SUNK IN COLLISION.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIII, 22 May 1922, Page 5

SUNK IN COLLISION.

P. I 0. LINER LOST. HEAVY DEATH ROLL. Per Press Association —Copyright London, May 20. The P. and O. steamer, “Egypt,” was sunk in a collision off Brest during a fog. There were ninety victims. FURTHER DETAILS. COLLISION WITH THE “SEINE.” 247 SAVED. London, May 20. A telegram from Brest states that the Egypt was en route to Bombay when she collided with the cargo steamer Seine at 7.30 o’clock on Saturday night in a fog, 22 miles northwest of Ushant. Warships were immediately dispatched from Brest in response to S.O.S. wireless messages. NINETY-SIX DEAD. Thus far French reports state that 96 are dead. 20 BODIES RECOVERED. Twenty bodies have been recovered, but it is hoped that steamers passing may have picked up some of the survivors. SEINE REACHES PORT. The Seine, which was badly damaged, has reached Brest and is now landing the Egypt’s survivors. Lloyds state that 218 of the crew and 29 passengers were saved.

INTENSE FOG. STORY OF THE RESCUE WORK. London, May 21. The collision occurred with appalling suddenness when the passengers were dressing for dinner. The fog was intense and it was impossible to see more than a hundred yards round the ship.’ The Egypt sounded her fog horn incesantly, but the Seine was almost into the Egypt before it was observed. The collision could not have been averted. The Seine was heavily laden with deadweight cargo, and ripped the Egypt’s plates like common tin. The Seine’s boats were stoved in, but though in peril from foundering, she stood by and helped in the work of rescue.

The captain and officers of the Egypt helped to restore order and discipline among the panic-stricken Lascars at the revolver point. The majority of the survivors were in a pitiful condition from shock and exhaustion and were nearly naked. The victims included the chief engineer and doctor.

Several vessels near the scene of the collision were ignorant thereof owing to the fog.