WRECK OF MOSSAMEDES

Evening Star, Issue 18262, 30 April 1923, Page 5

WRECK OF MOSSAMEDES

SEVEN PERSONS DROWNED. A BOAT STILL MISSING. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. CAPE TOWN, April 28. Only one of the Mossamedes’s boats, which contained two British officers, is now missing. The passengers and crew aboard numbered 258, and of these 227 were saved, and seven arc known to have been drowned through tackle on a boat giving way while it was being launched. Twenty-four are reported missing.— Reuter. WENT ASHORE IN A FOG. ONE BOAT CAPSIZES. SURVIVORS SUFFER FROM HEAT AND COLD. CAPE TOWN, April 29. (Received April 30, at 9.35 a..m.) The mystery surrounding the Mossamedes was dispelled by the arrival of a Portuguese gunboat at Port Mossamedcs with 110 survivors. Eighty-four others were landed at Port Alexandre. Tho French gunboat Cassiopeo also picked up thirty-three persons. Too chief officer states that the vessel struck tho rocks in a dense fog 3Coyds from the shore on tho morning of April 24. It, was pilch dark, and there was a rough sea. Tho passengers were all asleep. Panic ensued, despite tho efforts of the captain and officers, but the confusion soon subsided

When dawn broke the passengers were huddled on deck, but, notwithstanding wireless calls, there was no sign of help. Tho boats were quickly provisioned and lowered. The women and children went first. When the fourth boat was being launched the tackle gave way, and all the occupants were flung into the sea, seven being drowned. Tho chief officer (Panlino) plunged into tho sea and rescued thirteen. Tho captain remained with the ship till 2 o’clock in tho afternoon, when he decided to abandon it. As there was no chance of tho boats landing owing to the heavy surf, they proceeded in a northerly - direction. They suffered much before th*?y were rescued from tho intense heat in the daytime and the bitter cold at night. Tho Government authorities and the residents at Mossamedes are doing their utmost for their comfort. Tho Government building was placed at their disposal.—A. and N.Z. Cable.