SWALLOWED IN SEA

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8611, 23 December 1913, Page 5

SWALLOWED IN SEA

CHINESE VESSEL WRECKED ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY PERSONS DROWNED. S URVIVORS ALMOST PERISH FROM EXPOSURE.

ilv Tolcjrraph—Preas Association —Copyr Ict 1 (Received December 23, 0.10 a.m-) PEKIN, Dccemlmv 22.

The China Navigation Company’s steamer Takyui was wrecked on Saturday. It is believed that over 170 persons, mostly coolies, were drowned. Tho vessel struck a sunken rock off Reef Island late at night, and next morning a Japanese patrol-boat and two tenders came to her assistance.

They found that tho Takyui had a strong list, and the passengers, chiefly coolie*, wore crowded in the forepart, which was tilted in tho air.

Owing to » heavy sea running, they were unable to give any assistance. After banging against the rock till midday, tho doomed vessel slipped into the sea and disappeared. Six passengers were subsequently rescued, nearly dead from exposure, from the island.

Tho master of the Takyui, Captain Thoresen, states that after tho vessel struck tho engines were kept going in order to keep the vessel on tho rock. Orders wore issued to launch tho lifeboats, but the crowds were in a state of panic, and the coolies rushed, making it impossible to move them from tho chocks. The Takyui continued to pound tho rocks until she was filled with water. She then slipped into deep water. Many of tho shrieking coolies wore quickly swallowed, in the raging sea. Thirty-six, including the captain and another European, managed to gain the island safely. Tho captain, chief officer, quartermaster, and a steward made a raft, and after drifting for hours were driven ashore, and almost perished from exposure and hunger.