LOSS OF SEALING SHIP.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18830, 19 March 1931, Page 9

LOSS OF SEALING SHIP.

Details Of Fatality. NO SUPPLIES ON ISLAND. Unitea Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright ST. JOHNS (Newfoundland), Mar. 17. Captain Abram Kean and 117 men of the sealing steamer Viking, which exploded and sank off Horse Island on Sunday night, with the loss of some 25 lives, have reached the Island. Among the missing are Mr Varick Frissell (of New York) and his companions, A. E. Penrod Russell, Harry Sargent (explorer), Captain W. Kennedy (navigator), J. Murphy (chief engineer), F. Parnell (second engineer), H. Hanniford (third engineer), Dr. W. J. Roach (the ship’s physician), C. King (wireless operator), and S. Ulett (steward). The mate, Alfred Kean, is still on the ice with a broken leg. A missing dory, containing seven men, five appearing to be badly hurt, was seen at daylight on Tuesday, five miles off, labouring to reach Horse Island. Their success is doubtful.

There are only five houses on the Island, and no supplies are available until the arrival of the rescue ship. Captain Kean, who is in a weak condition, was on the bridge at the time of the explosion. He stated that he was hurled 12 feet to the ice and injured. Most of the men were in their berths when a terrific explosion, of unexplained cause, occurred. Many were thrown from their berths, others to the deck, and the ship darkened.

The men forward apparently escaped the explosion, which appeared to tear the after part of the ship to pieces. Motionless forms could be seen on the ice floes, and cries for help were heard. A fire then broke out.

The official check-up of the survivors at Horse Island shows 39 missing, including three Americans and one stowaway from St. John’s.

The explorer Henry Sargent, the wireless operator (King), and the navigator (Kennedy) have been rescued by the steamer Sagona from the drifting stern of the Viking.

INTENSE SUFFERING. SURVIVORS REACH HORSE ISLAND. United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright (Received March 18, 7.28 p.m.) ST. JOHN’S (Newfoundland) March 17 A message from Horse Island states that the tiny island teemed on Tuesday night with six score officers and men from the ill-fated sealer Viking. They came ashore after thirty-six hours’ suffering since the ship was blown to pieces by an explosion on Sunday. Rescue ships which arrived with several survivors, found floating wreckage. These included Harry Sargent (explorer), Captain Kennedy (navigator), and wireless officer C. King, who were previously believed to have perished. Hope is entertained that others may be found of the twenty-one who are still missing.

Searchers covered a wide area of ice on Tuesday, but found no trace of Varrick Frissell, of New York, and Penrod Russell.