ATHENIA VICTIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 September 1939, Page 6

ATHENIA VICTIMS

SAD SCENES IN GLASGOW QUEST FOR MISSING RELATIVES. NUMBERS BURIED AT SEA. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day at noon.) LONDON, September- 5. There were touching scenes in Glas - gow. Many of those rescued from the Athenia were in night attire, covered by curtains and the ship's drapes. Women were tearfully seeking their husbands and men were fruitlessly seeking their wives and children. Many children are in a state of semi-coma. Survivors state that many people were killed when the steamer's boilers exploded. Those rescued included less than year-old babies. A member of the crew, John McConnell, estimates that 25 per cent of the American passengers were killed by the explosion. Numbers who died on rescue ships, ov/ing to wounds and exposure in the boats, were buried at sea. DETAILS OF ATTACK SUBMARINE SHELLS LINER. SEVERAL BOATS MEET DISASTER. (Received This Day, 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, September 5. Captain James Cook, who landed in Galway from the Knud Nelson, said tfle torpedo which sank the Athenia was fired from a range of from 800 to 1000 yards at the port side of the ship. It traversed the galley into the engine-room, causing heavy loss of life. Immediately afterwards, the submarine came to the surface and shelled the Athenia. One shell wrecked the mainmast. It was evidently aimed at the wireless room, which was missed. Among the survivors is an American, Dr. John Kirk, who said: “My wife was killed by the explosion. All I want to know is whethei’ my two children are safe. An able seaman, Dillon, ,said: “All the Athenia’s lifeboats' were launched within seventy-five minutes... Our boat, containing 52 women,- got under the stern of a Norwegian rescue vessel and was struck by the propeller and the bottom knocked out. A number of people were killed, there being only about seven or eight survivors from our boat.” John Sorbie, a steward, said: “I saw one boat with 70 passengers fall 30 feet from the davits to the water. Most of the occupants were women and children. A majority were injured.”