SINKING STEAMER

Hokitika Guardian, 19 October 1931, Page 5

SINKING STEAMER

IN NORTHERN PACIFIC. LOSS OF 38 LIVES FEARED. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright, j NEW YORK, October 17. A message from Portland, Oregon, states that the steamer President Jefferson, on which Colonel and Mrs Lindbergh are returning to the United States, is searching lor the Japanese steamer Yonan Maru, the last call received at Portland from which was a frantic: “S.O.S. We arc now sinking. The President Jefferson lias so far been unable to locate the stricken vessel, which, it is feared, lias carried to their death the crew of 38, including ten officers. She left Portland lor Shanghai with ten million feet of longwood, and 8100 tons of wheat. Her last position given was at. 500 miles south west of Dutch Harbour. There is a stiff gale and heavy seas.

Later advice states that deck cargo of the Yonan Manx which was reported to be sinking early on Friday in the world’s worst fog belt, south of the Western Aleutian Islands, was found late on Friday afternoon by the President Jefferson, which, with the steam, ers A van a Maru and the Taigen Maru, all failed to find any other trace of the Yonan Maru, The stricken vessel indicated that earlier she had lost her lumber deck lond, According to messages received by the Mackay Radio Station, tlie President Jefferson reported that the visibility was poor, owing to heavy rain and high seas. STILL MISSING. (Received this day at 9.25 a.m) DUTCH HARBOUR (Alaska), Oct. 18. The Japanese steamer Kwasai radioed on Saturday night that she had cruised for several hours in the reported position of the Yonan Maru but had found nothing.