Loss Of British Liner Off Brazilian Coast

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 April 1949, Page 7

Loss Of British Liner Off Brazilian Coast

(Recd. 9.45 a.m.) RIO DE JANEIRO, April 27. The British. Royal Mail liner Magdalena, which broke in-two in Guanabara bay, about five miles from the Brazilian shore, yesterday, as she was being towed to land after having run aground on. a reef outside the bay, was built at a cost of 25.000,000 dollars, reports a New York Times correspondent. She had been fitted out luxuriously for the South American trade and was . returning to England after her maiden voyage, loaded with frozen meat. The ship’s commander, Captain Douglas Lee, aged 59, was making his last voyage before retiring and had received the command of the ship as a parting honour. Little of the cargo was salvaged. The bow -ank quickly at the entrance of the bay. The stern was beached alongside Sata Cruz fort. The captain refused to leave the ship until forced to land. Officials of the line declared that no one was hurt. Some attributed the breaking up of the Magdalena to an explosion, but no information can be obtained from Royal Mail officials. Those holding this view note that three of the crew received body burns and were treated at one of the city’s hospitals. From London, The Times reports that the Magdalena was insured for £2,000,000 in addition to which disbursments were covered for £500,000. When news that the liner had broken in two reached London, business in the marine insurance market had ended for the day.