WRECKED ON A CORAL REEF.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 20 June 1901, Page 4

WRECKED ON A CORAL REEF.

Terrible Scenes and Loss of Life

Reuter’s Constantinople correspondent writing on April 19, says : with reference to the loss of tho Mahsussoh Company’s steamer Arslan in the Red fceca on April 3, tho following particulars of tho disaster are now to hand from ono of the survivors | —

“Tho Arislan had on board 2,500 troops from Syria destined for the Yemen, where according to the latest reports, the wellknown Sheikh, Hamiu-ed-Din, is said to be holding his own against tho Turkish authorities. At Suez, 300 pilgrims for Mecca took passage in tho vessel as far as Yambo. When the ship struck the rocks, the captain was sitting in the saloon drinking. He was informed by one of crow just before tho vessel was nearing the reef, but took no notice of the warning. Tho man had hardly returned on deck when Arslan ran right upon the reef, and suddenly lurched over to ono side, remaining in that position, it was nine o'clock in the morning, with a perfectly calm sea.

A sccno of the wildest confusion ensued. Some of the troops were precipitated into the sea by the sudden lurching of the vessel ; many were drowned, others were badly cut about the hands and feet by falling on to'tho jagged coral reef. The remainder of the troops and pilgrims rushed to lec side of the vesse', and clambered on to the bulwarks and in the •rigging, The captain seeing that the ship was lost, decided to abandon her and make for the shore in the ship’s boats. He armed himself with a revolver and the crew taking what arms they could such as long knives, and revolvers, lowered the few boats remaining intact and put off. One of the soldiers in the water who climbed into a boat, was stabbed by one of the sailors, his body being thrown back into the sei. “As soon as the passengers saw that the captain and crew had abandoned the ship, the panic became indescribable; many jumped into the sea and were drowned, while others rushed about like madmen, tearing off their clothes and hurling them overboard. Altogether between 180 and 200 men were drowned. Numbers of the troops remained standing for hours in the water when at low tide reached up to their necks. The unfortunate people left on the vessel remained there for forty-eight hours, when they were rescued by small boats sent out from Yambo, the landing of the survivors occupying two days. The troops lost most of their arms, ammunition, and baggage. Finally three steamers belonging to the same company arrived on the scene, and commenced attempting to tow the Arslan with the result that a largo part of the ship’s bottom was torn off, and the vessel foundered as soon as she left the reef. Owing to the delay caused by the disaster the pilgrims were too late for the ‘Haj’, and had to return to their homes.