TRAGEDY OF THE SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1922, Page 5

TRAGEDY OF THE SEA.

ABANDONED SHIP FOUND. NO TIDINGS OF CREW. London, October 3. A tragic story of how a premature order to abandon ship needlessly cost 15 British lives in the North Sea has been revealed by a wireless message from a German trawler, which reported that she picked up on September 22 the British steamer Earlshall, formerly the German steamer Pommern, without a crew on board. The Earlshall was on her way to Hamburg from the Tyne, and was caught in a six-day storm. She was much battered about, ana the cnew took to the only boat aboard, and has not been heard of since. The trawler sighted the Earlshall, and when she was boarded it was found that the engines were in full working order, though she had a heavy list. One hatch was open and the water was flowing and out. The last entry in the logbook was on September 16. The trawler took the Earlshall in tow, but was forced to abandon her, the Earlshall sinking. No wireless signal® of distress were received from the Earlshall during the storm. It is reported that the body of the mate was picked up by the trawler. The Pommern -was a. steel screw steamer of 3179 tons, and was built in i 1900. Her dimensions were: Length, j 325 ft.; width, 44ft..; depth, l'Bft.,