ALL HANDS LOST.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18364, 23 April 1925, Page 9

ALL HANDS LOST.

♦ STEAMER FOUNDERS. CARGO SHIFTS IN STORM. RESCUE WORK IMPOSSIBLE. (bt cable—fbess association - — coftright.) "Son" Seryics.) (Received April 22nd 11.25 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 21.. An amazing race with death was followed by a dozen wireless stations. While the Japanese steamer Raiuku Mara was en route from Philadelphia to Liverpool, laden with grain, the cargo shifted, and the vessel listed thirty degrees. All the- lifeboats wer-j smashed in a terrible storm which swept the ship with blinding snow for two da vs.

"Now in groat dauger. Come quickly!" called the Japanese wireless operator, describing their situation. The first signals hardly had ended before the American liner Homeric, bound from New York to Europe, reported herself seventy miles from the helpless vessel. For the next three hours the Japanese operator sent stirring messages as to how the waves were washing right over and sinking the ship, which was expected to founder at any minute. Then he reported that the smoke of the Homeric had been sighted at noon, and wirelessed, "We cannot hold up for more than five minutes. The docks arc awash, and tho men arc getting out lifebelts. We will cling to the wreckage when the ship sinks." Excitement ran high aboard the Homeric, the passengers lining tho rails and watching the last throes of the Raiuku Maru through glasses. In the meantime other vessels were approaching. The master of the Homeric wirelessed at noon: "We sighted the steamer at 10.45 a.m. We were within threo miles of her when sho disappeared. AVe searched the scene carefully, but thcro were heavy seas and a high wind. I regret that we were unable to save any lives."

The Tusc.ania wirelessed: "Arrived in time to see her sink. All hands were lost. Rescue was impossible in the terrific seas." The toll of life through the sinking of the Raiuku Maru (5857 tons), ISO miles south and west of Sable Island, is the entire crew, consisting of 58 men.