FOUNDERED AND BURNED.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19146, 1 November 1927, Page 9

FOUNDERED AND BURNED.

WRECK IN IRISH SEA. FIVE OF CREW LOST. <,BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION-- COFTRIGHT.) '.Stdnk-; '•SrN - ' Service.) (Received November Ist, 1.10 a.m.) LONDON, October 31. The Fortuna from Liverpool, carrying provisions for several whaling ships, was burned and foundered in the Irish Sea hurricane. Five of the crew ■were lost, but the captain and nineteen of the crew were saved.

An explosion occurred and the vessel was soon afire from stem to stern. .One lifeboat capsized but the other was safely launched. ,

HEAVY DAMAGE ON THE COAST. TWENTY DEATHS REPORTED. (bwtisu official wireless.) 11UGBY, October 30. A heavy gale swept the British Isles on Friday night, tho wind maintaining an average velocity of nearly 60 miles an hour, while 78 miles an hour was registered at Valentia, Ireland. The shipping round the coast, particularly in the south-west and the Irish Channel, experienced violent seas. The destroyer Rowena, with a naval tug, went to tho assistance of the Spanish tanker Arnus (4185 tons), whoso steering gear broke, west of Portland Bill. The vesesl was in danger of drifting on the rocks in West Bay, but sbo was brought, u> a safe position, the naval craft by and afterwards towing her into Weymouth. More than 20 lives were lost through the storm. The Mersey ports suffered severely froin the gale, and a steam barge broke her moorings and crashed against the dork wall and sank, drowning the mate.

Inland much damage was clone. In London a 100-ton crane employed on a new building crashed, and :.t Bradford a 180 feet mill chimney was blown down. 200 employees working in the buildings escaping injury. At Blackpool lour water-cooling towers, 250 feet high, were torn down at a power station, the adjoining area being flooded and the town deprived 'of electric current for several hours. From all parts of ihe coast heavy seas and damage to piers and shipping are reported. The Scarborough, a motor fishing-boat, which was believed to haive been lost, was towed to- nort late'' last night. The craft .vas damaged, after having been blown 30 miles before the gale.

FISHING FLEETS SUFFER SEVERELY. LONDON, October 30. Later details of the Galway coast gale disaster show that it'was the worst in the history of" western fishing fleets. Between 30 and 40 fishermen perished in three distinct disasters. Eight boats from -the (J.Vggan Bay Fleet were wrecked, and 16 fishermen were drowned. Five boats from the 'luntaken, Wand fleet were lost, and eight men were drowned. _ Four boats from the Lackan Bayfleet were lost, and 10 men were drowned. • Several other craft are unaccounted for. It appeal's that the boats caught the full fury of an 80-mile gale. They were buffeted by tempestuous seas, the crews of some being battered to death against rocks. Other craft were swamped.