DEATHS FROM EXHAUSTION.

Evening Star, Issue 16050, 29 February 1916, Page 3

DEATHS FROM EXHAUSTION.

BETTER COLD 'WEATHER. ALL OFFICERS SAVED. LONDON, February 28. Many of those rescued from the Maloja died from exhaustion aboard the rescuing vessels. The weather was intensely cold. Captain Irving was the last to leave the ship, and he was picked up after half an hour’s swim. All the officers and engineroom staff were saved. A child, who was seen alone on a raft, was rescued. The fate of the mother who fastened it to the raft is not known. Captain Irving reports that the Maloja struck a mine between Dover and Folkestone, and her after-part was blown up. He tried to beach the ship, but a high sea was running, and the engine-room was full of water, She sank in aoout half an hour. All the boats were swung out before the accident in the event of an emergency. The white-colored crew behaved splendidly. Several children were blown to pieces. Out of 203 Lascars, 86 were saved. The majority of those rescued were taken off in rafts. One boat, already in the water, drilled under a boat that was being lowered. The underneath boat capsized, and only two of the occupants escaped. It is estimated that 264 out of 411 aboard the Maloja were saved. The bulk of the victims were Lascar#, t The explosion blew in the side of the second saloon, and knocked several of the passengers on deck otf their feet, a number being injured. The water immediately swamped the interior. There was a fairly heavy sea. There was no panic, bub the native crew were terrified, and one was knocked on the head with an oar to prevent him from entering a- boat before it was ready for the passengers. Tire ship’s printer says : “ The explosion was like that of a big gun. One boat jammed, and the officer cut it, the boat dropping 50ft, and a tug picked it up.” The pilot, when he left the Maloja, was deaf. He says the boats wore - swung out in readiness tor an emergency. Many passengers possessed private lifebelts. There was a pitiful sight on the arrival of 'the Maloja survivors by special train at the Victoria station. The procession included nearly ICO Lascars, and all were, dejected and silent. Some of the injured passengers state that the absence of panic was duo to the nearness of land and the wonderful promptitude with which scores of rescuers surrounded them on all sides. The weather was fair. No Australasians were noticeable aboard. So far 44 bodies have been recovered.