Evening star., 1927-10-28

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Mafalda, so as to be near when she
sank.
On the bridge of the sinking ship
stood her commander. Injured while
directing the work of rescue. he was
determined to go down with his ship.
Searchlights of the rescue ships
Illuminated the scene. They revealed
many people clinging to pieces OF
wreckage and life preservers. Around
them fioated many who were dead.
Suddenly the Mafalda sank, reveal.
ing the great hole blown in her side
by the boiler explosion. Many of
the engine crew and probably others
were believed to have been killed by
the explosion, for mutilated bodies
were seen floating on the waters.
Masses of wreckage of all kinds dotted
the sea.
Many survivors were in the water
waving their arms and shouting in
desperation for aid.
They clung to the lifeboats in
veritable clusters, threatening to
swamp them by their weight" the
log of the Mosella recorded.
The British steamer Avelona. which
reached the scene 10 hours after the
boats, broken spars and RATS, but
not a single human being.
Survivors reported that in the
launching of the Mafalda's boats
many were overturned by excessive
loading. AS the boats were launched
the passengers ran panic stricken
about the decks, seeking means of
salvation.
The rescue ships cruised about the
scene of the disaster for hours after
the Mafalda sank until their COM
manders were convinced that all that
could he done in the matter of rescue
had been done.
The Italian embassy announced that
Prof. Comado Gigli, president of the
statistical institute of Rome, was
saved.
Deny Faulty Boats.
The embassy also issued a state
ment denying that the ife-s saving ap-
paratus was faulty. 1t read:
The lifeboats had a capacity of
1923 persons; the Mafalda carried
1856. The lifeboats were examined by
the port captain at Genoa previous to
departure. The entire ship was thor
oughly inspected shortly before Octo-
Der 10. The captain stayed on the
bridge Of the sinking snip.
The last word Of the captain, trans
mitted by the radio operator of the
Mafalda, was:
The captain says: There is great
bravery aboard on the part of the
crew and ali the male passengers. We
have aboard many women and chill
dren. l am confident of calming the
panic. l will order signal flares
lighted
The agents of the Mafalda at
Buenos Aires said that according to
their information. the total number
of survivors of the wrecked liner were
932, out of total of 1,256 aboard
the ship. The Italian Embassy here
announced that it's reports indicated
that 925 were saved.
The Athena brought 53l survivors
here. 3S2 passengers, 149 members
of the Mafadas s crew. The Formosa
was reported TO have 353 survivors
aboard.
Two Die On Ship.
The Mosella landed 80 passengers
and % members of the crew at Ba.
hia. On its way TO Bahia. two women
one man and one child rescued from
the catastrophe. died.
The Brazilian liner Bage reported
that it had received message from
the Athena. stating that the catas
trophe was due TO the screw bold he
ing broken open. the water then enter
ing the engine room and the shir
sinking within six hours.
Sanitary inspectors and a corps oi
physicians and nurses boarded the
Athena when it arrived. Sixty of tbs
survivors aboard were reported tt
have been injured or suffered exposure
in the disaster. The Athena was ther
ordered TO go to Isle Flores, nearby
which had been reserved as a con
centration point for survivors.
OFFICERS BLAMED.