DISASTER AVERTED.

Grey River Argus, 21 February 1927, Page 5

DISASTER AVERTED.

LAKE STEAMER SINKS. WITH 700 ABOARD. (Recd. Feb. 20 at 5.5 p.m.) BERNE, Feb. 18. A steamer with seven hundred pilgrims aboard sank while approaching a landing stage on Lake Como. The majority of the pilgrims, however, were saved, but many were injured. Between 20 and 30 were seriously hurt. The number dead has not yet been ascertained. ONLY THREE LIVES LOST. A BRAVE BlSliOr. BERNE, February’ 19. The pilgrim steamer that sank con veyed the famous relic, the head of St Aloysius.. Many’ church and civic dignitaries, also religious societies bearing Huge crowds, including the entire local garrison, thronged the shore awaiting the arrival of the sacred relic. The crowd ashore saw the vessel’? stern awash and they started to ciy ‘She Sinks’” However, uie people jboard were chantings hymns and pray-, jrs. They did not hear the warning till he vessel came close to the jetty. Rope> were then cast ashore, and the vessel moored. Then there was a terrible scramble. A woman was crushed by a mob rushing he gangway, and she died from her in-

juries. Many people leaped into the lake. Only two are dead and one missing. The police express the opinion that the steamer was .overloader. The head of the. party was Bishop Fa gani, who was returning from a visit c 1 homage tu the headquarters of St. A.loy sins. The Bishop did notable work in allaying any panic. He made the pilgrims crowd on to the forecastle of the steamer. Thus lie saved an awful deathroll. Bishop Pagani was himself the lasi to remain, guarding the relics, till mer swam out, and they’ brought and the treasures ashore. At present only’ one body’ has been found. The ' engineer of the vessel alleges that ho told the captain that the shi| was making water, but the captain persisted in making for the port. The captain has been arrested.