Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-22
100
in
.Shipwreck
Two Americans Missing

~ tn. Associated Press,
Bresi, MAY 2l.-Nearly 100 per-
sons perished when the Penninsulau
and Oriental liner. Egypt. sank oil
the Island oi tshant last night. att
or a collision IN the fog with the
French cargo steamer. Seype
News OF the disaster was brought
here today by the Seyne. which
made port with the rescued and ~
bodies. The Egypt was bound from
London Tor Bombay. ushant is 20
miles west by north OF Brcs,.
The Egyp, sailed from London
Tor Bombay. Friday. with ~ pas
sengers and a crew OF 290, A roll
call on board the Seyne after the
disaster showed that Al least Is ot
the passengers and 80 OF the crew
OF the Egypt were missing.
Americans Missing.
Two American women. Mrs. NJ.
l.. Siblcy and Miss V. NJ. Boyer.
were on board the steamer Egypt
aud are missing. according 10 the
Peninsular and Oriental line Off
cials at London. Their addresses
are not known.
R. +. Bevan, another American.
was saved.
The collision occurred during a
dense fog within p miles oi the
Armen lighthouse. The dinner gong
was about TO be sounded on board
the Egypt Many OF the passengers
and most of the crew were on deck.
The shock threw several persons into
the sea; others jumped and num-
5er went down with the ship, which
sank in 20 minutes.
Bodies Taken to Brest.
The Seine, badly damaged reached
Brest today with 20 rescued pas
sengers, more than 200 OF the crew;
and the bodies of 20 dead The cap
tain OF the Egypt is among the saved.
When the collision occurred there
was a rolling sea. Some of those res
cued charge that the Indian sailors
on board the Egypt usurped the life
boats, compelling large number of
the passengers and crew to shift for
themselves.
Those who jumped into the sea
and who could swim scrambled about
from bits OF wreckage to which they
might cling. Many of these were
rescued. They hoated about in the
! fog after the Egypt went down, call
ing for help. The sound OF their
voices directed members Of the creF-
of the Seine in small boats who were
patrolling the sea picking up both
living and dead.
Among the known missing are the
doctor and chief engineer of the
Egypt.
The Egypt was a vessel of 5000
tons. The Seine was bound for
Havre when the collision occurred.
Ship Running Slow.
Capt. lie Barzic of the Egypt, in
describing the disaster, said: "I was
at my post on the upper bridge Satur-
day evening at 7, Is miles from Ar
men light. The sea was calm, with
slight swell. The fog was very dense.
was listening for fog horns and
proceeding at the slow speed of FIVE
knots.
in less time than it takes to tell,
steamer emel ged from the fog. 1t
struck my ship and tore away the
forward works and moved on at
great speed 4 Immediately orde~-,
cd our engines reversed.
II saw nothing further. But then
l began to hear cries OF horror
that told me of catastrophe.
went in search of the stricken vessel
in the fog and darkness. ! found her
in 20 minutes.
Ship Laying on Side.
"She lay on her port side, ready to
turn over. Water was pouring into
long, deep tear in her side plates.
Cries and walls of despair were to
be heard from the steamer Pas
fsengers were seen running about on
the decks, as the steamer was about
to go under.
II saw man throw himslf into
the sea with two little children in his
arms. The shipwrecked people in the
sea clung to floating debris. had
all my lifeboats lowered It was par
| t:cularly perilous work, for we we're
on the main path of vessels going
from the open sea to the English
channel. / stayed at the scene Of
the wreck until 20 minutes after II
Saturday might"