STEAMER WRECKED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13835, 23 February 1907, Page 9

STEAMER WRECKED.

DRIVEN ASHORE IN A GALE, GREAT LOSS OF LIFE. Til K KING'S MESSENGER DROWNED. HEARTRENDING SCENES. Press Association—By TclegrdpH—Copyright. LONDON, February 21. Severe gales have been experienced in England and Northern Europe. The wind had a velocity of 60 miles an hour. , The Great Eastern Railway Company's steamer Berlin, from Harwich, was wrecked near Rotterdam, and driven ashore at 5 .o'clock in the morning on Voorne Island, Silo quickly broke amidships.

Tugs and lifeboats vainly Iriotl to approach her, but the heavy seas that were Tunning prevented their reaching her.

A few persons were still clinging to the wreck at notni, but the chances of rescue are hopeless.

The Berlin's passengers included Sir Arthur Herbert, the King's messenger, and 16 members of the German Opera Company from Covent Garden Theatre.

Only two .people so far have been saved, Twenty-five bodies have been recovered-, February 22.

(Received Feb., 22, at 9.43 p.m.)

Lord Knbllys, his Majesty's private secretary, lias telegraphed to the tnanager of the Great Eastern Railway Company as follows" The King and Queen desire me to say lioir horrified they feel at the foundering of the Berlin and the terrible loss of life."

Sir Art'hur Herbert was the bearer of important despatches to Denmark, Russia, Germany, and Persia.

A parcel of diamonds and a dozen mail bags were lost.

Tlie ttrcck is attributed to the breakdown of the engines.

Captain Parkinson, of Belfast, who was a passenger, is the only man who has so far been saved." He swam for an hour in the stormy, icy water amid corpses aitd wreckage. He declares that ho saw a hundred who were on the fore deck swept intb tlio Eca,

into tlio sea. . .< Desperate efforts were made throughout the day to reach the wreck. A lifeboat and tug established communications, but the hawsers parted, and both were thrice flung on to the shore. Those on board could hear the cries of the survivors on the Berlin's aft deck. Tho Great Eastern steamer Amsterdam, when- passing in the evening, heard tho cries, and efforts to rescue the Berlin's passengers were continued during the night. (Received Feb. 22, at 9.50 p.m.)' Tho operatic company which was on board tho , Berlin included Fraulein Schoeno, a leading Soprano; Fraulein Buttel, of the Court Tneatre, Berlin; and Fraulein Gobel, of the Court Theatre, Dresden. (Received Feb. 23, at 0.15 a.m.) The Berlin carried 91 passengers and the crew numbered 52. Tho vessel is liot insured, and is valued at £70,000. Tho company's maximum liability is £26,000.

'The Berlin is a steel twin-screw steamer, her registered tonnage being 1775. S!io was built at Hull iii 1894. Her length is 302.4 ft, breadth 36ft, and depth 16.2 ft..