P. & 0. STEAMER MALOJA SUNK

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2707, 29 February 1916, Page 5

P. & 0. STEAMER MALOJA SUNK

TERRIFIC EXPLOSION MAJORITY OF THE PASSENGERS WERE SAVED London, February 27, 5.45 p.m. Tlio High Commissioner reports: — The P. and 0. liner Jlaloja was sunk this morning off Dover. 'The Jlaloja was a steel 'twin-screw steamer of 12,431 tons gross, belonging to the P. and 0 Steam Navigation Company. Shn was tfailt in 1011 by Mcsm'k. Uarland and Well?, Ltd.. Belfast. Her dimensions were;—Leugth, 550 ft. 4m.; Jjreadth, 62ft. Sin..j depth, Sift, lin.l

By TelegrapK—Press Association—Copyright London, February 27. Lloyds report that tliey have just received news that the steamer Maloja was mjned oft Dover, and sunk. The vessel was bound for India. She carried mails and 140 passengers. There was a terrific explosion. Sccres of vessels raced to the scene, but it is feared there has been loss of life. A steamer going to the assistance of the Maloja was also mined and sunk; A RESCUING STEAMER IS ALSO' SUNK. New York, February 27. A Renter message from London states:— TVenty-fivo bodies of those lost in the Maloja have been landed. The Empress of Fort William, 2181 tons, coal laden for Dunkirk, was mined and sunk while attempting to rescue the Maloja's survivors. The crew were saved. FATE OF THE MALOJA'S PASSENGERS. New York, February 27. Router's Agency in London states that it is officially announced that the majority of the passengers by the Maloja were saved. ■ GRAPHIC DETAILS OF THE DISASTER. London, February 27. A violent explosion was heard'at 11 o'clock in the morning. It'attracted crowds to tho water front, and they saw the Maloja at a distance of two miles. She was in difficulties. In response to her "5.0.5." call scores of patrol boats and trawlers appeared on tlig scene quickly from all directions, and motor boats, tugs, and launches from Dover promptly raced to tho rescue. . The Maloja soon began to settle down at the stern, where she was damaged, until the seas were almost level with the bridge. She then took a heavy list to starboard, gradually rolling until the starboard side was submerged and tho decks perpendicular. She remained thus some time, completely capsized, showing a section of the keel for some minutes,' and then disappeared in a cloud of steam. Meantime all sorts of craft were steadily rescuing the crew and passengers. The list prevented the launching of boats from the port side, and those on tho starboard side jammed.. Most of thesurvivors were taken direct from the sloping decks aboard the smaller craft. Tho watchers ashore had another thrilling experience. Half an hour later the Empress of Fort William was sunk half a mile distant. The forepart of the vessel remained above tho sea some time, the stern being submerged. Suddenly she blew up and disappeared in a cloud of steam. The Maloja survivors landed at- the Admiralty Pier. Some were transferred to a hospital ship. Others are coming to London. The Maloja carn'ed a valuable cargo. _1 ' STATEMENT BY THE CAPTAIN OF FORT WILLIAM. (Rec. February 2S, 8.30 p.m.) London, February 27. Captain Shepherd, of the Fort William, says: "When leaving the Downs in the morning, the Maloja was astern, but soon overhauled and passed us with l>er superior speed." He saw the Maloja off Dover apparently held up awaiting examination by the patrol boat, and permission to pass. He did not hear the explosion, and was amazed to notice the Maloja down by the stern. He heard a loud blast of the whistle, and immediately went at full speed to the rescue, but when still a long way astern he saw tho Maloja's boats lying on their sides, and they could not be lowered owing to the list. The passengers were lined up, reminding liim of the picture of the sinking of the Bluchaj; _ Captain Shepherd snapshotted the scene, and half 'an hour later lost his own boat, and all his possessions, but saved his entire crew of twenty. He opined that the boats endeavouring to rescue tho Maloja's people kept too far away. If it wore possible he would have run the Fort William alongside, but he was still a mile astern when his own vessel was mined, sinking in forty minutes. He saw many standing on the decks of the Maloja apparently unable to get into the crowded boats. \ ARRIVAL OF THE SURVIVORS AT VICTORIA STATION, < (Rec. February 28, 8.40 p.m.) London, February 27. There was a pitiful sight on the arrival of the Maloja's survivors by special train at Victoria Station. The procession included nearly a hundred Lascars, who were dejected and silent, and some were injured. The passengers state the absence of panic was due to the nearness of land, and the wonderful promptitude of scores of rescuers, who surrounded the vessel on all sides. The weather was fair. There were no Australasiaus noticeable on board. Forty-four bodies have been recovered. I • '" ' . LOSS OF LIFE 'FAIRLY HEAVY. (Rec. February 28, 9.40 p.m.) , London, February 28. It is estimated that 264 out of 411 aboard the Maloja have been saved; Tho bulk of tho victims aro Lascars. The explosion blew in the side of tho second saloon, and knocked several passengers on deck off their feet, and a number were injured. The water immediately swamped the interior. There was a fairly heavy soa. There was no panic. Tho native crew was terrified, and one was knocked on the head with an oar to prevent him entering a boat before it was ready for passengers. Tho ship's printer' says the explosion was like that of a big gun. The falls of one boat jammed. An officer cut tho falls, and the boat dropped 30 feet. A tug picked up the pilot, who left the Maloja deaf. He says the boats wore swung: out in readiness for an emergency, and many of the passengers possessed private lifebelts.

ANOTHER VESSEL MINED AND'SUNK. . ■ - (Rec. February 28, 8.30 p.m.) London, February 27. The steamer Mecklenburg, SBBS tons, bound from England to Flushing, was mined and sunk. It is believed the passengers, crew, ana mails were saved. . MALOJA STRUCK A MINE BETWEEN DOVER AND FOLKESTONE (Rec. February 29, 0.30 a.m.) London, February 28. There were some deaths among those rescued from the Maloja from exhaustion aboard the rescuing vessels. The weather was intensely cold. Captain Irving was the last to leave the ship, and was picked up after a half-nour's swim. All the officers and engine room staff were saved. A child was seen alone on a raft and was rcscued. The fate of the mother, who fastened it to the raft, is unknown. The captain reports that the vessel struck a mine between Dover and Folkestone, and the afterpart was. blown up. He j;ried to beach the ship, but a high sea was running, and the engine room was full of water. The Maloja sank in about half an hour. All the boats were swung out before tho accident in the event of an emergency. Tho white and coloured crew behaved splendidly.' Several children were blown to pieces. Out of 203 Lascars 86 were saved. The majority of those rescued were taken off rafts. One boat in the water drifted under a boat that was being lowered; the underneath boat capsized, ami only two occupants escaped. FURTHER DISASTERS TO SHIPPING. (Rec. February 29, 0.30 a.m.) London, February 28. The French steamer Trignac was mined and sunk in thoNorth Sea, Twenty-six were drowned. The Dido was mined and driven ashore in a gale near the Humber. Twenty-six were drowned.