SINKING OF BARQUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21225, 4 July 1932, Page 9

SINKING OF BARQUE.

RAMMED BY A TANKEB.

SLEEPING MEN TRAPPED.

LOSS OF ELEVEN LIVES.,

By Teleaxaph—Press Association —Copyright.

(Received July 3, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, July 1

The British tanker Seminole, which sank tlie four-masted barque Melbonme, off the Fastnet Rock, on tbe Irish Coast, has brought 15 of the Melbourne's survivors to Queenstown.

Eleven were drowned, comprising the captain,, the first and third officers, the boatswJiin, the chief steward and six sailors.

The Seminole is practically undamaged. After the impact, members of the crew jumped overboard, but many were asleep between tbe fore and the mainmast-, and probably became entangled in the rigging or were unabl; to reach the deck. The SeminoUi launched a lifeboat for the assistance of the swimming men- One was taken to hospital in Queens town with an injured leg. Others, who had only their shirts and trousers, are suffering from exposure. •

All the drowned are Finns. The only Englishman on board, S. Theobald, was saved. He said after sighting the Fastnet light at 11 o'clock at night, be beard a siren blowing. The crew were called on deck ait a coliiiion seemed imminent, but not all were able to respond in time. Immediately after that there was a terrific crash in the forepart of the ship, which dived, nose first, in four minutes. Apparently the stem was ca!fc off. The survivors agree that the weather was clisar wheia the collision occurred. Seme were in the water lor an hoar before they were rescued. The iSeminole later arrived at Falmouth for repairs. '