A FATAL DISASTER NEAR HAVRE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 147, 24 June 1887, Page 6

A FATAL DISASTER NEAR HAVRE.

colli siow of two tfimess MAIL STEAMERS.

Ise trans Atlantic steamer Champagne, which lefb Havre on May 7 for New York' collided at some distance from Havre with the freight steamer Santos coming into Havre. The Champagne had a number of first-class passengers, and 800 emigrants in the eteerage. The collision produced a frightful panic. In the front part) of the Champagne a hole was made in her at least two' yards in width, on a level with the water line. The captain of the Champagne (Traube) saw that his only chance for saving the vessel was to beach her. Ho steered at once for the coast, and succeeded in getting the Champagne on the beach at the mouth of the One, upon the coast of the province of Arromarichei. I Ins is a very good beach, and tho vessel is perfectly safe so long as the sea remains quiet. A number of tugs and packet boats were Bent out from Havre lato at night, tor the purpose of raising the Champagne, and, it possible, to put her into port. The Santos also received severe injuries and was badly stove in. Tho panic on board the Champagne was frightful. Soon after the collision the scenes on board of the recently wrecked Victoria were repeated. The emigrants became wild with fear and made a rush for the boats. There was a very thick fog at the time of the collision. The emigrants succeeded ift overpowering the officers and capturinc; the boats. In their haste and panic ifcfs said some forty of them were drowned. The emigrants were mostly Italians. It is said that none of tho firstclass passengers were lost, and thab_ the loss was confined entirely to the Italians, who lost their lives through their reckless attempts to capture the boats. The Champagne was beached so soon after the disaster that there was no danger to the passengers. They were soon after taken off by tugboats from Havre and returned to port. This same despatch says that the Santos was sunk. Tho "Daily Telegraph's" special from Paris says :—" There was a heavy fog at the time. This increased the terrible panic which reigned on board the liner. She had 1,300 passengers for New York, and when the collision occurred there was a dreadful rush made for the boats, chiefly by the Italian emigrants. The Champagne is a vessel of 6,922 tons burden, and was one of the fastest of the five fine liners that run between Havre and New York."