VESSEL WRECKED.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 23 December 1913, Page 5

VESSEL WRECKED.

170 .PERSONS DROWNED: , A PITIFUL STORY. (Received this morning 12.30 o'clock.) » . PEKIN; Dec. 22. The' China Navigation Company's' steamer Takyui was wrecked on Satueday, and'it is "believed.that over 170 persons, motetly coolies, were drowned. The vessel struck a. sunken rock off Reef Island late at night. Next morning a Japanese patrol boat and two tended came to'their assistance.

Tfiey found the Takyui under a strong list, i , Tjje, ""who were chiefly "coolies/were crowded in. theittrerpart,.., whichrwas - , Owing to *- heavy fceaVunning, tb** rescuers were unable- to give assistance. r ** - 'v x , After on the rock till midday, the doomed vessel slipped into _ the sea. and disappeaied.

Six passengers were subsequently rescued, nearly dead from-'exhaustion* , The mas*6r of the Takyui, Captain Thoresen, states that after'the, vessel struck, the engines were kept tgo>irig •in order to keep the vessel .;.,'. on the rocks. Orders were issued ■. to launch the lifeboats,, but' the ; k crowds "became panic-stricken, and the coolies rushed, making it impos-* sible to' move the Iwiats from,' tho . chocks.- -The Takyui continued to pound on the rocks, v and filled with water, and then slipped into deep water.. •.

Many sshrieking coolies were quickly swallowed up in the raging sea, but thirty-six, including the captain another European, managed to gain the Island safely. "The captain, chief officer,;quarter-, master and a steward made a raft, and after ; drifting for ' hours were driven. ashore. V * ..«■■■

"Most of: the cooliea perished "from exposure and hunger.