MANY LIVES LOST

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 332, 13 January 1937, Page 5

MANY LIVES LOST

FINNISH VESSEL

STRUCK LOWTHER REEF.

Few Survivors From Wreck On Scottish Coast.

Press Association—Copyright. (Received Noon). (British Official Wireless). Rugby. January 12

It is feared that over twenty lives have been lost at sea off th e North East coast, of Scotland. During a terrific gale in the Pentland Firth during the .early hours of the morning, the Finnish ship- Joanna Thorden of 3,223 tons, returning from her maiden voyage to New York, struck the Lowther Reef neap the Skerries and broke in two.

The Captain sent off 22 men, two women and two children in on 6 lifeboat and he and the remainder of the crew left in a smaller boat.'Eight men from the latter boa'll managed to swim ashore but th& remlainder, as well as all aboard the first boat, are missing. Four bodies wjere washed ashore.

The Long Hope lifeboat put out but searched in vain tor survivors. A later message reports that the gale destroyed the ship’s wireless, thus preventing the sending of an S.O.S. The captain is reported drowned.