The Reports of the Wreck

The Lloyds Weekly Shipping Index for 28 February 1907

Imperatrix (s) - Trieste, Feb. 23. - Austrian Lloyd steamer Imperatrix, which left Trieste on 19 inst. went aground evening of 22nd. near Cape Elaphonissi, Crete and sank. The Austrian Lloyd steamer Castore was immediately ordered from Crete to the scene of the wreck. There has been loss of life but no definite news is available. The Imperatrix had a crew of 120 hands and carried 20 passengers, including two children and four nuns. A severe storm seems to have been the cause of the wreck. - Reuter

Canea Feb. 24 - The Russian guardship and torpedo - boat No. 212 left last night for the scene of the wreck of the Imperatrix. The torpedo - boat has just returned, and reports that the French Cruiser Faucon, the Italian gunboat Curatone, and the Russian Cruiser Chivinetz are assisting in the work of the rescue. The weather is favourable. The number of the victims is as yet unknown. The Imperatrix's bows are above the water but her stern is submerged. As the wreck occurred at night it is feared that there was much loss of life. - Reuter.

Trieste, Feb.25 - The following telegram has just been received from the agent of the Austrian Lloyd Company who went to the wreck of the Imperatrix on the steamer Castore:- The Captain of the Imperatrix, all the officers and passengers, with the exception of the Third Engineer, and the majority of the members of the crew, have arrived here, Canea, on board the Castore, and the Italian French and Greek warships. Thirty-nine of the crew, including eight lascar firemen, were drowned. The names of the dead will be telegraphed tomorrow. The Imperatrix is regarded as a total loss. The cargo is destroyed except for a small portion. In accordance with the instructions of the Consul the Castore will remain here to take the passengers and crew of the Imperatrix. - Reuter

Rettimo Feb 25. 10.10 am - [translation] Austrian steamer Imperatrix wrecked Elafoniossi, West coast Crete. Details you will receive Canea.

Canea Feb 25.9.30pm - [translation] Austrian Lloyd steamer Imperatrix, 4340 tons, from Trieste for Bombay, stranded 22 inst. On Ilot Elaphonissi. Steamer, cargo lost. Passengers saved; 39 of the crew perished.

The Times of London

Monday February 25 1907

Austrian Lloyd Steamer Wrecked.

A Reuter telegram from Trieste, dated February 23, says: - "The Austrian Lloyd steamer Imperatrix, which left Trieste on 19 inst. went aground evening of 22nd. near Cape Elaphonissi, Crete and sank. The Austrian Lloyd steamer Castore was immediately ordered from Crete to the scene of the wreck. There has been loss of life but no definite news is available. The Imperatrix had a crew of 120 hands and carried 20 passengers, including two children and four nuns. A severe storm seems to have been the cause of the wreck." A later message from the same date says: - " The management of the Austrian Lloyd Company tonight received a telegram from their agent in Canea, according to which it appears that the accident to the Imperatrix is not so serious as was first indicated. The agent's message says:- 'The lieutenant of the Imperatrix informs me by letter that he and 12 others are safe, and that the remainder are still on board the vessel, the position of which is very dangerous. The Italian warship on t6he station has just left for the scene of the accident. We expect Castore at midnight. I shall leave immediately for the scene and will telegraph when I return.' "

A Reuter message from Canea dated February 23 says: - " A Cretan peasant this morning brought a letter from the western extremity of the island stating that the Austrian Lloyd company's steamer Imperatrix had stranded at cape Elaphonisi. The Imperatrix, which is a vessel of 4194 tons gross, was bound for Bombay. She stranded in a gale on Thursday. About 200 passengers remain on board. Twelve persons managed to reach the shore and transmit the news. The vessels position is very serious, and she requires assistance. The French Guardship Faucon left Suda at 3 o'clock, and the Italian guardship at 5. The Austrian Lloyd agent has telegraphed that a steamer is expected from Candia to render help. The weather is now calmer. No loss of life is reported."

