The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-06-12
DISASTER
OFF FRENCH COAST
Ihe Steamship Liban Rammed
and Sunk by Her Sister
Ship 'nsulaire.
DROWNED
inc Of the Worst Disasters in Recent
Years-With a Great Hole in Her
Side the Ship Made a Futile
Run for the Beach.

Marseil!es, June "a terrible ship
ping disaster occurred a little distance
Iron this port at noon Sunday. when
Two passenger steamers. the Insulatre
md the Liban, both belonging to the
Fraissenet Steamship company Of
Marseilles, came into collision. The
Liban sank and owe 100 of her pas
sengers INC crew persisted.
The steamer Liban left Marseilles
yesterday morning on her regular pas
senger trip to Bastia, Corsica, and was
run down and sunk by the Insulaire
of the Marie islands,. The collision was
witnessed from the pilot boat BE
champ, which was about two miles dis
.ant. The Blechamp Immediately re-
paired to the spot to render assistance.
The force OF the collision had cut a
great hole in the Liban's side, and h
already. was making water rapidly. Her
captain saw the only chance was to run
The steamer aground, and the Liban
was headed full speed for the shore;
out within seventeen minutes of the
collision, and while still in deep water,
the fore part OF the steamer plunged
beneath the waves, and a few minutes
ater she had entirely disappeared.
In the meantime the Blechamp n
The steamer Balkan, also belonging to
he Faissenet company, n other YES
sells, had drawn near the scene and
we're making desperate efforts to res
picked up forty persons, many Of whom
we're at the point of exhaustion. The
Balkan rescued thirty-seven passeng-
.rs, n UP to the present it is known
hat in addition to the passengers
seventeen of the crew were also saved.
Scene a Terrible Ore.
Offers Of the Balkan describe the
lcene just before the Liban dtsap--
oeared as a terrible one. AS the YES
lei was sinking she was inclined to
such an angle that her masts struck
he water, causing an eddy which made
he work Of rescue most difficult. A
mass of human beings We're ciinging to
he laundering vessel, n uttered de-
pairing cries as she went down.. AT
he same time the boilers exploded, in
.ensifying the horror. Fol a few min
ties h victims We're seen struggling
n the sea, then the waves closed owe
hem and all was silent.
OF about 200 passengers who We're
Lboard the Liban it is feared that at
east half We're drowned.
The Balkan launched three boats,
ind the other vessels did all possible
% save the passengers during the short
lime between the collision and the
sinking of the Liban.
Up to 5 o'clock this morning thirty
bodies had been recovered.
The list of passengers on board the
aiban has not yet been issued, the
,flces of the Fraissenent company be-
! ng closed, but it is believed that over
FAC embarked at this port.
1t is stated that the collision was due
@ the following circumstances:
The Liban was putting out to sea
lust as the steamer Insulaire was
making for the harbor. Maire Island,
which lies off the entrance to the port,
aid the vessels from each other until
t was too late to avoid a collision.
Great Panic Prevailed.
One of the survivors, a passenger,
gives the following details Of the dis
lster:
The weather was splendid when we
started out of Marseilles harbor, and
all the passengers We're below at table
when the shrieking whistles gave the
alarm. On coming on deck I saw the
[nsulaire approaching us at full speed.
The captain "a several orders, but
no attempt apparently was made to
change the steamers course. Some Of
the passengers ~reproached the captain
Tor his negligence in the matter. When
he Insulaire crashed into us a panic
! prevailed on board. Attempts We're
made to lower the boats, but only one
boat was got away n in that I and
\ few others escaped to the Blechanp.
AS the vessel sank first the passengers
took refuge on the upper deck, which
was covered with an awning. This, as
the Liban foundered, became a cage in
which the passengers were caught and
dragged down beneath the waters"
Many Of the rescued We're badly in
Iured in the collision.
The Insulafre sustained considerable
damage to her bows, but managed to
reach port in safety. Thousands Of
persons gathered round the morgue
hospitals ond on the quays throughout
the evening.
Thus far only four bodies nave been
La ontiEa ------- ------ 1917 :.