THE MOSSAMEDES MYSTERY.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 April 1923, Page 3

THE MOSSAMEDES MYSTERY.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

LINER WRECKED. A NUMBER DROWNED. [•nouyuoss'v s'stimi tia.i—-n.ivutm-u ah] CAPETOWN, April 28 Three boats ol the liner Mossamedes have ’.oaf bed Port Alexandra, between Cape Frio and Port Mossamedes. The number of the survivors is unknown. Tic liner can led ten boats. Only one of the Mo-samedc- 1 oats containing two British officers, is now iiiis-init. Out T 258 passengers and crew aboard 227 were saved. Seven arc known to have been drowned through the tackle on a boat giving way whilst it wa.- living launched. Twoni v-fonr olliers arc reported missing. PASSENGERS .AND (RI'.W SAFE. (Received this dav at 9.25 a.m.) CAPETOWN. April 29. Tlie mystery surrounding the wreak i f toe Mossamedes is dispelled by the arrival of a Portuguese gunboat at Port Mossamedes with 110 survivors and 81 others were landed at Port Alexandre. The French gunboat Ca>siopee also picked up 33. The chief officer of the .Mossamedes states that the vessel struck tlie rocks in a dense fig, three humped yards from the shore on the morning ol lie' 21th. It was pitch dark and a rough sea was running. The passengers were all asleep and panic ensued, hut reassured by the efforts ui the captain and officers the confusion soen subsided. When dawn broke, tlie passengers were huddled on the ilck. Notwithstanding the wireless calls, tiler was no sign lII' help and so ihe teats w ere quickly provisioned and hovered, women and children going first.

When the fourth boat was being launched, it- tackle gave way and all the occupants were tiling into the sea and seven were drowned, ('met Officer Pauling plunged into the sea and reseeed thirteen.

Tlie Captain remained with the ship till two in the afternoon when he decided to abandon her.

As there was no chain e el the boats landing, owing to the heavy sort, they proceeded in a northerly di: eel ion and suffered much, before being rescued, from the intense heat in the daytime and the hitter cold at nig'"i. The Government author.t:e- ai d residents of Mossamede- did .lie utmost for their comfort and the (bivernmeid buildings were phi ed at then di-po-al.’