SHIP SINKS ON LAST TRIP

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17919, 25 October 1932, Page 7

SHIP SINKS ON LAST TRIP

ALL HANDS RESCUED BRITISH VESSEL STANDS BY LONDON, Sept, 14. All hands were rescued last evening from the Greek cargo boat Chloc (5780 tons), which sank off Ushant following an explosion during her last voyage before being broken up. A store carrier of the British Navy, a German salvage boat, and a French tug were involved in this drama of the high seas. The Chloe, which was recently sold to Italy, was carrying her last cargo of coal and coke when an explosion •occurred in No. 1 hold. She was then -about five miles off Ushant, on tho west coast of France. Following the explosion, the cause ■of which remains a mystery, Nos. 1 and -2 holds became flooded, and- water began to pour into the engine room. An -urgent call for help was immediately -sent forth. TOWING EFFORT ABANDONED The first news of the affair was received by Lloyd’s via Portishead ■-(Somerset) wireless station from the German salvage boat Scefalke (570 tons). . The -Scefalke stated that an attempt was being made to tow the Chloe into Douarnonez or Brest. -So much damage had, however, been done by the explosion that the towing had to bo abandoned, as the ship was sinking lower and lower into the water. Meanwhile the store carrier 11.M.5. Bacchus had made at full speed to the spot. A message sent by her to the Admiralty last night stated that she was -standing by while three boatloads of survivors from the Chloe were being taken on board the iSecfalke and tlie -French tug Enez Eussa (222 tons). A later message stated that the Chloe had sunk. A steel screw steamer, she was built at Hamburg in 1899.

LONDON, Sept, 14. According to Lloyd’s messages received last night, it is feared that the German auxiliary vessel Wictze (319 tons) has foundered with all on board to the north-east of Danzig. The German steamer Taurus reported by wireless having seen the Wictze in distress owing to a shifting of her cargo of grain. Tho weather was too ■rough for the Taurus to assist her. Several tugs immediately put out to the assistance of the Wietze, but eventually returned to port without having •been able to find her.