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N0KFQ > TODAY 19.01.13 18:09l 41 Lines 1738 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 34670_KB0WSA
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Jan 19
Path: IZ3LSV<IW0QNL<IK6ZDE<VE3UIL<N0KFQ<KB0WSA
Sent: 130119/1539Z 34670@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.53
...
Jan 19, 1883:
Fog leads to deadly collision in North Sea
Heavy fog in the North Sea causes the collision of two steamers and
the death of 357 people on this day in 1883.
The Cimbria was a 330-foot, 3,000-ton steamship built in 1867 and
operated by the Hamburg-Amerika Line. It left Hamburg, Germany, on
January 18 with 302 passengers and 120 crew members. Among the
passengers were eastern Europeans heading to America, French sailors
on their way to Le Havre and a touring group of Native Americans who
were exhibiting Wild West paraphernalia.
The Sultan, a smaller Hull and Hamburg Line steamer traveling with
only a crew, was also moving through the North Sea on January 19.
Although there was heavy fog early that morning, neither boat took any
precautionary measures, like reducing their speed, and the Sultan
smashed straight into the Cimbria on the port side.
Both steamers were badly damaged and the Cimbria's lifeboats were
launched. Seven were inflated, but in the confusion, they weren't
filled anywhere near capacity. In addition, three lifeboats quickly
disappeared in the heavy fog and were never seen again. For those
people who did not make it onto a lifeboat, the cold water was deadly.
Hypothermia and drowning claimed hundreds of lives within minutes.
A few nearby ships picked up a couple of lifeboats soon after but the
bulk of the 65 survivors from the Cimbria were not picked up until two
days later. The captain of the Sultan, which had managed to stay
afloat, was widely criticized for his failure to provide any
assistance to the passengers and crew of the Cimbria. In total, 357
people lost their lives.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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