MARINE CASUALTIES

Otago Witness, Issue 3031, 17 April 1912, Page 29

MARINE CASUALTIES

COLLISION ON THE NILE. CAIRO, April 9. An excursion steamer ■with 300 persons aboard collided with another steamer. The latter saved many of the passengers. Seventeen bodies have already been recovered. The city is plunged in mourning. April 10. A terrible panic followed the collision. The number of people drowned is still unknown. CONDON, April 9. Renter's Cairo correspondent advises that a crowded ferry steamer sank on the Nile at midnight. It is believed that 200 persons were drowned. STEAMER ON FIRE. NEW YORK, April 9. The steamer Ontario, belonging to the Merchants' Transportation Company, is in flames off the harbour. The passengers were rescued by other steamers, and the crews are fighting the flames, but with little success. The cargo of cotton has been jettisoned. The captain ran the vessel ashore when the fire started. April 10. The crew of the beached steamer Ontario escaped to the shore, leaving the vessel in flames. The steamer, which lies on the rocks with flames pouring from all sides, while at the same time a heavy sea is battering her to pieces, presents a remarkable spectacle. All her cargo (chiefly cotton) is lost. A SIGNIFICANT MESSAGE. PORT DARWIN, April 11. The steamer Montora, from Singaporo reports speaking by means of wireless with the Koombana on March 21. She was unable to catch hor signals clearly, but learned that she was in trouble. ZA STEAMER DISABLED. LONDON, April 11. The Admiralty authorities at Bermuda advise that the steamer Augsburg is driftirg in 36deg N. by 56deg W. Assistance has been sent. BARQUE SINKS AT ANCHORAGE. ADELAIDE, April 15. The Norwegvin vessel Sangvaar, after she had completed her loading of 40,700 hag.? of wheat at Port Victoria, sank at her anchorage. It is supposed that she struck an unßnown obstacle, which

pierced her bottom. The water was soon level with her deck The crew escaped. The Norwegian barque Yuba, which left Port Victoria wheat laden on March 27, has returned to Adelaide. She encountered a fierce hurricane, and her cargo shifted, causing a dangerous list, her port rail being under water, and it was thought she would founder. Per crew of eight during the hurricane, by almost superhuman efforts, partially righted the cargo and relieved the danger. \ It is believed that the caxgo is not seriously damaged. BRISBANE, April 15. The steamer Durham has arrived. During a gale her cargo, including a large quantity of explosives, shifted, and the iron girders caused a friction which threatened to fire the magazine. There was an anxious time until the officers and some of the crew, working under perilous conditions, removed the danger. WRECK OF THE FORStTND. HOBART, April 15. The barque Forsund has settled in the sand, and all hope of floating her has been abandoned. The Norwegian steel barque Forsund, 1251 tons, went ashore at the north end of Oape Barren on March 10. The captain snid the vessel was bound from Buenos Aires to Svdiiey in ballast to load wheat, when she was besot by east-north-east gales, - which oame on suddenly. .Being on a 1-ee shore, the captain oould not wear the ship, which struck close to Vamittarfc shoal, a mile from shore, and remained fast. The vessel bumped all day, but made no water, and preparations were made for endeavouring to float her, but these proved unsuccessful. The weather moderated, the wind ohanginjr to the west two days later, and the vessel was sheltered, from all weather exoepting northerly winds.