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]
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 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.
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]