DAMAGED STEAMER

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 49, 27 February 1937, Page 9

DAMAGED STEAMER

MINE MAKES BIG HOLE

NO PANIC ON BOARD

MARSEILLES, February 25.

Describing the mishap to the Llandovery Castle (10,609 tons), which struck a mine off Cape Cerbere, where the Franco-Spanish frontier joins the coast, resulting in an explosion forward- which heavily listed the vessel and threatened to flood two of the holds, a passenger said: "We struck a floating mine at 4.45 p.m. as we were passing Cape Creus, 10 miles from the shore. Most of us were having tea. There was a sudden roar and a high column of water rose up to the left side of the bows. Water immediately began to pour into a great hole in the ship's side. The bows sank until the ship tilted- Pumps were immediately put into action, and the watertight doors were closed, but there was no panic. Nobody was injured."

The captain, after sending a distress signal, changed course for Port Vendres. while the ship's officers invited the passengers to the ballroom, where they danced and sang as if nothing was amiss.

When the vessel... hove to, the bows sank deep in. the water, but the sea was calm and there is no intention at present of disembarking the passengers, who were still dancing on the brilliantly-lit ship at midnight. The