The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-06-09
STEAMER INsULAIRE CRASHES
INTO THE LieAN AND DAM
AGES LATTER.
VAIN DASH FOR THE SHORE
DISTANCE is TOO GREAT, AND
DOOMED VESSEL SINKS WITH
HUMAN CARGO.

I MarSe1IleS, June "a terrible snip
ping disaster occurred a little dis
lance from this port at noon Sunday,
when two passenger steamers, the In
sulaire and the Liban, both belonging
to the Fraissenet Steamship company
of Marseilles, came into collision. The
Iiban sank and over 100 of her pas
sengers and crew persisted.
The steamer Liban left Marseilles
Sunday morning on her regular passen-
ger trip to Bastia, Corsica, and was
run down and sunk by the I%nsulaire
off the Marie island. The collision
was witnessed from the pilot boat
Blechamp, which was about two miles
distant. The Blechamp Immediately
repaired to the spot TO render as
s%istance. M
The force Of the collision had cut a
great hole in the side Of the Liban,
and she already was taking 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
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 later
she had entirely disappeared.
In the meantime the Blechamp, the
steamer Balkan, also belonging to the
Fraissenet company, and other yes
sells had drawn near the sinking ship
and were making desperate efforts to
rescue those on board. The Blechamp
picked up forty persons, many OIL
whom were at the point of exhaustion.
The Balkan rescued thirty-seven pas
sengers, and up to the present 1t is
known that in addition to the passen-
gers seventeen Of the crew were also
saved.
Scene Was Terrible
Officers of the steamer Balkan de-
scribed the scene just before the Ii
ban disappeared as a terrible one. AS
the vessel was sinking she was in
clined 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 cling
ing to the laundering vessel and ut
tering despairing cries as she went
down. At the same time the boilers
Iexploded, intensifying the horrors.
For a few moments the victims were
seen struggling in the sea; then the
waves closed over them and all was
silent. OF about 200 passengers who
were aboard the Liban II is feared
that at least half were drowned.
The Balkan launched 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.
Ty~ - os1O1F- C,,~1oxy @o~
thirty bodies had been recovered.
"be list of passengers on board the
I.iban has not been issued. the Of
1t is believed that more thar $40 per-
sons embarked at this port.
1t is said the collision was due to
the following circumstances:
The Liban was putting out ito sea
Just al the steamer Insulaire was
making for the harbor. Marie island,
which flies off the entrance to the
port. hid the vessels from each other
until it vas too late to avoid a COLI
sion. .
Survivor Describes t*1e Accident.
One of the survivors, a passenger.
gives the following details Of the dis
aster:
"The weather was splendid when we
steamed out of Marseilles harbor and
all the passengers were below at table
when the shrieking of whistles gave
the alarm. Coming On deck I saw the
Insulaire approaching us at fun speed.
The captain gave several orders, but
no attempt apparently was made to
change the steamers course. Some
of the passengers reproached the cap
tain for his negligence in this matter.
When the Insulaire crashed into us a
great panic prevailed on board. At
tempts were made to lower the boats,
but only one boat was got away and
in that l and a few others escaped to
the Biechamp. As the vessel sank
bow first. the passengers took refuge
on the after deck. which vas covered
by 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 were badly in.
1ured in the collision. The Insulaire
sustained considerable damage to her
bows, but managed to reach port
safely. Thousands of persons gather
ed around the morgue, hospitals and
ON the quays throughout the evening
Thus far only four bodies have beer
identified.
The French steamer Liban was a
three-masted schooner-riggad vessel
29S feet long and of 2,30S tonnage
gross. She was built at Glasgow II
1882.
In Honor of Confederate. Dead.
Washington. June 8.-The first me
mortal services in honor Of the Con
federate dead inferred at Arlington
cemetery We're held Sunday under thu
auspices of the various Confederate
associations of the city.