TERRIBLE SHIPPING DISASTER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4940, 1 February 1895, Page 2

TERRIBLE SHIPPING DISASTER.

350 LIVES LOST. BkhiilN, January 30. A steamer, namo at present unknown, collided with aud lank the German Lloyd Company's steamer Elbo, in the North Sea, 350 of her passengers and crow being drowned.

HOW THE COLLISION OC > CURRED. r FEARFUL SCENE ON BOARD , THE ELBE. THE PASSENGERS PANICSTRICKEN. (Received, February 1,1.20 ,i.m.) Loxdos, January 3Ju Threo hundred and eighty Arsons have been drowned by the loss of the Elbe. The collision took placo 50 miles from Lowestoft, on the English coast. A heavy sea was running, and the morning was thick.

Tlio look-out saw tho unknown steamer approach, ami a roekofc was sent up to warn her. , She took no notice but kapt on lior course, and the collision followed with an awful crash. An enormous hole was torn in the doomed ship abaft the engines. The Diigin<M'oom filled in an instant, and the fires were put out. The passengers rushed on dock, , undressed women shrieking wildly, and clinging to tho davits. The officers were unable to control the panic-stricken people, but managed to launch two boats. It was only with difficulty that even this could bo done, as the ropes were frozen and could not be unfastened. ' The men wore terror-strickon Md without regard to any sort of Wciplinc, stole one another's lifebelts, and fought for places in the boats. Tho Elbe was bound from Bremen to New York. She was struck amidships with terrific force at (i a.m. on Wednesday, ' and sank almost immediately, The passengers, who were chiefly Germans, numbered 240, and the crew 150. Twenty survivors, including the pilot, reached Lowestoft in a fishing smack. Tho fearful catastrophe has caused * great consternation in Germany. Latest Particulars.

(Received, Fobrunry 1, 10.30 a.m.) Berlin, January 31. The Elbe sank in 20 minutes. Tho Captain remained on the bridgo issuing orders to tho last. One boat which was got into the water, was swamped, and alLuao occupants were drowned, lady passenper, who was draped into another boat. Tho officers found it impossible to avert a panio. Women and children ~ were orderod to leave their protectors, and go to the starboard sido of the vessel, but before thoy wore able to reach the boats, the Elbe sank stem first. One boat, with 20 occupants, was picked up, and carried to Lowestoft. Those on this boat had a terrible ox« ' porience, and for five hours were almost frozen, owing to the severe weather. No first-class passengers wero saved and only five second, the remainder being officers and crew. It is feared that the second boat has been swamped and all on board drowned. The Captain and Chief Officer of the Elbe were drowned. It is reported that tho collision was caused by the steamer Craithie, of Abedeen,whichwas not afterwards seen by those on board the Elbo,and rendered no assistance whatever. Sho has since returned to Rotterdan with her stem badly injured, Th