ATTACK BY PIRATES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14711, 17 September 1918, Page 3

ATTACK BY PIRATES.

FATE OF GALWAY CASTLE

OVER 150 LIVES LOST.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association CAPETOWN. Sent. 15. i The. Union Castle Company state that 744 passengers were on. board the Galway Castle, including 399 invalided South A frican troops arid the crew of 207. The civilian passengers missing number 114, and of the crew 34. The last report, was that the ship was still afloat. (The Times.) LONDON, Sept. 15. Ihe Galway Castle was bound for Durban with, 941 aboard:, including 201 of a crew, 300 women and children^ and 300 invalided soldiers. The ship filled rapidly, but tlie bulkheads kept her afloat, whilst a destroyer rescued the survivors. The ship was torpedoed at 7 m the morning. .Nothing was. seen of the submarine. The explosion broke the steamer almost m two. There was imminent danger of the vessel sinking, and Captain Dyer ordeied tliat she be abandoned, but with the volunteers he re-, mained aboard. The crew behaved with commendable promptitude, but the rough sea made rescue terribly difficult. The Tuts boat lowered* overturned, and women aud children were thrown' into the sea. Another boat 'was dashed against the steamer's hull, resulting m the loss of numbers of lives. •Others were drowned through jump'ng ! into the water, hoping to reach the boats, which* however, the rough sea prevented remaining alongside. Constant bailing was needed to keep the boats afloat. Later ' destroyers brou'. lit the survivors to port. ' "~ Twenty first-cJass, ten second-class and ninety third-class passengers and thirty-four of the crew are missing. Many of the latter were no doubt killed by the explosion. Many passengers were m their berths when tho vessel, wa.f torpedoed. Most wore, only iife-belts over their nightdresses. °

Many rafts overturned. and men swam about picking up Children i)tl d putting them on the rafts. One naval lieutenant died of exposure m a. boat.