A TERRIBLE SCENE.-COLLISON BEWEEN THE LEXHAM AND GIJON.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 65, 30 August 1884, Page 6

A TERRIBLE SCENE.-COLLISON BEWEEN THE LEXHAM AND GIJON.

London, July 28.— The survivors of the steamship Lexham, which collided with the Spanish steamer Gijon, report that on the evening of the collision there was a thick fog, and the Lexham was going slow, and both steamers were sounding whistles. The Gijon struck the Lexham amid-

bhips, and the latter was nearly cut asunder, and the funnel fell and the steampipe burst. The chief engineer was horribly scalded. Most of the Lexham's crew boarded the (xjjon. Captain Lothian tied his wifo and child to himself, and all three wore hauled aboard the Gijon. The Lexhfun sank twenty minutes after the collision, not long before the Gijon began to settle. Terrible confusion prevailed. The captain stood with a revolver in his hand, but was unable to keep order, as the passengers and crew were fighting for their lives. Boats were lowered, and filled fco the gunwale, but could not accommodate half the people. Those fortunate enough to secure places in them were obliged to keep off others with their knives. The Gijon sank bow first, the quarter deck eiowded with men and women, and the captain and olficers standing on the bridge. It is estimated that 130 persons perished.