HIGH SEAS MURDER

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 245, 14 October 1918, Page 6

HIGH SEAS MURDER

THE LEINSTER ATROCITY.

A TERRIBLE SPECTACLE.

LONDON, October 13. It is officially reported that there were 780 on board the Leinster. So far there are 193 survivors. The steamer was struck by a torperfc in the engineroom, and a terrible c* plosion killed numbers of those on board, including 70 people who were ia » lifeboat hanging on the davits ready to be launched. A few other boats were launched. Some of them were overturned, bnt rafts saved many people. There is no hope of other survivors, as the vessel sank in daylight.

Wireless calls for help were sent out and 50 vessels of all descriptions left Kingstown to go to the rescue. Crowd* lined the pier awaiting tidings, and 205 ambulances awaited the survivors. Thj first res cmng vessel brought 105 and th* others about 100, and also a number ot the dead.

An officer sa .je tbat all would have been saved but for the second torpedo, Only four boats were then afloat. The occupants saw a most terrible spectacle. The ship was heavily listed .with her propellers out of tbe water when strnek the second time. The track of the torpedo was seen, but no submarine ape peared. There was a tremendous explosion, and some boats and rafts were smashed to matchwood.

The Leinster was first torpedoed forward and heeled over. The crew began, to lower lifeboat*. A second torpedo three minutes later, struck the engineroom, and a deafening explosion followed, blowing the funnels into the air and kilEng the captain. One of the crew says the steamer seemed to crumble to; ashes, and sank in 15 minutes.

There were nearly 800 penons aboard, indueling a nmnber of women And children. Mtist of them were thrown headlong into the water. It wan only possible to lower a few boats, and these were overcrowded. One filled with watej and overturned.

A number of survivors were picked- up clinging to over turned boats, and others got on to rafts east from the deck. ftv« handred of the passengers and crew are missing.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)

THE PIRATE FLEET (Received 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, October 13. Admiral Sims (American Commander-in-Chief) estimates that tbe number of German submarines simultaneously operating never exceeded thirteen, anil averages nine.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.)

(Received 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, October 13. ■ The Leinster drowned include Canot Downing, a leading Dublin Catholic, an ( Mr McCarron, ex-President of the Iriafc Trade Union Congress.— (A. and N.Z.) AN AMERICAN VICTIM. NEW YORK, October 13\ The American ship Ticonderoga, shelled and torpedoed in mid-AtUntic by a German submarine endeavoured, to defend herself, but her guns were quickly silenced by shells from the submarine. Ali bat two of the lifeboats were destroyed. One member of the crew swam alongside the submarine, and asked the commander to cease firing. The commander pointed a pistol at him and ordered him to swim away.

After the ship sank the single surviving boat was compelled to throw a tow line aboard the submarine. When the American sailors refused to answer the questions of the submarine commander the submarine suddenly submerged. The lifeboat was saved from being capsized by the tow line breaking. The submarine is described as having Sin guns on board. The s_-vivore from the Tieonderoga were adrift for four days, many of them suffering from serious wounds.

WASHINGTON, October 11. The Navy Department announces the deaths of 10 officers and 111 men on the steamer Ticonderoga. Five survivors have arrived aboard » British steamer.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) THE HTRANO HORROR.

LONDON, October 13. A high sea was running and rain was falling in torrents when the Hiraao Mam was torpedoed without warning da Saturday night. The seamen hut—sdlf attempted to launch the boats, but they were smashed against the sides. When the passengers realised the disaster they rushed up on deck, only to find the huge ■waves sweeping men, women, and •children into the 6ea. Two hundred people were soon fighting for their lives against the waves, piteously shrieking for help.

The _b—no Mam sank in five minutes, with the captain and all the officers. A tremendous explosion finally shattered the vessel. Doors, seats, and other woodwork, which were loosened by the explosion and flung into the sea, served *» makeshift rafts. Men and women struggled towards them and hung on desperately despite the high waves. The wireless operator continued to send messages until his cabin WM flooded. He was unable to escape, and was drowneel.

His messages brought an American destroyer, out this vessel was forced to discontinue rescue work as the submarine was lurking near by, watching the victims in the water. A torpedo was fired against the destroyer. Meanwhile the unfortunates in the water were dropping off the woodwork and drowning every minute. The propeller of the sinking vessel cut a number of people in pieces, and their mutilated bodies wore tossed on the waves. Having scared off the submarme, the destroyer was able to resume the rescue, but by this time the cries of the victims had almost ceased. Only 29 were found alive.—(A. and N.Z.)

PIRATE BEATEN OFF.

NEW YORK, October U.

j A Brazilian steamship, which haa arrived at an American port, reports that she encountered a submarine off the coast. It is believed that the steamer sank the submarine by gunfire—(A. and N-. Cable.) ' °