ACCIDENT TO A LINER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 14 September 1907, Page 3

ACCIDENT TO A LINER.

MYSTERIOUS MISHAP. Berlin, July 21. The magnificent new North GermanLloyd liner Kaiser Wilhclm 11., the pride of the German passenger fleet and holder of a Transatlantic speed-record, lies half submerged in the Kaiser harbor of Bremerhaven, as the result of a mysterious accident, which caused the vessel to heel over on her side while coaling last night. The Kaiser Williclm 11. was to have .-.ailed for New York on Tuesday with the heaviest passenger list of the seasun, but her injuries are so serious that she will be unable to resume service for

an indefinite period. Her first-class passengers wir. \ K transferred partly to the liner Bremen, of tlie Galveston service (u ten-day boat), and partly to vessels of other lines, while the second-class and steerage passengers will be transported on the Trave (a fourteen-day boat) and other ships. The majoritv of the Kaiser Wilhelm ll.'s first-class

passengers were to have embarked at Southampton and Cherbourg on Wednesday.

Keports are in circulation to the effect 1 that the occurrence was an act of revenge on the part of the seamen on strike, but the ollitial version deeiaivs that investigation reveals no ground for such a supposition. The listing of the vessel came with sensational suddenness about ten o'clock last night, while coaling was in progress. Without warning of any kind the huge ship began to lean heavily to port, and within a few minutes she lay Hat on her side, with the water pouring in torrents through the coal-doors and portholes into the bunkers, and the boiler and engine-room. After the first fonfusion had subsided the steam pumps were set to work and the water was kept from reaching the cabins and saloons, which are said to lie undamaged. As far as the officials have been able to ascertain, the strange heeling ovcr was due to the fact that with a falling tide her bow struck the muddy bottom" I oil' which the ship slid suddenly when I the tide rose. Then she careened heavily and fell on her side. The company states that the flooded compartments will shortly be fully pumped out. The damage is covered by insurance. Scores of home-going Americans who had engaged a passage months ago on the North German Lloyd "flier" have to face the probability of an enforced indc- ! finite stay on this side, because praeti- I cally every west-bound steamer sailin« I during the next two months has been i: booked up for weeks,