LINER SUNK IN COLLISION

Litchfield Mercury 11 Oct 1918

It is feared that about 150 lives were lost in the sinking of the Burutu, which collided with another steamer last week.

The Burutu was an Elder Dempster liner of about 4,000 tons and was inward bound from West Africa with a cargo of palm oil and kernel. She also carried a large number of passengers. On Thursday night she collided with an outward-bound steamer. She sustained a heavy impact forward, and also damage to such an extent that, according to one survivor, she sank in less than ten minutes.

The weather was rough, the night was very dark, and a heavy sea was running. A big rent in the vessel's side caused her to take a heavy list to port immediately, and although perfect order was maintained by both passengers and crew the shortness of the period from the time the vessel was struck until she was sunk militated against the efforts of the people on board to save their lives.

It is probable the passengers and crew together numbered about 200 souls. It is believed that all the officers have been lost.