NEARLY 300 LIVES LOST

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 401, 9 July 1928, Page 9

NEARLY 300 LIVES LOST

DISASTER IN CHILE AN ARMY TRANSPORT SUNK SUICIDE OF CAPTAIN (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian P.A.—United Service) NEW YORK, Saturday. A message from Santiago, Chile, reports the sinking to-day of an army transport, the Angamos, in Arauco Bay. It is believed lives were lost, 80 of 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 Chilean cruiser Zenteno, and the United States 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 that she was in a difficult position, but not explaining. The wireless operator on the Tarapaca said he believed the weakness of the signals indicated that the storm which had been raging for two days had dismantled the main 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. The storm was violent.

The Angamos was formerly the Citta di Venezia. She was built by Swan, Hunter, and Wigham Richardson at Wallsend in IS9O, and rebuilt at an unknown date. She had a displacement of 5,975 tons, and was formerly in use as a fleet collier. Arauco Bay, where the disaster occurred, is 2S miles soutli-west of Concepcion, and is noted for its bad anchorage.