AWFUL DISASTER IN THE CHANNEL

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10828, 19 December 1902, Page 6

AWFUL DISASTER IN THE CHANNEL

Explosion And Loss of 22 Lives.

(Per 'Frisco Mail Steamer at Auckland). . There appears to have, been a most dis"astrons collision on Fxiday-siiight,, October, '31^, off. IJujje-eness ' (says tdje Westminster 'G^«ette). , -Tie .Liverpool '-stejuner ,Sauit Begufus, : bound .from, tfie^JTyne" for Alexandciar^tb coal and- coke,- came into, collision with a Spanish steamer, the t Enero. Ih v 4 i^w minntes 1 khW EnbrQ Toundered. As she ,^asis'ihk^-h.er boilers .exploded jwitK. A temfflcs report; blowing a- portion ,of the--vessel in^o fragments. The '"Siiera. had a crew. of 24,, all told, .arid as only two ,w.->ie ' saved- by the Saint Eegulus there is reason to *fear< th'a^'-the' j -rem i aiiidor Vere eitner 'drowned or- blown to -pieces, 'the captain, offiecers, an<J eAginiecTß being Among' the victims. 1 The* -captain and y <Tew of the Saint .Regulus are reticent, .leclimng to -niake;;any statements whatever as to the cause of the disaster, or to give any details of r ihc terrible scene. The two rescuedmenuraniaio^on board the.Saint fiegulus in the.riyer at Gi;avesend, and, they are both unable 'to speak . English. ,It \^as , very d^.rk, Jb\it cb3ar,- when the collision • oct,ur- ; ijp,d, -t;nd as far as, can be ascertained toesea, wjji^not very rough. , The damage t&> , the Saint Begiihia is cQnaiderable, her stem' . beiwg:pa.^tly v iu«flfced away, and' a-. large hpfe rtiade in,, each.-, b,ovr. She must have • had wr narrow, escape from sink-. \irig\wH-Jij the Enero. The Matter., was a large steaiheiY.i'er' net register being 1322 -tons, 'and' ;ths cargo <?f ore she; waa carrying is.estjnyited at abont 2800 tons.. The Saint^Eb,£,nlus ,i9 t 'a> much l?irg^r, steamer-, l}ey iegia;ter t;bjsHig;t ;bjsHig; 1999 -tons- act. She is , registered in. LjVbzpoo}, but' is said tq be pwhedin Cardiff.'" • '