STEAMER CUT IN TWO.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 203, 26 August 1909, Page 5

STEAMER CUT IN TWO.

COLLISION AT MONTE VIDEO. EIGHTY LIVES LOST. A TERRIBLE PANIC. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyrlcht.) MONTE VIDEO, August 25. The Argentine steamer Colombia, with excursionists from Buenos Ayres intending to attend the national fetes in Urupay, was entering the Monte Video outer harbour at 6 o'clock this morning when she collided with the North German-Lloyd steamer Sohleiscr.. The former sank in a few minutes, and 80 of those on board, chiefly excursionists, and mostly women and children, were drowned. SeVentj, including the I captain and the bulk of the crew, who | numbered 48, were saved. i The Schleisen was only slightly dam- [ aged, but the Colombia was cut in two. j The forepart sank almost immediately, and the aft portion remained only a few ' minutes above the water. The majority of the passengers were asleep it the time, and the panic when the boats struck each other was terrible. Several small steamers hastened to the scene, but a heavy sea and torrents of rain impeded rescue work. Many of those rescued, the majority of whom were clinging to the masts, were more or less seriously injured. The Uruguayan fetes have been postponed. SEVEN MORE DEATHS.