SEA DRAMA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 122, 26 May 1930, Page 7

SEA DRAMA.

BRITISH HEROISM. Officers Praised for Rescue From Blazing Ship. INFERNO HORRORS AT JEDDAH. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph-Copj-ristitl (Received 11.30 a.m.) • ■ PARIS, May 25. The Jeddah correspondent of the "Petit Parisren" pays a tribute to the gallantry of two British officers of the steamer Arabistan in rescuing the terror-stricken pilgrims who were trapped on the blazing ship Asia. The officers picked up fainting pilgrims, and passed them over the side to a boat below, remaining as calm as if playin;,' a game of golf. One group of pilgrims tried to escape by an iron ladder but were beaten back by the flames, whereupon all of them cut their throats. Their bodies were piled up on the red-hot deck. Two of the four boats that were launched were swamped by panic-stricken natives jumping in. Most of them were 1 drowned. Many others refused to attempt to escape, but remained in the dining - saloon, praying' to Allah with their faces turned towards Mecca. The number of dead is not yet known, but it is estimated at between 100 and 200 have perished.