SHIPPING DISASTERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3419, 26 September 1919, Page 20

SHIPPING DISASTERS.

(By Cable.) NEW YORK, September 19. A despatch from Key West reports that the Spanish steamer Valbenera, of 5099 tons, bound from Spain to Havana, is believed to have been sunk after grounding on a quicksand at Halfmoon Key. The vessel, which is said to have carried 300 passengers and crew, arrived off Morro Castle on September 9, when a tropical hurricane was raging and she was compelled to put out to sea to await its abatement. She has not been seen since, though some feeble wireless signals were received.

A later message reports that divers have discovered a sunken wreck, believed to be the Valbcnera. The divers said they could not distinguish the name clearly, but they found no trace of the crew or passengers. Two Cuban gunboats searching along the northern shore qf Cuba and the Bahamas found no sign of the vessel.

September 22.

Eleven additional survivors from the British steamer Bayronto (lost in the Gulf of Mexico during a hurricane) have landed at Tampa, Florida, thus accounting for all the ship's company. VANCOUVER,, September 23. Messages from Nome (Alaska) state that six survivors have arrived at Casco. They were formerly on Robert Louis Stevenson's yacht, which had been engaged treasurehunting north of Nome. The vessel was wrecked during a hurricane. The remainder of the crew took refuge at King Island, and are awaiting help. LONDON, September 21.

The Norwegian steamer Hortenselea turned turtle in a gale off the Tyne. One woman and eight men were lost. Twelve survivors were rescued sitting waist-high in water-logged boats and clinging to wreckage. ADELAIDE, September 18. The steamer Pareora, en route from Port Pirie to Hobari, was wrecked off Althorpe. Seven of the crew were rescued, but 12 are missing. Two bodies have been recovered from the wreckage.

September 19.

Owing to the inaccessibility of the Paieora wreck, news of the lo"ss of life is conflicting. Latest reports state that another body has been recovered, and it is feared that some of, if not all, the missing members of the crew are drowned. A search steamer has been despatched. MELBOURNE, September 20.

Later details of the Pareora wreck show that the vessel struck a rock on the largest of the Althorpe Islands. Seven of the crew were saved. The 12 missing are believed to have been drowned.

SYDNEY, September 23

A wdreless message received by the Navy Department reports that the steamer Tam'bo, outward bound from Sydney, hj ashore on a reef on Abamama Island, of the Gilbert Group, and is probably a total loss. There • are no further details, but it is believed that all hands were saved.