COLLISION AT SEA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2681, 10 December 1909, Page 5

COLLISION AT SEA.

FRENCH STEAMER SINKS UNDER FIVE MINUTES—GREAT LOSS OF LIFE.

United I’iiebs Absooiation-Copyhiout PORT DARWIN, Dec. 9. .Details are to hand of the collision of the Messageries Maritime’s Lasseyre and the British-Indian steamer Onda, which occurred in Rhio Strait . as 'month. ~ ; .. , • The disaster occurred early in tne morning. Both vessels were well lighted. The French steamer went to the bottom in five minutes. The commander, Captain Conailhoe, lost his life so suddenly by the catastrophe, that he had no time to give orders on the French ship, nor was there time for the boats to be lowered. -The vessel •went down like a stone. The majority of those on board were drowned like rats in a trap. All who were rescued . were picked up in boats, promptly put out by the Onda, but if any picked up at the moment they must have met. their death from sharks Glendining, one of the sailrm. sajed, confirms the statement a a ■•_ many, were pulled down by »*»**.. There were man, of .them about. Jns> as a M!alay seaman was being dragge into a boat a shark seized his foot The engineer beat the brute off wi boathook, and the Malay was saved. Twenty-eight members of the native crew and fourteen native passengers were saved. / , ~ V \ Two hundred bags of mails were 105 t... ■ . ■' . ■ .. ..