River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-06-11
BIG STEAMERS
IN COLLISION
Terrible Disaster Occurs Off the
Coast of France.
OVER 100 LIVES ARE LOST
The Steamer Liban Is Run Down by
the Insulaire-The Vessel Sinks
Rapidly and Many
Souls Perish.

MarseilleS, June S.-A terrible ship
ping disaster occurred little distance
from this port at noon Sunday, when
two passenger steamers, the lnsulaire
and Liban, both belonging to the Erals
senet Steamship company, of Mar
settles, came into collision. The Liban
sank and over 100 of her passengers
and crew persisted.
The steamer Liban left Marseilles
Sunday morning on her regular trip
to Bastia, Corsica, and was run down
and sunk by the Insulaire off the Marie
islands. The collision was witnessed
from the pilot boat Blechamp. which
was about two miles distant The
Blechamp Immediately repaired to the
spot to render assistance.
Sank Rapidly.
The force of the collision had cut
a great hole in the Liban's side, and
she 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, but within II minutes of the
collision and while still in deep water
the fore part of the steamer plunged
beneath the waves and few minutes
later she had entirely disappeared.
Many Rescued.
In the meantime the Blechamp, the
steamer Balkan, also belonging to the
Fraissinet company. and other vessels
had drawn near the sinking ship and
were making desperate efforts to res
cue those on board. The Blechamp
picked up 40 persons, many of whom
were at the point of exhaustion. The
Balkan rescued 81 passengers, and up
to the present it is known that in addi-
ton to the passengers II of the crew
were also saved. The Balkan launche ed
three boats, and the other vessels did
all possible to save the victims in the
short time that elapsed between the
time of the collision and the sinking
of the Liban.
Thirty Bodies Recovered.
Of about 200 passengers who were
aboard the Liban, it is feared, that at
least half were drowned. Up to five
o'clock Sunday afternoon 80 bodies
had been recovered.
Officers of the steamer Balkan de-
scribe the scene just before the Liban
disappeared as terrible one. AS the
vessel was sinking she was inclined to
such an angle that her masts struck
the water, causing an eddy, which
made the work of rescue most difficult.
A mass of human beings were clinging
to the laundering vessel, and uttered
despairing cries as she went down. At
the same time the boilers exploded, in
tensify ing the horrors. For few mo-
ments the victims were seen strug-
Cling in the sea, then the waves closed
over them and all was silent.
1t is stated that the collision was
due to the following circumstances:
The Liban was putting out to sea
just as the steamer Insulaire was
making for the harbor. Marie Island,
which lies off the entrance to the
port. hid the vessels from each other
until it was too late to avoid a col
lision.
Many of the rescued were badly
injured in the collision. The Insul-
aire Sustained considerable damage
to her bows, but managed to reach
port safely. Thousands of persons
gathered round the morgue, hospi-
tails and on the quays throughout the
evening. Thus far only four bodies
have been identified.