THE AUTO-BOAT RACE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1474, 7 June 1905, Page 1

THE AUTO-BOAT RACE.

SENSATIONAL EXPERIENCES,

'Per R.M.S. Sierra, at Auckland.)

Toulon, May 14

The auto-boali race from Algiers >o Tou lon ended unfortunately, all the boats participating in tho uocond stage of the run from Port Mahon to this port boing either sunk or disabled, owing to heavy storms when still many miles from th, finish. Arrangements for escorting the craft, however, were efficiently organised, and bo far as is known there has been no loss of life. The seven boats left; Port Mahon at four o’olook for Toulou. A torpedo boat destroyer accompanied each auto boat while two cruisers followed. The sea was somewhat rough at the siact and soon became worsß-

The competing boats were unable to withstand tho violence of tho storm, and requosteu the warships to tow them. Shortly after the Mercedes sank. The men from tho'torpedo boat destroyer Hallebardo roscued her crow. The cruisor Lahore hoisted, fho Fiat and her crew aboard.

The Camille was abandoned) the Derd saving her crew. The-Hercules 11. is adrift, but her orew is on board the destroyer Sabatuoe. ■ The Malgro Tout sank, and her crew was taken on board the destroyer Carabine. The Mercedes had to be abandoned, the destroyer Partrusune saving her crew. There iB no news concerning the Quand Meme, about which .thero is considerable pnxiety. Her crew consists ot seven men, including the DiikeDb Cases. The oruisere De“Saix and Kte'ber are searching'for the vessel.

The accounts furnished by ■ officers oi the dostroyers which have urrived here with the wrecked auto-boats’ creWs show that the storm which overtook the {ran crafts shortly after their departure f om Port Mahon was of terrible, intensity, the waves attaining a height of twenty-five feet. i

It was impossible to keep the Flotilla in tow, stoei hawsers breaking repeatedly. Owing to the fury of the sou and tho destroyers themselves being in daDgor, in several instances they were compelled to cast oil the tow-lino'in order to avoid sinking themselves. Some of the competitors, however, persisted in racing until they wore swamped. Sometimes owing to the mountainous waves they were lost from tho view of their consorts.

The cruisers De Soix and Klober (though muoh-buffeted by the tempes.) kept up constant wireless communication with the conveying destroyers standing by in order to render assistance. The condition of the racers’ crews bearß out tho statement regarding their awful experiences. All woro thoroughly exhausted, and scarcely able to reply to enquiries. They considered thomaelves fortunate to have escaped with their lives. Many of them had their clothes torn to rags, and some arc bruised, while a member of the Malgro Touts had a leg broken. When they were lauded at Toulon quay by the destroyers a great crowd of sym pathieers awaited them, the event having attracted sportsmen of many nations to the finishing point, owing to the International character of the original Bntnes, which included French, German, Italian, British, and American boats. Tho latter two, however, did not tako part in tho race owing to their late arrival.