THE ARMAGH WRECKED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19047, 18 December 1923, Page 7

THE ARMAGH WRECKED

GROUNDED WHEN LEAVING LIVERPOOL. Her Back Broken. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright : LONDON, December 16. The steamer Armagh, when leaving Liverpool for Brisbane, grounded on a revetment near the Crosoy Right last evening. Later she broke her back, and is now a total wreck. The crew has been landed at Liverpool.—Reuter. (Received Dee. xi, at 7.40 p.m.) The liner Armagh grounded within an hour of leaving Liverpool, and all attempts by a liotilla of steamers and tugs to reiloat her were unavailing. As the tide receded her back broke, and the afterpart settled to a considerable depth in the channel. The crew, numbering 102, a few passengers, and also five stowaways who made their appearance after the grounding, were taken off without the slightest sign of panic.—Router. EVERYBODY SAFE. THE FINAL SCENES. A CHEERFUL CREW. I LONDON, December 17. (Received Dec. 17, at 9.15 p.m.) A hundred seamen, three passengers, and five stowaways singing “Yes we arc leaving the Armagh" to the tune of “les Wo Have No Bananas” stood huddled on the forecastle of the liner after her back broke on a Mersey sandbank. Half the crew had sat down to tea. n hen a grinding, grating sound was heard and the vessel came to a standstill. All rushed on deck and donned lifebelts, while they tested every expedient to get the ship afloat. Fortunately the sea was smooth, though the ebb tide made it impossible for the tugs to reach the ship. V\ hue those aboard were waiting the liner s back broke with a crash, throwing everyone to the deck. The funnel bent and the wireless snapped, but fortunately the electric dynamo continued to function so the ship was not plunged in darkness. When it was seen that the Armagh was doomed her jolly boat carried all to a lifeboat which carried the men to a tug. The first to leave were the passengers, who went down the side of the ship on a Jacob’s ladder formed by the sailors. When the sailors reacned the Liverpool landing stage it was three in the morning. They were taken to the Sailor’s Home, and many later came to their homes in London. —A. and N.£. Cable. Tire Union Steam Ship Company’s steamer Armagh is of 12,269 tons. She was built in 1917 by Swan, Hunter and W'ighan Richardson, in Newcastle.