ABANDONED AT SEA.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 January 1911, Page 3

ABANDONED AT SEA.

THE FATE OF "THE I'ARISIANA. [per press association.] NELSON, January 20. A local importer by the overdue steamer Parisians, which a recent cable stated had been posted as missing, received a. cable from his Sydney agents to-day staiting that the ship had been abandoned on fire. No details are given. FATE OF THE VESSEL. A TERRIBLE FIRE. CREW TAKE TO THE BOATS. RESCUED BY ABRITISH BOAT. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH--COPYRIOHT-] fPER PRESS ASSOCIATION.} (Received This Day, 8.55 a.111.) ALBANY, This Day. Tho fire started on the Parisian a. on December lltli, and continued till the 14tb, when the vessel, which was in the vicinity of Saint Paul's Island, was abandoned. The crew landed on Itilie island, and wore taken off by tho transport on January il. The fire broke out between decks, where a • quantity of resin was stored. Tho bulk heads wore cut away and the fire was attacked from different paitts, but unsuccessfully. The vessel was soon an inferno. The beams and staunchion.s were all aglow and white with iheat, and bent and twisted l all shapes. The next day the coal got alight and soon the slteamer Was a seething mass 'of flames. Violent explosions occurred at intervals in the night. Tho captain decided, to abandon the vessel and made for St. Paul Island, which he calculated was -II miles eastward. Two boats were used, the captain taking charge of one ant! the chief officer the other.

Tho crew took any possessions they could carry, hut owing to rough weather all .surplus baggage was thrown overboard. Just as boith loft a tremendous explosion ocoured, making a great rent in the ship's side. The boats lost sight of each other till daylight. The chief officer fir.# made the island on December loth ; the captain arrived on the following Saturdav afternoon. A fireman was smothered in tho bunkers prior to the ship being abandoned, and before reaching the island two other deaths ocurred, due to exposure. Tho unfortunate victims were Bannon. fourth engineer, and another man, Heine. Both were buried on the island. The Parisiana's crow climbed to the top of a crafter on the island and erected a flag upside down. Tho transport sighted the castaways, whose food was almost exhausted. and came off in its own boats. The British transport was hound for Melbourne. The captain decided to call at Albany and relieve anxiety regarding the Parisiana. The shipwrecked crew owe their rescue to the Transport, which being in light trim, was driven farther south bv bad weather: otherwise she would not have been in the vicinity of the island. The captain and officers of the "Parisana aro roltieent about matters. The Parisana carried ten thousand tons of cargo for Australia and New Zealand, valued a.t £75,000 to C 200,000.