Maritime Disaster.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1921, Page 1

Maritime Disaster.

LATER, DETAILS. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. NEW YORK, August 7. It is. reported that one of the five lifeboats of the Alaska, capsized and the occupants were drowned.. Nine bodies were recovered. Telegrams from Eureka (California) say that full details of the Alaska dnspster are not yet available. The steamer struck a blunt reef off <; CapeMendocino, the most westerly point- in California, at 10 o’clock on Saturday night and sank within 15 minutes. The vessel carried 240 passengers and crew, and while it is hoped that same may yet be found on life-rafts it is believed that 36 passengers yet missing will be among the lost. Two vessels which rushed to the Alaska’s aid on receipt- of a wireless call arc still standing hv to look for lost people on a foggy sea. Tugs from time to time bring ashore n few dead bodies. Twelve have already been landed. Tlie passengers declare there were wild scenes aboard the Alaska, and as she listed to stnrbonrd the frenzied people leaped overboard. Men. women and children piled into the lifel>oats, so that it is a wonder that only one of five boats capsized. Tlie wireless operator is believed to have stuck to the ship till she foundered. The Alaska plied between Portland and San Francisco. Other messages put the number of drowned at 48.