Steamer Sunk

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1922, Page 3

Steamer Sunk

FURTHER DETAILS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. t'ABI.K ASSOCIATION

LONDON. .May 22 The collision occurred with appalling suddenness. When tie passengers were dressing for dinner the log was intense they were unable to see more than li hundred yards round the ship, lie _ Egypt sounded the fog horn incessantly hut the Seine was almost into the Egypt before it was observed. The collision could not have been averted. ~ The Seine was heavily laden, and the f dead weight of t! e cargo ripped the Egypt’s plates like a common tin. The Seine’s hows were stoven in, but though in peril of. foundering she stood by and helped in the work of resere. The captain and office's of the Egypt helped to restore order and discipline among the panicked Lascars at t'e revolver point. A majority o; the survivors were m a pitiable condition from shock, cxhauste l and nearl'v naked. ' The victims include ’ the Chief Engineer, and the doctor, Several vessels near the scene ol the collision were ignorant theicuf, owing to the fog.

COLLISION IN HEAVY FOG. LONDON, May 21

Thirty-eight passengers and 291 of a crew aboard the Egypt, whereof it is reported, 15 passengers and eight ol the crew are missing.

The rescued include the captain of the Egypt, who says: tl lhe disastei was due to a fog. lae Heine suddenly came into view and struck the Egypt amidships between the funnels. The Egypt fihed rapidly and sank in 20 minutes.”

Passengers-state ihe Lascars on hoard became greatly excited and rushed some of the boats.

SEINE COMMANDER'S STORY

LONDON. May 22. The Seine rescued 242 survivors and victims, including seven women and two children. The connimiuler of the Seine states W that the vessel was steaming at five knots, when suddenly lie saw a liner looming up through the fog. “She crashed into us,” he said, “tore away the how of my vessel, and then disappeared. I could not see her, and only heard the terrible cries ringing through the dense fog. I looked for the other vessel and took 20 minutes to find her. She was then lying on her side with a great hole in her plates. The air was full of lamentations und heartrending eries. .1 ordered all lifebuoys to he thrown into the sea. We lowered the boats and rescued al| possible.