ON THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 October 1918, Page 6

ON THE SEA.

LOSS OF THE LEINSTER. London, Oct. 11. The Leinster was struck in the en-gine-room. A terrible explosion killed numbers, including 70 who were in a lifeboat hanging at the davits. A few boats were launched, but some were overturned. Rafts saved many. There fis no hope of any survivors, as it occurred in the daylight and fifty vessels, including naval craft, were soon on the scene. The vessel was first torpedoed forward and heeled over. The crew began to lower lirVboats. A second torpedo tlhree' minutes later struck the engine-room. A deafening explosion followed, blowing the funnels in the air and killing the captain. One of the crew says the steamer seemed to crumble to ashes and sank in fifteen minutes. ■ There were 630 passengers and seventy of a crew aboard. A number of women and children were thrown headlong into the water as it was only possible to lower a few boats and these were overcrowded. One filled with water and overturned. A number of survivors were picked up clinging to overturned boats, and others on rafts cast from Uhe deck. Five hundred are mining.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. New York, Oct. 11. Six l hundred were lost on the Le-in-ster, which was twice torpedoed. She was on the way from Dublin to Holyhead.