THE ILL-FATED LINER.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 2 April 1910, Page 3

THE ILL-FATED LINER.

A PASSENGER'S STORY.

GRAPHIC ACCOUNT,

[nV ELKOTKTO TTCMCHAI'II-COPYRICIHT.]

PRESS ASSOCIATION.] (Received This Bav, 11.0 a.m.) P.RUTH, This Bay.

The steamer Monaro arrived nt Leeuwin yesterday, and embarked the Pericles' castaways, totalling 800.

A passenger gave an interesting account of the- disaster. It appears that the crew were busy getting the derricks ready to use at Frcmantle, when a sudden shock was felt, as if a big sea .lincl struck the boat. At the time the weather was fine- and cloudless and the sea calm. The steamer trembled, from end .to end. then keeled to Starboard, but kept on going. Steam was noticed escaping, from the vessel, and a. roar from somewhere below water-line was heard. There was no sign of a shoal anywhere., The captain at once took steps to ascertain the extent of the damage. When the passengers reached the upper deck the men Were getting out the boats. There was no panic or terror. Everybody appeared anxious to help everybody else. Continuiing his narrative, the passenger said: "T wanted my wife to go on the first boat without me, but she declined unless T went, so it was number 2 that we finally got into, with upwards of forty others. There was, naturally, terrible excitement in the boat, and the sea, which looked so smooth from the deck of the Pericles was rough and high for a small boat. When we wt fairlv away we found the ship lying head to the wind. The bows \vero submerged and the stern was stick!nsi up, so that the propellers were clear o. the water." (Received This T»av, 11.30 a.m.) PTCRTH. This "Day.

- The Pericles sank in ID fathoms of water. The captain was on the bridge almost continuously from nnnu up to the time of the stvikincc of the rock. After rill the boats were clear, lie and the officers made a thorough search" of the ca.hins. to see if anyone was left behind.