TWO EXPLOSIONS HEARD

Southland Times, Issue 23978, 20 November 1939, Page 7

TWO EXPLOSIONS HEARD

MINES THOUGHT TO BE LINKED VESSEL 20 MILES FROM PORT • TWO NEARBY STEAMERS DAMAGED (United Press Asm-Telegraph Copyright) (Received November 19, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 19. Graphic accounts of the destruction of the ship were given by survivors. A passenger said: “We hadn’t time to gather our clothes or belongings.” “We were off the coast when without warning a terrific explosion shook the ship,” said a steward. “People ran to the lifeboats, which were lowered on the starboard side. Boats could not be lowered on the port side, because the ship canted. Then there was a second explosion, presumably caused by a mine linked by a chain with the first mine and the ship capsized.” He added that the ship carried 265 passengers and a large crew. Another survivor said that the ship was 20 miles from port at the time of the explosion. It is learned that two other steamers standing by within a quarter of a mile of the Simon Bolivar were also damaged by the mine, but managed to limp into port. The Simon Bolivar, which was bound for Cuiana, carried 75 British subjects and a number of Gentian refugees and Norwegians. One hundred survivors were injured, 50 of them seriously. Two hundred and fifty proceeded to London, six of them being babies. One hundred and seven persons were sent to hospital, including stretcher cases. Many passengers said that the bows were lifted from the water. The captain was killed instantly. One passenger was thrown five feet into the air. A survivor saw others standing near him mowed down like ninepins. The most poignant story was that of a giant West Indian, whose wife and two

children were drowned and who saved the life of a three-year-old white child, whom he intends to adopt. Nearby sat a dazed and shivering mother with her daughter, aged five. Her husband and two other children were drowned. Thrilling stories of rescue were told by other survivors who were picked up by trawlers, which appeared from the mists. Mr Preece, a British merchant and a widower, slipped down a rope holding his three-year-old daughter. He found a box floating and put his daughter in it and swam round for an hour. Both were picked up. U.S. CORRESPONDENT LEAVES BERLIN TRANSMISSION FACILITIES REFUSED (Received November 19, 7.30 p.m.) BERLIN, November 19. Beech Conger, correspondent of The New York Herald-Tribune left Germany voluntarily after the authorities refused him transmission facilities or access to Press conferences because he allegedly sent messages which did not please the Nazis.