EXCURSION BOAT SINKS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19690, 6 August 1929, Page 9

EXCURSION BOAT SINKS.

OSTEND TRAGEDY. FIFTEEN BODIES RECOVERED. (iryiTEß PRESS ASSOCIATION —BT ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH —CO PTBIOHT.) (Received August sth, 5.5 pjn.) OSTEND, August 4. The motor-boat Joseph 111., which carried 70 passengers, mostly elderly people and children who were on an excursion from Liege and Charleroi, was cut in two by the pleasure boat Knocke just after leaving the pier. The Joseph 111. sank immediately, the passengers being thrown into the water. Few were able to swim, and their heartrending cries for help were added to the horror of a mad stampede for the beach as the news was rumoured about. There wa3 no time to lower boats or issue lifebelts. Boatmen, by rushing their boats to the scene, were able to rescue some. Artificial respiration was necessary in several cases. One woman was frantic with grief at the loss of her small girl, whose yellow jacket could be seen floating on the water. A man came to the pier to meet his wife and daughter, who were on board, and saw them both drowned. The man was taken to hospital demented. Ten thousand people were gathered at the pierhead long into the night, weeping and seeking information regarding the missing. Fifteen bodies so far have been recovered, and 20 injured have been taken to hospital.—Australian Press Association.