Burning of the Columbian.

Waikato Times, Issue 12868, 15 May 1914, Page 7

Burning of the Columbian.

SURVIVORS' TIMELY RESCUE. ADRIFT FOR FORTY HOURS. NEW YORK, MA S. Further detail* of the destruction by fire at sea of the British steamer Columbian have been supplied l\y the survivors who were rescued by the Cunard liner Frauconia. Tire boat picked up by the Franconia contained 13 men and the corpse of the chief steward, whose body was lying awash in the bottom of the boat. The survivors had nothing they could fly to attract the attention of passing ships, and in their extremity tlu\v wei'ft compelled to tear oil' one of the leys of the dead steward's trousers and hoist it on the end<of a hoathook as a distress signal. It was further learned that one of the engineers was killed by an explosion, which had occurred after the fire broke out. and that one man was drowned when leaving the ship. When taken aboard the Franconia the men were all so exhausted, both bodily and mentally, that little information could be gained from them. They had been adrift for 4(.l hours, and some of them were suffering severely from the burns they had sustained. They were treated-by the doctor aboard tire Franconia, and then fell fast asleep. The other boat belonging to the Columbian, and containing the first and second officers, and 17 men. is still •idrift