GRIM TOLL OF HURRICANE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 190, 1 November 1927, Page 9

GRIM TOLL OF HURRICANE

NEARLY FIFTY FISHERMEN DROWNED PRIEST TOO LATE TO WARN THEM

British Wireless —Press Assn.—Copyright Received 11.30 a.m. RUGBY. Monday. IT is now feared that the number of men drowned in the disaster which befel the fishing’ fleet off the west coast of Ireland on Friday night is 47. Two Irish Free State airplanes were to-day searching the coast of Galway, Mayo and Connemara for the bodies of the victims of the gale.

'T'HE craft used by the fishermen "*■ were rowing-boats, and they were helpless against the wind and waves. They were manned by crews of from five to eight. When the men set out the weather was fine. Father Quinn, the parish priest of Lachan, listening on his wireless set, received warning of the coming gale, but the Lachan fishermen were already at sea. One of the crew of the Moelfre lifeboat, which rescued the crew of the ketch Excel, struck by Friday’s storm near Beaumaris, in North Wales, died from exposure. Despite its waterlogged condition, the lifeboat stood by throughout the storm. One of the rescued crew also died from exposure. In minor wrecks on various parts of the coast lives were also lost, and in many cases the lifeboats effected splendid rescues of crews of small vessels. Material damage in many coastal towns was heavy. Throughout North Wales in particular great havoc was done to the roads. In many places railways were blocked by falling trees and the subsidence of embankments.

Damage in Morecombe and Keysham is estimated at £40,000, and at Aberystwyth, in Wales, the promenade wall was broached in several places, and houses were flooded. Much pastureland is under water in North-Western England owing to the flooding of the rivers.—A. and N.Z.

BURNING SHIP SINKS

IRISH SEA HURRICANE FIVE OF CREW LOST By Cable.—Press Associatioti. — Copyright. LONDON, Monday. The steamer Fortuna, from Liverpool, which was carrying provisions to whaling ships, was burned and foundered in the Irish Sea during a hurricane. Five members of the crew were lost. The captain and 19 men were saved. An explosion occurred, and the vessel was soon on fire from stem to stern. One lifeboat capsized, but another one was safely launched. —Sun.