WRECK OF THE COBRA.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 219, 21 September 1901, Page 2

WRECK OF THE COBRA.

GREAT LOSS OF LIFE,

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, Sept. 19.

The torpedo-boat destroyer Cobra has been wrecked whilst making a steam trial from tho constructor's yards at Newcastle to Portsmouth. She struck a rock on the Dowsing shoals, broke in half, and foundered.

Twelve out of tho thirty mon aboard were rescued.

Six bodies have been brought to Grimsby.

BRITISH HEROES

FEARED THAT f. 9 LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST.

COMMANDER STANDS ON BRIDGE WITH FOLDED ARMS.

GOES DOWN WITH THE VESSEL,

“NEVER MIND, MATES: THERE'S NO ROOM FOR ME. ’

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright

Received Sept. 20, 10..10 pan. Lend.))-., Sept. 20. The Cobra was a sist, ship of the Viper, and had just been completed at tho Elswick works. The vessel struck at seven on Wednesday morning. The sea was terribly rough, and in a few moments the vessel broke amidships. Fifty people crowded into the whaleboat.

The whaleboat was swamped, all who had crowded into her being drowned.

The chief engined of the Cobra, nine bluejackets, and tho Messrs Parsons (two), the turbine litters, were in the dinghey, and were picked up aftor battling ten hours in the waves.

Besides the navigating party, numbori ■ 03, under the command of Lieutenant Thoswortli Smith, there were a number of civilians and workmen aboard. There were also aboard tho manager of Parsons’ turbine works, and the engineering manager of die Elswi. k works.

The total number on board the vessel was seventy-one.

P is feared that r.l. of those on board .verc drowned, except those who escapod in the dinghey. Lioutenta.it Smith, the commander of the navigating party, stood on the bridge, with folded arms, and went down with the vessel.

At the last moment tho chief engineer, who had stood on the bridge with Lieutontant Smith., dived and picked up a sailor. The sailor then clung to tho dinghey, but seeing that it was full, ho fell back into tho water, saying, “ Never mind, mates ; there’s no room for mo.” Tho poor fellow was drowned. Received September 21, 0.20 am.

London, Sept. 20,

Two of Parsons’ turbine fitters, not tho Messrs Parsons themselves, wero aboard the Cobra.