A DISASTROUS TOW.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8942, 7 October 1907, Page 2

A DISASTROUS TOW.

Loss of a Warship, Press Association.—Copyright. Sydney, October 5. The French steamer St. Louis has arrived from Noumea. She sot out with the old French warship Meurthe in tow for Sydney, there to be broken up. Very heavy weather came on after leaving Noumea. It was found necesssary to lengthen the tow line, and while the operation wasj proceeding the chain snapped and struck and killed Capour, a member of the crew aboard the Meurthe. The weather gradually grew worse and ultimately the men ou the Meurthe signalled that they were leaving the vessel. , At great risk they put off in a boat ana got aboard the St. Louis, although the boat was smashed In the attempt. The Meurthe had sprung a leak and was settling down. The tow rope was cast off and the vessel abandoned in latitude 29.16 south longitude 157 east, j It was then almost level with the 1 water’s edge.