Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-31
EGRAP
LATEST UP TO Pm. TODAY
Disaster at Sea-OnIy Is Per.
sons Ont Of Ago officers
and Men Saved.

LONDON, May SI.-The German iron.
clad Grosser Kurfurst was sunk by col.
lisiou with another ironclad this morn
ing. The disaster occurred in the Brit
ish channel near Dover. 1t is feared
that over 400 lives we're lost.
The Grosser Xurfurst came in collision
with the iron.clad Koeuie Wilhelm at 5
o'clock this morning, three miles Of
Falkstone. The Grosser Kurfurst sunk
almost Immediately, and her boilers ex-
ploded as she went down. The weather
was bright aud the sea calm at the time
Of the disaster. 1t is reported from
Dover that only eighteen persons out of
a complement Of four hundred and sixty
officers and men on board the Grosser
Kurlurst we're saved. Boats went
from the shore and were sent from the
other vessels os the German feet to the
assistance of the drowning people. 1t
is hoped that more lives were saved.
Dover. May Sl.-The German squad.
ron, consisting Of three ironclads-Prus-
ser, Grosser Kurfurst, and Koenig Will
helm-passed Dover at 8 40 this morning.
bound for Plymouth, whence it was ex-
pected to sail for Gibraltar. When the
squadron was off Ludgate, about FIVE
miles from the shore, one Of the IRON
clads was observed to be gradually keel
ing over on her beam ends, aud men
we're. seen crowding on the bulwarks. In
about FIVE minutes the vessel went down
OF her side, her boilers blowing up as
she sank. Boats from the other IRON
clads we're launched, and a number of
Falkstone fishing smacks near by hur,
ried to the scene. 1t is hoped that many
livds we're saved. The Falkstonc life
boat was launched, but arrived too late
to be of service. Several st, ,mers have
gone TO the scene of the disaster from
Dover. 1t is believed that tire Koenig
Wilhelm, which ran into the Grcsser
Kuriurst, is very badly damaged.
New York, May 3l.-London dis.
patches state that the Germany embassy
is informed that four hundred and if.y
persons were drowned by the shaking of
the ironclsi Grosser Kurfurst. The
German ambassador, with the crown
prince, has o n by special train to the
scene of the disaster. 1t seems that the
vessels we're under full hesdway when
the Koenig Wilhelm ran into the Grosser
Kurfurst. Tie shock was terrific, the
latter vessel filling and sinking within
Eve minutes after the collision. To add
to the horrors Of the situation, the boil.
ers of the vessel exploded. scattering
death and destruction in every direction.
A telegram to the admiralty says of
the sinking of the Grosser Kurfurst that
about three hundred persisted and two
hundred have been saved. This comes
from the coast guard at Folkstoue. A
dispatch from Dover says it is reported
that the Grosser Kurfurst carried a crew
of ak hundred men. Of whom between
TIRES and four hundred are supposed to
be drowned.
A telegram to the Lloyds from Folk
stone repeats the report first t~elegraphed
that only eighteen were rescued, but it's
correctness is doubtful. All previous re.
ports say that the life-boats were lowered
from the other ironclads Immediately,
and a large number Of small craft from
Dover and FOlkstene bastsued to the lc.
cslity.