklebank's Calcutta Superintendent and his wife were at the party as well as some very senior Customs Officers with their wives and numerous other big-wigs who all seemed to be the worst for drink.
I was on gangway watch to see them away in a decent fashion but when I saw the state of the water and could see that the attendant boat crews were all reluctant to carry passengers I became very concerned. The flow of water alongside the ship was incredible and in my opinion was far too dangerous to attempt carrying passengers to the shore.
Just then a group of guests arrived and asked me to summon a boat. The group consisted of the Superintendent and his wife, a European Customs man and his spouse and around half a dozen other customs men and several wives. I said to the Superintendent that I felt it too dangerous to leave and suggested that they all remain on board overnight of at least until the flood water eased. I can't remember exactly what he said to me but it was something like "It's time we were going and that's what we are going to do" He spoke to one of the Indian Customs Officers who hailed the bum-boat crew and some form of dialogue took place with several people raising their voices. The result was that the shore-going party started off down the gangway.
On hindsight I should have gone off to find the Chief or other senior officer to let them make a ruling, but alas I did nothing.
The group had great difficulty boarding the bum-boat as the two crew struggled to hold the boat alongside the ship. Just then one of our deck officers arrived, I can't remember who it was, and we were leaning over the rail watching the tragedy unveil. Once all the passengers were on board and seated the boatman at the stern let go but the one in the bow was still holding the boat to the gangway. I can see it now as if in slow motion but in fact what happened next was instantantaneous. The stern of the boat was immediately swung out by flood and as soon as it was at right angles to Makrana it flipped right over and everyone on board was thrown into the river. I still have this vision of people being swept away down stream in seconds.
I guess the officer must have legged it to the skipper or someone as I stood there staring at the black waters of the river with nothing in sight.
Suddenly the ships whistle began a series of blasts which was quickly picked up by other ships downstream of us.
I remember the feeling of panic/concern sweeping through the ship at our utter helplessness with the situation.
Next morning we received the news that the Superintendent and his wife had been picked up some miles downstream and I seem to remember that one or two of the customs men were also rescued. Around eight or so other passengers and the two crew men were drowned.
I have had no further feedback or information about this incident and indeed apart from telling my parents about it when I got home this is the first time I have ever told or written about it since. I can't say that I feel responsible or anything but it did have a profound effect on me seeing those people swept to their deaths.
Even putting this down in print has upset me.
If anyone else has heard about this incident or knows any more then I would be interested in hearing form them with a posting or private message.
Stuart smith
That evening there was to be a big party with lots of shore-side badha-sahibs due on board. Dennis Henshaw and I were, of course, not invited to the party and we had to stand gangway watch and show the guests to the saloon. There was a constant stream of people coming aboard, far more than I ever saw at any other Brocklebank party/race night, and it was quite obvious that the bum-boat crews, who were ferrying the guests from shore to ship, were becoming jittery with the state of the river flow and height of the river.
Everything had gone well at the party and at around midnight it began to break up and the guests were wanting boats ashore.
Brocklebank's Calcutta Superintendent and his wife were at the party as well as some very senior Customs Officers with their wives and numerous other big-wigs who all seemed to be the worst for drink.
I was on gangway watch to see them away in a decent fashion but when I saw the state of the water and could see that the attendant boat crews were all reluctant to carry passengers I became very concerned. The flow of water alongside the ship was incredible and in my opinion was far too dangerous to attempt carrying passengers to the shore.
Just then a group of guests arrived and asked me to summon a boat. The group consisted of the Superintendent and his wife, a European Customs man and his spouse and around half a dozen other customs men and several wives. I said to the Superintendent that I felt it too dangerous to leave and suggested that they all remain on board overnight of at least until the flood water eased. I can't remember exactly what he said to me but it was something like "It's time we were going and that's what we are going to do" He spoke to one of the Indian Customs Officers who hailed the bum-boat crew and some form of dialogue took place with several people raising their voices. The result was that the shore-going party started off down the gangway.
On hindsight I should have gone off to find the Chief or other senior officer to let them make a ruling, but alas I did nothing.
The group had great difficulty boarding the bum-boat as the two crew struggled to hold the boat alongside the ship. Just then one of our deck officers arrived, I can't remember who it was, and we were leaning over the rail watching the tragedy unveil. Once all the passengers were on board and seated the boatman at the stern let go but the one in the bow was still holding the boat to the gangway. I can see it now as if in slow motion but in fact what happened next was instantantaneous. The stern of the boat was immediately swung out by flood and as soon as it was at right angles to Makrana it flipped right over and everyone on board was thrown into the river. I still have this vision of people being swept away down stream in seconds.
I guess the officer must have legged it to the skipper or someone as I stood there staring at the black waters of the river with nothing in sight.
Suddenly the ships whistle began a series of blasts which was quickly picked up by other ships downstream of us.
I remember the feeling of panic/concern sweeping through the ship at our utter helplessness with the situation.
Next morning we received the news that the Superintendent and his wife had been picked up some miles downstream and I seem to remember that one or two of the customs men were also rescued. Around eight or so other passengers and the two crew men were drowned.
I have had no further feedback or information about this incident and indeed apart from telling my parents about it when I got home this is the first time I have ever told or written about it since. I can't say that I feel responsible or anything but it did have a profound effect on me seeing those people swept to their deaths.
Even putting this down in print has upset me.
If anyone else has heard about this incident or knows any more then I would be interested in hearing form them with a posting or private message.
Stuart smith