WRECK OF THE STEAMSHIP CIMBRIA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3637, 9 March 1883, Page 3

WRECK OF THE STEAMSHIP CIMBRIA.

The steamship Cimbria, of the HamburgAmerican line, collided with the steamship Sultan in the German Ocean on January liith, and immediately sank. The collision occurred during a thick fog off Borkum. The loss of life was frightful. The Cimbria had emigrant passengers on board. A despatch from Hamburg sent to the Ham-burg-American Steamship Company on January 21st states that so far only fifty-six persons had been landed near the AVeser lighthouse. Ono narrative of this frightful calamity says : —The weather Avas clear up to 1.15 o'clock, but a fog then set in which continued aud increased in density. The engines of the Cimbria Avere kept at full speed until 1.30, and then at half-speed till 2 o'clock. About 2.10 the whistlo of another steamer was heard, and the engines of the Cimbria stopped instantly. Owing to the heiiA'y fog the Sultan's green light was not observed until she was only 150 feet from the Cimbria. The latter Avas struck abaft. She heeled over to starboard and speedily sank. The officers did all in their poAvor to save the passengers' fives and without a moment's loss of time lifebelts were distributed among the passengers, and an order Avas given to lower the boats. This, however, in consequence of the A-essel heeling over on her side was found to be A-cry difficult on one side, and absolutely impossible on the other. The second officer Avas engaged in cutting spars loose, so that there should be as much driftwood :is possible for the people to cling to Avhen tho inevitable foundering should occur, but the vessel went dovAni under his feet. He seized a spar, but as several other persons clung to it he was obliged to let go, and he swam to a boat. This was the boat subsequently picked up by tho Thcta. Seventeen other persons were saved by the steamer Diamant from the AVeser lighthouse, making fifty-six thus far known to have been saved. The Cimbria carried eight life-boats. She had a crew of 105 men. Two years ago compound engines and new boilers were placed in her. The officers of tho steamer were Commander Housen; chief officer, F. A. RasloAya ; second officer, F. Spruth ; third officer, A. Heydem; fourth officer, A. A r oss; chief engineer, F. Alpen; second engineer, C. Koopman ; third en-j gineer, J. Edelmann ; fourth engineer, C. AVeidernann; physician, Dr C. Muller; purser, J. Bcrwitt; chief steward, J, Brockmuller. The Cimbria was a vessel of 3025 tons, 326 feet long, and Avas built at Greenock in \S,G~.