The New York herald., 1922-05-23

AMERICAN WOMEN
LOST ON THE EGYPT
r. O. Bevan Of Baltimore Tells
of Horrors When British
Liner Sunk.
BLAMES FOG FOR CRASH
French Freighter's Captain
Says He Did Not See Egypt
Until on Top Of Her.

Special Gable TO TIE New YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1929, by THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Paris, May 22.
The only American survivor of the
steamship Egypt disaster is Robert
o. Bevan of Baltimore. THE New
York HERALD correspondent found him
at the Hotel Moderne, Brest, with
others rescued from the vessel Ac-
cording to Bevan, who was bound for
Cairo, two American women, Miss Vir-
ginia M. Boyer of Pittsburgh and
Mrs. Minnie L. Sibley of Toledo, both
missionaries. perished Their bodies
have not as yet been recovered
1T was veritable miracle I was
rescued at ALL" said Mr.. Bevan. "Some
reached shore without a single
scratch-not even a cold in the head.
despite my years"
Mr. Bevan said that the collision
was so sudden it left everybody dazed
AS the lifeboats were lowered the
crew rushed for their positions, the
Lascars thrusting every one aside. In
the foggy gloom 1t was impossible to
to Bevan. small boats circled about
the scene for more than two hours
without finding a single survivor.
Mrs. Slbiey and Miss Boyer were
American missionaries on their way to
India. the first a Congregationalist and
the second a Lutheran. Mrs. Sibley was
returning to Bombay after a years
leave with her sister in Toledo, while
Miss Boyer had served eight years near
Rajah Mundry. The older woman was a
member Of the staff of the American
Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions.
Report Tells of Fog.
BREsr, May % associated Press) -
The thickest fog In years around the
Finistere- Ushant Light alone was re-
sponsible for the catastrophe TO the
British steamship Egypt, according 10
Capt. lie Barzic. commanding the
French freight steamship Seine. in his
report to the Ministry of Merchant Ma
rlEe.
The Seine rammed the Egypt Saturday
night The latest estimate Is that nine
ty-eight persons including fifteen pas
scngers. lost their lives in the disaster,
end 242 were saved. Among the lost
were two Americans-Mrs. VI. l.. Sibley
and Miss V. VI. Boyer, missionaries, on
their way to India.
THE fog was so thick says the re-
port, that from the bridge l was un-
able TO see the bow Of the ship. On
Csat, A u al. Ta.a.
so thick / gave orders TO slow down to
fifty revolutions minute. thus MAIN
tanning an average speed OF six knots.
At o'clock / heard fog horn quite
close, and Immediately a huge bulk ap-
peared at right angles crossing our bow.
gave orders to reverse the engines.
But too late--a terrible crash occurred.
my ship striking the other amidshlp.
THE fog whistle was sounded. and
finally succeeded in catching sight Of n
great liner. which was listing badly 10
starboard. At 7:40 tho ship which
later was Identified as the Egypt went
down by the stern.
Il ordered all the boats lowered and
secured the sea for hours. picking up
several dead and also many In whom life
was not extinct. | gave up about fl so
and returned 10 Brest."
The Egypt Not Moving.
According TO the Egypts purser. the
ship fioated only about twenty minutes
after her plates were crushed in by the
Seine. The Egypt. he declared. was not
moving at the time OF the accident. lying
TO on account OF the dense fog and
sounding her siren continuously.
Tho disaster occurred n few miles
from Green Rocks, where the Drummond
Castle was wrecked In June. 1896, with a
loss of 247 lives A heavy fog still
hangs over the shores OF Finistere, maxi
ing the work OF the searching parties
difficult.
When the vessels came together thosc
aboard the Egypt did not realize at first
! the extent of the damage caused by
the little French freighter. II was sorno
minutes before the liner began to heel
over and then the passengers dashed
IN great alarm from the dining room
to the deck. Capt. Collyer urged them
TO be calm, and ordered out the boats.
| for which there was a rush. The Las
! Continued on Page Two.