UNER SUNK.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1921, Page 5

UNER SUNK.

DISASTER IN FOG. TWO COLLISIONS. . REMARKABLE RESCUES. A dramatic double collision at midnight off the Firth of Clyde resulted in the sinking of the liner Rowan. Though the vessel sank in a minute, and everyone on board went down with the ship, it is remarkable that the loss of life was small. The disaster took place in a fog off Ails* Craig, a rocky islet in the Firth of Clyde. The Rowan, which was bound from Glasgow to Dublin, was first struck by an American steamer and then, when hopeful of making port, another steamer crashed into the Rowan, and sent her to the bottom. By Telegraph.—Preu Assn.—Copyright. London, Oct. 9. The Laird liner Rowan, bound from Glasgow to Dublin, sank off Ailsa Craig at midnight after a dramatic double collision. There were 93 persona aboard the vessel, of whom 56 were passengers. Twenty-one of the crew were saved, and thirteen of the crew and three passengers are missing. The first collision took place between the Rowan and the American steamer Westeamak in a heavy fog. The latter stood by with the forepeak full of water. The Clan liner Clan Malcolm then steamed into the fog and ran into the disabled Rowan, which sank. The wireless caH S O.S. brought the warship Wrestler and the Burney liner Woodcock to the scene, and they picked up the survivors.

All the Rowan passengers were below when the first collision occurred. They came on deck prepared to put on lifebelts, but found the vessel had only a slight list and the crew were hopeful of making port without assistance. Ten minutes later the Rowan was struck amidships by the Clan Maklom and crumpled up like matchwood, as one of the survivors said. The Rowan sank within a minute. A huge ‘hole was torn in her side. Everyone went down with the ship, as there was no time to launch the boats, and it is astonishing so many were rescued. Two passengers, including a member of an American Jazz Band, of whom there were thirty-two colored members on board, died after being picked up. The captain of the Rowan went down with the ship.

SEARCHLIGHTS ON THE SCENE. ASSIST IN RESCUE WORK. SAILORS SAVE PASSENGERS. Received Oct. 10, 7.25 p.m. London, Oct. 10. The Clan Malcolm was answering the Rowan’s S.O.S. call, which stated there was no immediate danger of sinking, and the crew was launching lifeboats and serving out lifebelts when the second collision occurred. The warship Wrestler’s searchlights enabled her boats to see survivors struggling in the water, otherwise the death-roll would have been greater amid the darkness. Several were saved by sailors jumping into the water from a destroyer and holding : people up until boats picked them up.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.