231 LIVES LOST

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1931, Page 5

231 LIVES LOST

STEAMER BLOWS UP [United PreßS Association.—F7 Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.] ) SHANGHAI, March I’2. s The revenue cruiser Chuentiao has > arrived here, bringing one hundred and 1, nineteen survivors from the small Chinese steamer Taclii, which was blown up sixty miles from Shanghai, while carrying three hundred and fifty pussengers, of whom one hundred were soldiers. The soldiers boarded the vessel at Woosung, taking possession, and they scattered lighted cigarette ends indiscriminately. These ignited the cargo of cotton, which caused a terrific explosion. The Cheuntiao rushed- to the. scene, and rescued 119 survivors. The remainder perished. The Chuentiao recovered seven corpses. FURTHER PARTICULARS. 350 MISSING. (Received 10.30 a.m.) SHANGHAI, March 12. Revenue cruiser, officers who were ©-e-witnesses of the explosion on the Tiu-hi, state they wore approaching the vessel, having observed flames. . when there was a blinding flash in the forepart of the vessel. It was impossible that any of the crew there could survive. The captain lowered the stern anchors, when there was a second explosion. which rent the Taohi, scattering human bodies and portions of the hnii over the river. The panic stricken passengers had p/eviouslv leapt overboard into the I J-ater. which for a quarter of a mile V#s dotted with heads, uttering piteous cries for help. The latest estimate is that 350 are missing.