MYSTERY OF THE SEA

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 27 February 1928, Page 5

MYSTERY OF THE SEA

COLLISION IN THE CHANNEL.

ITALIAN SHIP SUNK. ONLY ONE SURVIVOR. »Y OA BLR - PRBIiH ASSOCIATION —OOPYHIGH T LONDON. Fob. 2a. The Peninsular liner Moldavia, in response to a wileless message, picked up a man in the English Channel last night. Life was nearly extinct. He was found anions a large quantity of wreckage, which ivaw the result of a. cod is ion between the Italian steamer Alcantara, and the Russian ship Tavorisch, in which the former was sunkThe Moldavia wirelessed, and’ later proceeded on her voyage, convinced that there were no survivors. The man who wais picked up has u:?d and is being buried at sea. Mystery surrounds the collision, but- the deathroll is believed to be serious. Lifeboats continued the search lor isurvivors throughout the night. Confusion was increased by language diflioulties and thick fog also, added to the troubles or the rescuers. Many of the Moldavia’s pass mgem were dining when the ship was stopped, and others were seated in the ’ounges. There was much excitement shown wine they were watching the lifeboats search among the wreckage in the tog - A mysterious feature of the cot lision is that the Tovoriseh, after the first 5.0.5.. cancelled the call, saying two vessels were standing by. This resulted in the departure of the lifeboat® from the Moldavia being delayed for two and a half hours. . . . Lifeboatmen are of thci opinion that some of the jjeople on the Alcantra might have been saved if the delay had not occurred. Thereafter the. Tovorish disregarded attempts by many wireless to secure information. She is a Russian training-ship, on which 100 cadets are now reported to be afloat, and was proceeding to The Russian tstaainer Tavorisch has arrived at Southampton with her bows smashed. She reported the collision and brought one survivor from, the sunken Italian ship.