OCEAN LINER FOUNDERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 821, 2 April 1910, Page 3

OCEAN LINER FOUNDERS.

EVERYBODY SAVED

Sydney, April 1

News was received from Perth at au early hour this morning, stating that the Aberdeen liner Pericles was sunk off Flinders Bay, Cape Eeeuwin. The crew is reported to be safe, having landed in the vicinity of Cape Eeeuwin lighthouse. The Pericles was homeward bound, with a full complement of passengers and a valuable cargo from Brisbane, Sydney, Hobart, and Melbourne.

The Pericles was noticed yesterday afternoon, six miles south of Cape Eeeuwin lighthouse, flying signals of distress. The vessel's bows were well under water aud the stern high out ol the sea. Boats were leaving the vessel, loaded with women and children. The steamer gradually drifted closer in, struck a rock, and sank three miles off Cape Eeeuwin. Meantime, all aboard were safe in the boats.

A late report from Karridale states that about eighty women and children passengers have arrived there from Flinders Bay, and arc receiving every attention. Kvery house in Karridale is lull of castaways. The women behaved splendidly. There was no panic 01 impediment in the work of rescue. The passengers and crew have lost everything, excepting what they stood in, but all are in good health. One boat put off from the wreck with three oars and no plug in it, and no rudder to steer with. It reached land safely, steered with an oar.

No details of the cause of the disaster are to hand. The scene of the wreck is a remote and unsettled part of the coast. A steamer left Buubury last night for Flinders Bay, whence it takes the castaways to Fremantle.

The Pericles’ Brisbane cargo included over 13,000 carcases of mutton and lamb, 1000 quarters of beef, and 16,000 boxes of butter. The Sydney cargo comprised 5000 bales of wool, io,Soo carcases of mutton and lamb, 15,000 boxes of butter, 1250 crates of rabbits, and 250 tons of wheat. The Hobart cargo consists of over 35,000 cases of apples and 1119 cases of preserved fruit. The Melbourne cargo included over 10,000 carcases of mutton, 300 bales of wool, 424 tons of wheat, and 1050 boxes of butter.

Captain Simpson, Commodore of the Aberdeen fleet, was in command. He states, as a remarkable coincidence, that only yesterday the agents of the line were advised that an order had been placed for the construction of a sister ship to the Pericles, to be named the Themistocles.