DOUBLE COLLISION

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 14, 11 October 1921, Page 5

DOUBLE COLLISION

LAIRD LINER SUNK OFF COAST OF SCOTLAND SPLENDID RESCUE WORK SEVENTY-SEVEN PEOPLE SAVED The steamer Rowan, after a collision with an American vessel during a heavy fog, was crashed into and sunk by the liner Clan Malcolm, which was answering the Rowan’s S.O.S. call. Remarkably fine rescue work was performed by the warship Wrestler and the liner Woodcock, 77 of the 93 people on the Rowan being saved. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright London, October 9. The Laird liner Rowan, from Glasgow to Dublin, sank off Ailsa Craig, in tile Firth of Clyde, at midnight, after a dramatic doublo collision. Thus far, twenty-four of the crew and fifty-one passenger’s have' been saved. The total number missing has not yet boen estimated, though a Dublin message says four hundred were believed to bo aboard the Rowan. This is apparently an exaggeration, as it is officially stated that fifteen are missing, though this number probably refers to the number of the crew missing, and does not include the passengers. The first collision took place during a heavy fog between the Rowan and 1 tho American steamer Wcstcamak. The latter stood by, with her forepeak full of water. The Clan liner Clan Malcolm then steamed up in the fog, and ran into the disabled Rowan, which sank. A wireless S.O.S. brought the warship Wrestler and the Burney liner Woodcock to the scene, nnd these vessels picked up tho survivors. All jthe passengers were below when the first collision occurred, and came on deck prepared to put on lifebelts. They found only a slight list, and the crew were hopeful of making port without assistance. Ten minutes later the Rowan was struck amidships by the Clan Malcolm, and was crumpled up like matchwood, as one survivor said. She sank within a minute. A huge holo was torn in her side, and everyone went down with the ship, as there was no time to launch the boats. It is astonishing that there were so many rescued. Two passengers, including a member of an American jazz band, of ’which there were thirty-two coloured member? aboard, died after being rescued. Tho captain of the Rowan went down with his ship. Later. An official message from Glasgow states that there were ninety-three people aboard tho Laird liner Rowan. Seventyseven were saved, including twenty-one of the crow. Thirteen of tho crew are missing.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DISABLED LINER CUT DOWN BY RESCUING VESSEL BRAVE WORK BY MAN-O’WARSMEN (Rec. October 10, 7.25 p.in.) London, October 19. The Clan Malcolm was answering tho Rowan’s S.O.S. call, which stated that there was no immediate danger of sinking, and the crew were launching the lifeboats and serving out lifebelts when the second collision occurred. Tho warship Wrestler’s searchlights enabled her boats to see the survivors struggling in the water, otherwise the death-roll would have been greater in the darkness. Several lives were saved by sailors jumping Into the water from the destroyer and holding the people up until boots picked them up. —Aus.-N.Z. CAble Assn. [The Rowan was a steel screw steamer of 1493 tons, built in 1909. Her dimensions were: —Length, 280 ft. Sin.; breadth, 38ft. lin„ and depth 16ft. sin.]