PERSIA SANK IN FIVE MINUTES

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 2, 4 January 1916, Page 7

PERSIA SANK IN FIVE MINUTES

A MIRACLE THAT ANY WERE SAVED

NEARLY FOUR HUNDRED MISSING

LONDON,. 3rd January. Messages from Cairo state that the survivors from the Persia include ten military officers. , . The vessel was struck amidships at 1 o clock m the afternoon, and disappeared in five minutes. It was a miracle that anyone was saved. Four boats were lowered with the greatest promptitude. The captain was drowned. He was last seen swimming after the liner's plunge. . . Approximately 390 of the Persia's passengers and crew are missing. The Hon. Charles Bigham, who was a. passenger on the Persia, telegraphs that the vessel was struck on the port bow. No attempt was made to assist. It was impossible to lower the starboard boats .owing to the heavy list. Five or six of the port boats were lowered. The conduct of the passengers and crew was splendid. There was no struggling or panic. British warships picked up four boats after they were adrift" for thirty hours. Two of the. boats were drawn down, and .there was no time to cut the ropes. The waves almost immediately washed the Persia's deck and swept the passengers and crew into the sea. The Hon. Charles Bigham sank, and on rising bumped his head against a boat, and was thus saved. There are no tidings of the two other boats which were launched.. It is feared there are no further survivors.