COLLIER MINED

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

COLLIER MINED

A MILE ASTERN. HER CAPTAIN’S STORY. LONDON, February 27. Captain Shepherd, of the Empress of Fort, William, fays: “Wo were leaving the Downs in the.morning, the Maloja astern, but she soon, overhauled and passed us, owing to her superior speed.. Wo saw the. Maloja off Dover, apparently heid up, awaiting examination by the patrol boat for permission to pass. “I did not hear any explosion, and was amazed to notice the Maloja- down by the stern. 1 heard a loud blast of the whistle, and immediately went at full speed to the rescue, but was still a long way astern. I saw the Alaloja’s boats lying at her sides. They could not be lowered owing to the list. The passengers were lined up, reminding me of a picture ‘The Sinkiim of the Blucher.’ ’’ Captain Shepherd snapshotted tiie scene, and half an hour later lost his own boat and all his possessions; but he saved his entire crew’ of 20. He expressed the opinion that the boats endeavoring to rescue the Maloja’s passengers kept too far away. If it had been possible with Ids speed, lie vyould have run the Fort William alongside, but was still a mile astern when his steamer was mined, sinking in 40, minutes. Ho saw many standing on the decks of the Maloja, apparently unable to get into the crowded boats.