AN AMAZING SEA TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 170, 27 July 1907, Page 6

AN AMAZING SEA TRAGEDY.

Tunis, June 5. A sailing vesel with a contraband cargo of rifles and 500 barrels of powder anchored yesterday afternoon between Eiban and Ras Adjdir, on the Tunis coast, near the Tripolitan frontier. The French authorities sent out 24 fishing boats with armed sailors and surrounded the vessel. The captain refused to surrender, and blew up his vessel, the explosion causing 70 deaths. The catastrophe has created consternation among the population of Zarzis, the victims being mainly sailors from that place. Paris, June 5. The Tunis correspondent of the Petit Parisien sends the following account of the tragedy off the coast of TunisA large three-masted ship was seen yesterday afternoon making for the coast. She cast lier anchor and began to unload her cargo into a dhow (native boat) alongside. Eight French officers belonging to the Intelligence Bureau, who were on a tour of inspection, saw the vessel and kept her under observation. They saw that she was unloading rifles and cases of powder and cartridges. She flew no flag, and a sail thrown over her bows hid her name from sight. Night began to fall, and under cover of darkness a number of fishermen's boats, commanded by the French officers, approached the stranger. The officers took firearms with them in case of Tesistance. Seeing the boats approach, the smuggler's captain, whose features, of course, could not be Seen in the darkness, threatened to open |fire on anybody who attempted to come on board. It was therefore decided to wait till daylight, and only to board the vessel if she attempted to weigh anchor. Scarcely had dawn tinted the sky when there was a terrific explosion, which was heard for miles down the coast. The spot where the smuggler had lain was hidden in a mass of black smoke. Nothing was left _of the vessel, and several of the fishing boats which had lain around her all night were seen making for the shore. The truth was soon learned from the fishermen in those boats which had escaped. It appears that the captain of the strange ship, finding himself out-numbered by ten to one, and seeing ,no »-,hance of escape, had deliberately blown up his ship, perishing with every man of his crew and a number of the fishermen requisitioned by the French officers. The Petit Parisien's correspondent at Tunis cables fresh details of the terrible sea tragedy. It appears thai the sailing ship which was blown up off the coast of Tunis belonged to Eais CJhedrif Ben Mohah, of Tripoli, and was commanded by El Matari, also of Tripoli. The vessel cam( from the Pireaus with 600 barrels oi gunpowder and numerous cases 03 firearms, and was surrounded by 3< fishing boats. When summoned t< surrender, El Matari replied fron the poop, "My ship is loaded wit! powder. You can do nothing agains me, for I hold your lives in nr hand.'' He waved a flaming torcl over a dozen barrels of powder pilei aginst the mainmast. Sujpposingt hat this was mere bra vado, the fishermen climbed up th vessel's sides. Then the captain crying in a terrible voice, "Y o have willed it,'' flung the lightei torch into the hold and folded hi arms. Almost immediately the sail ing vessel and a large number of tn fishing boats were blown to pieces A huge wave followed the explosio ' aud rushed up the beach, carryin off ten natives and drowning sis The latest official figures give th total number of killed as seventj three.