PERILS OF THE SEA,

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 December 1901, Page 2

PERILS OF THE SEA,

TWO TERRIBLE DISASTERS. Per Press Association. (l'er Mail Steamer nt .Aucivkunl.) AUCKLAND, December 3. Sail Francisco, November 14.^~The overdue British ship Glencaird is a total loss. She was nearly seven months out from England, and 35 per- cont, was paid on . her by the underwriters, but there were few takers, as everybody thought the vessel would come in. The ''Merchants' Exchange," however, received cable hews from Buenos Ayres yesterday that -the vessel had been wrecked and nearly all of the crew drowned.

The Glencaird came to grief off Port Margaret, Staten Island, at the southern extremity of South America. She was driven on the rocks in a violent storm. The officers and crew took to the boats and made an attempt to reach shore, but of thirty-three souls on board only three osca.ped. The remainder, including the captain, second officer, and third officeiv perished. With two members of the crew, the first officer drifted for several days in an open boat without food or water. They were finally rescued by the Clmco, bound for Buenos' Ayres. The shipwrecked men Mere... half dead when taken aboard the steamer. Continuing her voyage, the s.s. Chaco picked up the crew of another vessel which had been lost.

The French .shin Astrea,, which sailed from Shields on July 12th for Valparaiso, took fire when oft' Cape St. John. When all hope of saving her was gone, the captain and his men abandoned the burning yessel and took to the boats. The Astrea was abandoned on October Bth. The captain, first officer, second officer, and twentyone of the crew were found and rescued by the Ghapo'. Six of the Astrea's sailors who wei-e. in one of the small boats are still missing, and it is supposed that they were drowned.

The Glencaird and Astrea sailed from the same port, Shields, England, though the Glencaird left two months before the French ship; but both were lost in the same locality.