ON FIRE AT SEA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19351, 11 December 1924, Page 9

ON FIRE AT SEA

BURNING OF THE CIGALE. TERRIBLE SCENES ON BOARD. TWENTY-THREE PERSONS. DROWNED. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. CAPETOWN, December 8« (Received Dec. 10, at 5.5 p.m.) Further details of the burning ot 'the steamer Cigale, 55 miles from Maritius, show that there were 57 persons on hoard. The cargo of 1500 cases of motor spirit caught fire. A Chinese passenger was blown up into the rigging with his clothes ablaze, and before help could reach him he was burned to death. A panic followed, and there was a wild rush to the boats. Women died of fright. The two full boats abandoned the ship, leaving the captain and officers and the fainting women passengers on the blazing vessel.

After hours of torturing work the French sailors subdued the flames, but the ship began to sink. The boats then returned, and a timber raft was constructed. When the ship sank 23 persons were drowned. Two aged Roman Catholic© priests who ■were offered seats in the boats refused, saying, “We have no families.” One was subsequently rescued. After many hours’ buffeting the boats and the raft, which was 6ft square, eventually reached Reunion.—A. and N.Z. Cable.