A SEA TRAGEDY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19847, 16 January 1920, Page 5

A SEA TRAGEDY.

WRECK OF THE AFRIQUE.

GREAT LOSS OF LIFE.

By Teleijraph—Prr.ss Assouiatien—Copyriglit

Auftfiibun anrl y.J. Cable Assouialion. (Ueeeivnd January ]<>. a.in.) LOXDQX. January 13. Hit* loss of the Afrique is the biggest disaster in the history of the French mercantile' marine. Thus far miiy thirty have been saved out of 188, of whom 192 nero. Bengalese riflemen I'ngs and naval vessels are searching for boats, hut owing to the terrible sens that are miming there is little nope, ol many further survivors heir," rescued.

•'■•uiTivots narrate how the liner Ccvlan came to the Afrique s assistance in response to distress signals when the siorm was ai its worst and was escorting her in port when the Afrique struck jue I’lnteaux Mochehrmue. a wel 1 - 11 reef, fifty miles from La Bochelle, two fathoms below the surface. Iho impact came with a terrific, shock „t midnight. The ship was pT.incy'd jute, darkness owing , 0 the dynamos i-iihn.e. Ine wireless operator was able to raise enough power to send out a despairing 5.0.8. The captain realising that the Afrirpio was donned oideiod the boats to he launched despite the huge waves. The Ceylaii. which meanwhile had been unable to keep elo-e owing j D the heavy seas, wireessed that she was keeping a parallel course and would meet the Afrique at a given spot at dawn. The (levinn rece.ved the S.O.S. call. " W c ’ cannot keep afloat till dawn,” followed hv another “We are ahandoniiig ship.” he let lan (dosed in and commenced a desperate search in the darkness for the mats she was able, to rescue a few Hut there was no trace of the Afrique at day.iglit. She had struck the rucks and sank ranidiv.