New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-07-09
Only 4 Of 296
SAVED IN Crash
Chilean Transport Wrecked on
Rocks Friday Night

santiago. Chile. July 3 CCP)--Im-
psnstsable darkness. a furious
storm Just OF shore. broken rud-
der ana : series OF Jagged rocks
ssrveA 70 send the big Chilean trans
pert Ansames down Friday night
with only four of its 2s5 members
Of the crew and passenger list hav-
ing been found alive today.
Great Tragedy
It was one Of the greatest TRACE
dies along this coastwise area and
the suddenness with which the big
craft sunk lett the fou. who recov-
cred almost unable to describe what
had happened.
The Angamos had been coaling in
the Gull Of Arauco and it was be-
lieved to have steamed to sea TO es-
cape the storm. At sea an even
worse storm was encountered. The
night was pitch dark and the craft
Was thrown between two rocks and
~ rudder broken. For few min
utes 1t tossed a, the mercy Of the
waves ana then It crashed on a reef
seven miles Oft Lebu.
Captain lsmael Caurez, seeing his
vessel 4 loss. committed suicide Just
before the big vessel heaved and
then sank from view.
Jose Auiia, one OF the four men
who escaped death with the trans
port, today described those last tor
turing hours.
I'VE were steaming in the in
tense darkness about p. m, Fri
day when suddenly the vessel
struck between two rocks" he told
the United Press. I'VE remained out
OF control for 4 few minutes. losing
our ruddsr. The vessel lay 800 yards
from the shore.
struggle For Lives
There was an untorgettAble scene
aboard the vessel. The passengers
ana the crew were making a
struggle for their lives. Suddenly
the ship began to founder and it was
rapid. Sirens shrieked noisily.
1T was evident there was no hope
and the only alternative was 10
launch the life boats. They were
packed with frantic men. The boats
sank a. fast Is they left the vessels
side.
Il, with fellow survivors, graspod
heating wreckaSe which a huge
wave tossed 30 meters. When I re-
covered consciousness ! was lying
On tho beach. ! saw light on the
vessel and then heard a defamation
like 4 pistol shot which apparently
was the captain killing himself"
A member OF the crew, Garlic,
wss too betuddled by the sudden
sinking OF his ship to really describe
what had happened. He also be-
came conscious after reaching shore.
"Ths accident is inexplicahle," he
said.
He explained that when he came
to on the shore he looked out 70
where the vessel had been and could
see no trace Of tho craft There was
nothing but the churnine waves and
the big transport had disappeared
under the water.
S&VOQ TWO ONUCTS
GARLIC ana Euarez saved Two
ether members Of the crew who had
suceee ded In reaching shore alive.
There were Z number OF women
and children aboard the craft, fam
lilies who were being taken TO a
small coastal port. None Of them
were saved. 50 far as reports could
be determined today.
The terrible seas that brok. about
the craft made rescue attempts al
most impossible. The Angamos sent
cut one weak radio distress signal
apparently from an auxiliary station
which was picked up by the
steamer Tarapaca The Tarapaca
and The Apollo imm ediately started
In search but the signal had been
SO weak that both vessels had diff
Guilty In determining the exact loca-
ten ana we're too late in arriving
70 b Of much aid
The storm also prevented search
for survivors or for bodies of those
vho persisted at the life boats over
turned in the stormy sea Six bodies
rave been recovered.
The last entry on the log OF the
vessel, found today. reported:
Nothing new. Impossible TO see
any light. Wind treshening Rain
,ng hard
strewn With Debris
There was nothing on the log TO
indicate presence of the disaster that
overlook the craft and its almost
500 passengers.
Today the beach was strenn with
debris OF the great wreck. Chairs,
tables, ladders and masts covered
:ha beach but the spot 200 yards off
shore where the Angamos went
down. indicated no trace OF the YES
sci other than some debris floating
about
All celebration In honor Of the
uattle OF Conception and the oath
70 the dag we're called off today as
everyone turned their attention to
locating members OF the great craft.
Hundreds of messages Of coincidence
poured into Santiago from all over
the world.
~ rnv r~r M nTrER