An Atlantic Tragedy.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 457, 17 April 1912, Page 5

An Atlantic Tragedy.

LINER TITANIC SUNK.

STRIKES SUNKEN ICEBERG. FIFTEEN HUNDRED REPORTED MISSING. By Telegraph—Press Association.—Copyright New York, Monday. A tremendous sensation was caused on board the steamer Virginian and other vessels in the North Atlantic when a wireless telegram was received from the Titrmic stating that the latter vessel had collided with an iceberg, and was in urgent need of help. The Virginian ami other vessels immediately responded lo the call, and commenced to steam toward? the scene of the disaster at J nil speed. It was known thai the Titanic, carried a full complement of parsengers and crew, and it. was .folly recognised that

prompt action was nrcesary if a ter rible disaster were to he averted.

The Titanic is a White Star liner, and is one "of the two Jar {test ocean leviathans afloat.. She is a twin-sister to the Olympic, and was on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, having only been launched few months ago. The vessel left Southampton on Wednesday last. A very large crowd of people witnessed her departure, and she presented a magnificent picture as she steamed out of the harbour. A "FULL" SHIP. On board there were considerably over 2000 souls. Of these 1380 wei'e passengers, including 300 first-clasa passengers. The rest were second and third-class passengers. The vessel carried a very large crew, numbering 650 all told. When the disaster occurred the Titanic was off Cape Race, Newfoundland, and was travelling at a fair speed. The steamer started to go down by the head almost immediately after the collision. THE CALL FOR HELP. Later reports show that the accident occurred on Sunday evening without warning, after many passengers had retired. The steamer Virginian received the | appeal from the Titanic when she was 170 miles away.

The Olympic, sister ship to the Titanic, and the liner Baltic, also received the mesasge, and have gone to the rescue. It is doubtful whether they will arrive in time. LAST SIGNALS BLURRED. The last signals from the Titanic were blurred, and ended abruptly, indicating that the wireless telergaphv instruments had been put out of action. The women and children debarked in the lifeboats, the men making no attempt. to rush the boats. Fortunately the weather was calm, enabling the boats to be lowered with comparative ease. Many notabilities were travelling on the vessel. Included among them were Mr V\'. T. Ptead, editor of the Review of Reviews. Mr J as. Ismay of the iirm of Ismay, ltnrie Co., proprietors of the White Star line, Colonel ,1. Astor, and several New York ban- ( kcrs.

1500 SOULS REPORTED TO BE DROWNED. , Received April 16, 9.40 p.m. London, Tuesday. The White Star officials believe lfiOO passengers have been drowned 1 and details are meagre and contradictory. It. ia believed all in the first-class 1 were rescued. This "estimate in based on those aboard the Carpafhic to , whieh vessel fhe Virginian transferred : peojtlc rescued by her. | It is net. known whether the I'arij sian saved any. ; The Titanic cost a million and ! a-quarter. The hull arid cargo were insured for oMI,OOO. Reinsurance!/ were eiVeetcd to fifty guineas per cent. Veteran Atlantic voyagers have not before semi ice so far 'south or in such great bulk as now. They are mostly ; topless bergs, the upper surfaces be- | ing mostly awash and are therefore difficult to discern.

HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE. Keceived April 17, 12.20 a.m. New York, Tuesday. Mr Franklin, vice-president of the White. Star Company, admits heavy loss of life on the Titanic. The Olympic reports that when she readied the flcene only wreckage remained. The company's offices are besieged with friends of the wealthy Americana on board. The absence of news bis caused excitment approaching a panic. Liners arriving at Montreal report abnormal ice in tha North Atlantic. Several vessels met large ice fields off the Nova Scotia coast. 866 PASSENGERS PICKED UP. MOSTLY WOMEN IN LIFEBOATS. Received April 17, 9.45 a.m. London, Tuesday. The Carpathia, sailing from New York, picked up 866 passengers in lifeboats, mostly women. Included among them are Mrs Jacob ABtor, Countess Rothes, Sir Cosmo Duff-Gor-don, Bruce Ismay (director of the White Star line). The Titanic iB two miles deep between Sable Island and Cape Race. The liner carried a miliiun pounds worth of diamonds and half a million in pearls. ,