ARMY TRANSPORT SUNK.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5297, 9 July 1928, Page 2

ARMY TRANSPORT SUNK.

NEARLY 300 LIVES LOST. ONLY FOUR SURVIVORS. NEW YORK, July 7. A message from Santiago, Chile, reports the sinking to-day of an Army transport, the Angam'os, in Arauco Bay. » It is believed that 291 lives lost, 80 cf the victims; being passengers. The only survivors were four members of the crew. The captain of the transport is reported to have committed suicide on the bridge of-the vessel. A search was, made in the locality of the disaster by the Chilian cruiser Zenteho and the United Stateis destroyer Williams, but they found no wreckage. The scene of the wreck was south of Lebu, on the southern coast of the Republic. Details are lacking. The ship Tarapaca on Friday night intercepted; weak signals from the transport stating she w.ag; in a difficult position, but not explaining. The wireless operator on tihe Tar,kpaca said he believed the waekness of the signals indicated that the storm which had been raging for two days had dismantled the ma'n wireless set on the transport.

The captain, whose name was Corbeta Suarez, is said to have killed himself '■ when he realised that he could not save the many women, and children among the 80 passengers. The crew numbered 215 men, and the four who were saved were conscripts. TJie storm was violent.