FATE OF EXCURSIONISTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20900, 16 June 1931, Page 9

FATE OF EXCURSIONISTS.

VESSEL TURNS TURTLE. OVERWHELMED BY SEA. HIIAVT SWELL IN BISCAY. HEARTRENDING SCENES. By Tjlepraph—Pres3 Association—Copyright. (Received Juno 13, 8.45 p.m.) PARIS, June 15. Ths pleasure steamer Saint Philibert, 189 :ons, which was carrying about 400 excursionists on her return from Noirnioutiers to Nantes, foundered yesterday afternoon in the Bay of Biscay, near St. Naztire. It is feared that .300 lives were lost. Tie Saint Philibert left Nantes yesterday morning, bound for the island of Noirmou.iers, from which she departed on her Jiomsward journey in the afternoon, when she encountered a heavy gale, which increased. It is stated that the passengers, in order to escape the full force of the wind, crov.'ded to one side, giving the vessel a heavy list, which placed her at the mercy of l.lio Biscay swell, by which she was overwhelmed. The lighthouse-keeper at Capo St. Gilcias heard screams, and saw a steamer lolling violently, which suddenly turned turtle. A tug whit'h was ordered to go to the scene returned to Nantes with one survivor, and the bodies of three women. Hie death roll is now stated to bo smaller than was at first feared as about 100 of the excursionists were so ill on the outward journey that they decided to rotuni to Nantes by other means from Noirmojtiers, which is connected with the mainland at low tide. Many of the bodies of the .500 who perished were brought to St. Nazairo where crowds awaited the news. The victims were mostly textile workers. Heartrending scenes were witnessed on shore. It/ is feared that many entire families have been lost.

One* survivor said tho Saint Philibcrt was running in a gulf between great seas. All tho passengers were on the leo side, and tlio vessel capsized so suddenly that nobodv had much chance to don a lifebelt.

The Saint Philibcrt was a vessel of 189 tons, built in 1923 at Nantes, and owned by the Nantes Steam Ship Company. She w.is 105 ft. long. Noirmoutier is a small island lying a few Tndes south of St. Nazaire. At low ti I'j it is not entirely an island, owing to the silling of the narrow stream of Fromrntine. Conveyances go from tho islandt to the coast by a metalled road. It has a population of several thousands.

COLLISION IN FOG. VESSEL SUNK OFF USHANT. CREW REPORTED SAFE. (Received Juno 15, 8.15 p.m.) PARIS, June 15. The French General Transatlantic Cornwall v's liner Rochambcau, 12,6/8 tons, collided with the, Unchcria in a dense fog off Ushant. The Unchcria sank immediately. The Rocharnbeau picked np 29 members of her crew, and proceeded on her voyage. The Rochambeau was slightly damaged. / It is believed that no lives wcro lost. There is no vessel named Unchcria given in Lloyd's Register of Shipping.