DREADFUL TRAGEDY AMONG THE NORTHERN ICE FLOES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 65, 18 March 1931, Page 1

DREADFUL TRAGEDY AMONG THE NORTHERN ICE FLOES.

Details Given Of The Disaster That Overtook Sealing Steamer.

(United Press Association.—By Electric TeTegraph.—Copyright.) (Received March 18, 9.5 a.m.) ST JOHNS (Newfoundland), March 17. Captain Abraham Kean and 117 men from the sealing steamer Viking, which exploded and sank off Horse Island on Sunday night with the loss of some twenty-five lives, have reached the island.

Among the missing are Varick Frissell, of New York; 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, ship’s physician; C. King, wireless operator, and S. Ulett, steward.

The mate, Alfred Kean, is still on the ice with a broken leg.

The missing dory, containing seven men, five appearing badly hurt, was seen at daylight on Tuesday, five miles off and labouring to reach Ho*se Island. Their success is doubtful.

There are only five houses on the island and no supplies will be 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 twelve 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 and 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 does, and Cries for help were heard. Then the fire broke out.

THIRTY-NINE MEN DECLARED MISSING. (Received March 18, 11.5 a.m.) ST JOHNS (Newfoundland), March 17. An official check of the survivors at Horse Island shows ths.t thirty-nine men are missing, including three Americans and’ one stowaway from St Johns.