A Reuter message from Canea, dated February 24, 2 45pm, says: - "The Russian guardship and torpedo - boat No. 212 left last night for the scene of the wreck of the Imperatrix. The torpedo - boat has just returned, and reports that the French Cruiser Faucon, the Italian gunboat Curatone, and the Russian Cruiser Chivinetz are assisting in the work of the rescue. The weather is favourable. The number of the victims is as yet unknown. The Imperatrix's bows are above the water but her stern is submerged. As the wreck occurred at night it is feared that there was much loss of life; but the rescued are in such an exhausted condition that no details are available from them." According to a Trieste telegram the Emperor Francis Joseph has asked for information on the subject of the wreck and has given instructions that all news shall be immediately communicated to him.

A Reuter telegram from Vienna last night says that the latest reports from Canea of the wreck of the Imperatrix state that 17 persons have been rescued and are now ashore. It is impossible to obtain precise details of the number lost owing to the fact that the scene of the accident is 15 hours journey on horseback from Canea over roads covered with snow. The Austrian Lloyd Company's office in Vienna is unable to state whether any British passengers embarked in the Imperatrix in Brindisi.

The Times of London

Tuesday February 26 1907

The wreck of the Imperatrix

Many drowned

Messrs. M. Samuel and Co., London agents of the Austrian Lloyd Company, 30 Billiter Street EC., have received the following telegram from the head office at Trieste:- " Imperatrix lost near Canea. All passengers rescued."

A Reuter telegram from Canea, dated 24 Feb, says: -

"The Italian warship Curtatone arrived here at 3 o'clock this afternoon having on board 33 of the survivors of the Imperatrix, 21 more having joined the first 12 at the Elaphonisi Monastery, and the Russian guardship Chivinetz brought 18. The French warship Faucon has landed 12 more at Suda bay after transferring 16 others to the Austrian Lloyd steamer Castore, which went to the spot on receiving the news of the disaster. The Castore has since arrived here with 25 more survivors rescued by it, making 104 in all. The total number on board, including passengers and crew, was 144, the accounts of the number of passengers given by the first survivors having been exaggerated. Those drowned number 40, of whom 32 were Austrian sailors and 8 Lascars. The Austrian Consul has drawn up a complete list of the saved, who include the captain, the doctor, the first engineer and all passengers. The injured have been taken to the civil and military hospitals, where they are making satisfactory progress. It appears that after the stranding of the Imperatrix a boat containing only members of the crew was lowered with a view to its trying to reach the shore and summon help. It was, however, immediately swamped by the heavy seas, and sank."

A Reuter telegram from Trieste, dated Feb. 25 says: -

"The following telegram has just been received from the agent of the Austrian Lloyd Company who went to the scene of the wreck of the Imperatrix in the steamer Castore: - " ' The captain of the Imperatrix, all the officers and passengers, with the exception of the third engineer and the majority of the members of the crew, have arrived here, Canea, on board the Castore and the Italian, French and Greek warships. Thirty-nine of the crew, including eight Lascar firemen, were drowned. The names of the dead will be telegraphed tomorrow. The Imperatrix is regarded as a total loss. The cargo is destroyed except for a small portion. In accordance with the instructions of the Consul the Castore will remain here to take the passengers and crew of the Imperatrix.' "

Another telegram from Trieste says that advices from Canea state that the passengers of the vessel showed great calmness. The officers and crew were perfectly cool, and devoted all their efforts to the rescue of the passengers. Most of those hurt in the wreck, according to the telegram from Canea last night, were injured by jumping barefoot from their berths, when panic-stricken by the grounding of the steamer. The port captain points out that in two years an Italian and an Austrian steamer have been wrecked of Cape Elaphonisi owing to the lack of a lighthouse, the erection of which is urgently demanded by merchant vessels on account of the position of the cape on the route to Suez.