EXCURSION STEAMER RUN DOWN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12070, 13 September 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

EXCURSION STEAMER RUN DO WN.

'A TERRIBLE DISASrER,

Hamburg, July 21.— terrible collision took place on the Kibe, near Blankenese, yesterday at midnight, resulting, it is reported, in the loss of 70 lives.

The steamer Primus, with ISO excursionists on board, mostly members of the Hamburg Treue Glee Party, composed of working men. was returning from Blankeae'-e, a popular resort for the Hamburgers, eight miles down the river, and when near the confluence of the Este and the Elbe the Hausa steamer of. .the Hamburg-American line hove in sight.

Correct signals were given by the Hansa. These, it is stated, were disregarded by the Primus, whose passengers were in merry mood, singing, joking, and laughiug. The Hansa. continued to give warning . but still these were unheeded, and the vessel, unable to stop, collided with the Primus, striking her at the paddle-box, and cutting her through.

A boiler of the Primus burst, and within seven minutes after the collision the excursion steamer ss.uk.

It was a fine night, the moon shining full and clear. Before the vessel sank the panic on board was indescribable. Joviality, badinage, and melody gave place to shrieking. Some of the passengers were injured by the impact; others were scalded.

The Hansa immediately lowered her boats, and ropes and ladders were thrown over the vessel. She succeeded in rescuing 50 of the Primus' passengers by her boats. Seventy more were rescued by rugs. Then she endeavoured to push the Primus ashore, but went aground. Meanwhile a number of passengers succeeded in swimming ashore. The remainder, about 70, perished on the ill-fated steamer, which was carried down stream, and sank about 250 feet from the Hausa.

The crew of the Hansa could not have possibly rendered more assistance. They worked with feverish activity, and not a few of the Primus' passengers were hauled on board by means of spars and boat-hooks. News of the disaster having reached Hamburg crowds gathered at the scene of the disaster. It was a pathetic spectacle seeing terror-stricken men and women pressing against the ambulance, waggons and stretchers, and peering anxiously at those dead bodies which had been recovered.

The Hamburg-American line have issued a report of the disaster showing that the blame rests solely with the Primus, the Hansa. having acted correctly throughout. In this report it is pointed out that when the red light of the Primus was seen both vessels were steering absolutely clear of each other; but when 450 feet from the Hansa the Primus changed her course, crossing the bows of the Hansa, which, seeing The mistake, went full speed astern. In less than a minute after the Primus changed her course, however, both vessels collided. Captain Petersen, of the Primus, swam ashore, and gave himself up to the police. The Hansa's captain has also surrendered.