DISASTROUS COLLISION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 91, 6 April 1908, Page 3

DISASTROUS COLLISION.

DESTROYER RIPPED IX HALF. THIRTY-fsfX MF..V KILLED. London. April .'!. J While the cruisers Berwick, Argonaut, Prince George, Essex, ami Forle. with a torpvda flniil];,. were manoeuvring oli St. Catherine's Point, with light.,'nut, Ihe ilesroyer Tiger collided bow to bow | with the erui-er Merwick and was ripped in lull' from keel to gunwale. Thirty-six of the Tiger's crew perished. Those below had no chance ot -sea]*-. Several were killed bv the impact.

Lieut. Middleton, the commander w.r among those who perished. Twenty-two were saved.

nOW THE ACCIDENT OCCURREDJAMMING OF THE" TIGER'S HELM. A MYSTERIOUS MOVEMENT. SAILORS' SODDEN END. TIGER CUT THROUGH LIKE AX EGG SHELL.

Received sth. 4.4 p.m. London, Apr 1 ;! -h The night was dark, the sea choppy, with drizzling rain, when the collision between the Berwick and Tiger took place. The Berwick was steaming fast, while the Tiger was doing &j knots. Experts suggest that the Tiger's" helm | jammed, causing the collision. The Tiger's fore end was tilled up almost perpendicularly, and carried Lieut Middleton and most of the deck hands straight away to the bottom, but the I aft half of the vessel was afloat lor three minutes enabling several of the crew to grasp spars and bits of wreck-

Fifteen of the- rescued belonged to the J engine.room department. The Recruit and Tiger were huutiiifr together. Tl,e Tiger launched a tor Vio against the St. George, and then steamed a-bea„, the Berwick to launch another. she, however, mvsteriousir swerved across the Berwick's bows Engineer Vinning jumped aside to escape the Berwick's prow. 11,. shouted •»wn the till*: "Shut off the steam! All hands escape!''

The water was already pouring upon the engine plates.

lhe Tiger was cut through like ■<» egg-shell. Splendid discipline obtained Engineer Vinning escaped.