STEAMER SINKS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1931, Page 6

STEAMER SINKS

IN BAY OF BISCAY. 300 LIVES LOST. EXCURSIONISTS ALL ON ONE SIDE. (United Preso Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) PARTS, June 15. The pleasure steamer “Saint Pliilbert,” of 189 tons, while carrying five hundred exeursonists, foundered on the Chatellier Reef, near Saint Nazaire. There were only eight survivors out of all those aboard.

PARIS, June 10. vi E The ill-fated steamer “Saint Philbert,” left Nantes on Sunday morning, bound for Noir-Mountiers, from which port she departed on her homeward journey during the afternoon. It was then that the vessel encountered a heavy gale, which increased. It is believed that the passengers in order to escape the full force of the wind, crowded to one side of the “Saint Philbert,” thus giving the vessel a heavy list to port, which placed her at the mercy of the Biscay swell, by which she was then overwhelmed.

The lighthouse-keeper, at Saint Gildas, heard screams, and he saw the steamer rolling violently. Suddenly lie beheld the vessel turn turtle. A tug, which was ordered to the scene, returned to Nantes with only one survivor and the bodies of three women. ONE HUNDRED ESCAPE. VICTIMS MOSTLY WORKERS. PARIS, June 15. A later message states that the death roll is a smaller one than was at first feared, as about one-lnindred excursionists who were ill on the outward journey, did not rejoin the vessel. They decided to return to Nantes by other means from Noir-Mountier, which is connected with the mainland at low tide.

It is now stated that three hu.iciroa persons perished in the disaster. Many of the bodies have been brought to Saint Nazarjej where there are crowds awaiting news of the u.i.xaater. The victims are mostly textile workers. Heartrending scenes were witnessed ashore. It is feared that many entire families have been lost. NO TIME TO DON LIFEBELTS. PARIS, June 15. One “Saint l’hilbert’’ survivor said that the “Saint Philbert” was running in the Gulf between great seas, all of her passengers being on the lee side. The vessel capsized so suddenly that nobody had much chance to don a lifebelt.* »** •K W TO

| A SHOCKING DISASTER. LONDON, June 15. The pilot boat St. Mazaire landed seven semi-demented! rescueds. Her valiant crew again and again manned the ship’s boats, and each were promplty ertgulfed. Until a check is made of those who disembarked at Noir-Moutiers it is impossible to accurately estimate the death roll. The owners fear it will be upwards of four hundred. ANOTHER SHIP SUNK. FRENCH VESSELS COLLIDE. PARIS, June 15. The French liner “Rochambeau” collided with the “IJncheria” in a dense fog off Ushant. The “Uneheria” sank immediately. I The “Rochambeau” picked up 2!) of the crew. She then proceeded 'm. her voyage, being.only slightly damaged. It is believed that no lives were lost. BOAT UPSET ON LAKE. FIVE FATALITIES. (Received this day at 9.25 a*m) PARIS, June 15. The same storm as sunk the “St. Philbert” also upset a boat on Lake Aix-Les Bains, drowning five persons. DROWNED LIKE RATS.

A SHOCKING DEATH ROLL. (Received this day at 10.15 a.in.) LONDON, June 15. St. Nazaire reports sixty bodies, mostly of women and children, were washed up on the beach. A prelimiinai’y official inquiry into the disaster, shows it was due to a forty foot wave hitting the steamer broadside on, when she listed, througn frantic passengers rushing to the lee side. At least one hundred were trapped in the saloon like rats. The latest estimates of the death roll touch 445, out of a total compliment of 475, but forty-four passengers who returned from Noir-Mountiers, assert between eighty and one hundred landed there, which would reduce the fatalities proportionately.